Jerry Jones on Ezekiel Elliott's workload Sunday, what he thought of Zeke cutting off interview with reporters

Cowboys offensive coordinator Scott Linehan said Thursday that Ezekiel Elliott is expected to get "significant touches" Sunday against Seattle.

Jerry Jones said Friday morning despite Elliott not playing the last six weeks because of suspension, he thinks the second-year running back can handle 20 to 25 carries in his first game back.

"He's young," the Cowboys owner and general manager said on 105.3 The Fan's G-Bag Nation show [KRLD-FM]. "He's at a young part of his career. Albeit he had a lot of carries last year, he doesn't have an alarming number of carries because the fact that it's just his second year in the NFL.

"I think we can use him as much as we want to. I think we can not only use him on direct running plays but I think we can use him out of the backfield and third down situations, and that makes it really valuable. That's what we've missed the most."

Elliott, who averaged 29.5 touches per game in the four games before his suspension, spoke to reporters for less than 90 seconds Wednesday. After receiving several questions about what he did during his time away, Elliott cut off his weekly interview session in front of his locker.

What did Jones think of that decision?

"Zeke has been one of the brightest, one of the best interviews that we've had, period, in the time that he's been here," Jones said. "I certainly believe that under these circumstances, with so much made of his absence and so much made of why he was absent during the season, I certainly believe he deserves to circle that and say, 'Guys, I don't want to talk about that, basically choose my spot to talk about that.'

"As you well know, I'm appreciative of the media. The media has certainly been critical of me most of my time. But it was the media that put me in the Hall of Fame. I have always felt that in a way we're on the same team, we chose to spend our lives in sports."