Tick tock on the clock y’all.

The Dallas Cowboys open the regular against the New York Giants next weekend and Zeke Elliott still doesn’t have a deal in place.

Jerry Jones, who has never shied away from a media scrum or a TV camera, spoke again on the holdout situation after last night’s final preseason game, saying this (via ESPN):

“I’m operating as though right now he’s going to miss regular-season games,” Jones said of the running back after the Cowboys concluded the preseason Thursday with a 17-15 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. “My entire expectation for what we’re putting together as a team right now would anticipate with him holding out and not having any training camp that he’s going to miss games. I just accept that.”

The Cowboys and Elliott’s representatives have had talks in recent days but nothing appears imminent, according to sources. Near the start of training camp, the Cowboys made Elliott an offer that would make him the second-highest-paid running back in the NFL behind Todd Gurley II of the Los Angeles Rams.

I have a hunch they’ll get something done, but if not, it would be a real shame to see the Cowboys start the season without Zeke.

Tick tock on the clock, but the party doesn’t stop: