Todd Archer provides the latest in Ezekiel Elliott's desire to play in Week 1 for the Cowboys. (1:13)

OXNARD, Calif. -- Dallas Cowboys rookie running back Ezekiel Elliott had his most extensive work in practice since being sidelined by a sore right hamstring on Aug. 2, but he did not take part in a full session Tuesday.

"Everything felt good," Elliott said. "The hammy didn't tighten up or anything so I feel ready to go."

But not so much ready to go for Friday's preseason game against the Miami Dolphins at AT&T Stadium. Elliott went through individual drills on Tuesday and then worked off to the side. The hope is to give him some more work Wednesday and have him return to full action next week when the Cowboys return to practice at The Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas.

"With this injury, you've got to be patient," Elliott said. "You can't rush it back, it can turn into a six-, seven-week out injury. So you want to be smart with it and make sure you're good."

"Everything felt good," Ezekiel Elliott said of Tuesday's practice. "The hammy didn't tighten up or anything so I feel ready to go." Kelvin Kuo/USA TODAY Sports

But Elliott wants to play some in the preseason. The Cowboys play the Seattle Seahawks on Aug. 25, when the starters will see their most extensive action. The Cowboys rarely play any starters in their fourth preseason game, which is Sept. 1 against the Houston Texans.

They open the regular season Sept. 11 against the New York Giants.

"I think I do. I think I need to get back out here, get some game reps so I can be ready for Week 1," Elliott said. "It's kind of different going out there and going live, I haven't had any live settings yet since I played in college. So I think I need to get some of those reps."

Despite missing eight practices, Elliott does not feel like he has fallen behind.

"I've done a good job of paying attention and getting my mental reps," Elliott said. "Today or even [Monday] when I came out for the first walk-through I didn't feel like I missed that much time. I just have to knock a little rust off and finally back to work."