OXNARD, Calif. -- As the credits roll on another Cowboys training camp -- gratuitous Hollywood reference -- let's review what's taken place.

You had the rise of a Tony Romo fat meme when an unflattering shot of him running onto the field for his first practice made him look like the Stay Puft Marshmallow quarterback. Attention was given to Ezekiel Elliott's bad singing and sore hamstring. Kellen Moore's fractured right ankle led to consternation before giving way to Dak mania.

This is the camp that introduced fans to Purple drank, the slang term for a drink that consists of prescription-strength cough syrup that sources say has played a role in Rolando McClain's latest suspension. Actor Denzel Washington worked the crowd one day and owner Jerry Jones offered his appreciation in another after being named a finalist for the Hall of Fame class of 2017.

Twenty-one days after opening camp with a touching, arm-in-arm tribute to the families of the police officers slain in downtown Dallas weeks earlier, camp concludes Thursday with a walk-thru before the team returns home.

"I think we laid a great foundation, I really do,'' tight end Jason Witten said. "Really, going back to April the mentality has been right on, working and evaluating.

"Nobody is sensitive or anything like that. We're just trying to get better. That approach has been really good.

"Now we just have to carry it over. That is coach [Jason] Garrett's message, we've got to take that next step, and it's got to carry over for the next few weeks when we get back into the season.''

Romo received more days off than a French civil servant but was sharp when he did practice. Dez Bryant looked more and more like his dominant self as camp wore on. The way those two returned from injuries was a big plus.

Elliott didn't get much practice. His participation in team drills came to an end Aug. 2 with a sore hamstring, or, as Garrett calls it, a soft tissue injury. The Cowboys would have preferred to see their first-round pick on the field.

Yet no one appears concerned. Elliott looked good in the practice time leading up to camp and comes from a ground game at Ohio State that's similar conceptually to what the Cowboys run.

"When he does get back, it just makes that time so much more vital,'' Witten said. "I don't think it's pressure on him. These next few weeks, just have a good training camp and get his legs back up under him.

"He has a big role on our football team.''

Dak Prescott's emergence in the final week-and-a-half of camp and his performance in the preseason opener against the Los Angeles Rams have created a stir. He was the most impressive member of the Cowboys' rookie class. Sixth-round pick Anthony Brown, a cornerback out of Purdue, was next.

The other members of the class didn't see the field because of injuries or struggled.

The defense played well as a unit. Linebacker Sean Lee went so far as to call it a great camp for the players on that side of the ball and singled out one group.

"I think our defensive line has really, really had a great start to camp,'' Lee said. "You look at a lot of these periods, I think we've done a great job being able to go against this offense, especially this great offensive line.

"Being able to battle against them is only going to make us better.''

The effort was there. But the biggest question mark about this team heading into the season remains unanswered.

Too many snaps went to players who aren't likely to make the final roster. Injuries or sickness sidelined veterans Tyrone Crawford, Cedric Thornton, Benson Mayowa and Terrell McClain for significant portions of camp.

Randy Gregory never made it to camp and faces a suspension that will range from four to 10 games.

The four players -- whoever they are -- to start on the defensive line to open the regular season against the New York Giants on Sept. 11 have yet to go through an entire practice together.

"I think we have plenty of time for all of our guys to be ready, especially with the work we've put in during the offseason, the work they've put in to stay in shape,'' Lee said. "I think our guys will be ready.''

Garrett believes this team laid a strong foundation in camp. He calls the approach outstanding. But he's the first to say this team has a long way to go to be ready for the opener.

"We got better in our time here in Oxnard,'' Garrett said.

Maybe.

But it's only a start.

Catch David Moore on The Ticket (KTCK-AM 1310 and 96.7 FM) with The Musers at 9:35 a.m. and The Hardline at 4:10 p .m. every Monday through Friday during training camp.

Twitter: @DavidMooreDMN

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Dallas Cowboys fullback Keith Smith (41) carries the ball against the defense during final practice at training camp in Oxnard, California, Wednesday, August 17, 2016. (Tom Fox/The Dallas Morning News) (Tom Fox / Staff Photographer)

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