Elliott has not been with the team since the start of training camp in late July, and it's uncertain if the Pro Bowl running back will return -- with or without a new contract -- in time for Sunday's opener against the Giants at AT&T Stadium.
Asked how long it would take for Elliott to get back into the offense once he returns, Garrett said, "That's a hypothetical. Zeke is as capable as anybody I know. He's an experienced player, he's been a really good player for us, he knows our system of football. I don't think they'll be a lot of learning there. he's a smart guy, an instinctive guy.
"But again, that's a hypothetical. We're just focused on the guys we have right now. We're going to go practice as well as we can the right way to prepare for the Giants.
The Cowboys made one 53-man roster move Monday, placing rookie guard Connor McGovern on injured reserve and signing running back Jordan Chunn. With Elliott still on Reserve/Did Not Report, they now have four backs on the active roster: rookie Tony Pollard, Alfred Morris, Chunn and fullback Jamize Olawale.
Pollard took all the starting reps in three preseason games and has impressed the coaching staff with how quickly he's picked up assignments.
"We feel good about Tony. Tony's done everything we've asked him to do as a runner, as a protector, as a receiver, and there aren't really any issues we have with him," Garrett said. "He's a smart football player. We thought that when he was coming out of school."
