OXNARD, Calif. - With Ezekiel Elliott holding out for a new contract, the first-team running back for the Cowboys is Darius Jackson.

Jackson got the majority of reps with the first-team offense during a walkthrough practice on Saturday and he's embracing role as a starter, at least until Elliott returns.

"I had no idea, you could never guess something like that," Jackson said. "Coming into this camp, no matter what, I was ready to continue to prove myself as you got to do in this league day in and day out. And I'm ready for anything."

In 2016, the Cowboys drafted Jackson in the sixth round and he stuck around until he was cut that December. Cleveland claimed him off waivers and he spent a year with the Browns before he was released last May. Dallas signed him to its practice squad and that's where he resided until Green Bay signed him in September.

But Jackson was cut by the Packers last October and the Cowboys signed him again to the practice squad. He was promoted to the 53-man roster in late December. And Jackson was finally able to see the field in a game, getting six carries for 16 yards in a Dec. 30 game at the New York Giants.

"My journey has been a little different," Jackson said. "You guys don't know all the details. It was big for me just coming back to this system. I felt like I had unfinished business and I still do. So that's what I'm after, just chasing, after accomplishing my personal goals."

Jackson said the entire running back room is behind Elliott and understands this holdout is business and nothing personal.

"One hundred percent (behind Elliott)," Jackson said. "Everyone knows the business side of things are a little messy and you never know how it might turn out. We just focused on what we got to do out here and that's his business."