When the Dallas Cowboys moved on from Ezekiel Elliott in March, the expectation was 2023 would bring Tony Pollard a well-deserved opportunity to serve as the team's bell-cow running back.
After spending the past several seasons in a platoon with Elliott, Pollard, fresh off a breakout season, looked primed to take on a featured role in Dallas' backfield, facing little competition for touches from the smaller, depth additions the Cowboys made to their running backs room.
Well, one of those small additions, in both fanfare and stature, is winning over fans, coaches, teammates and perhaps some touches too.