Ezekiel Elliott started just five games for the Patriots last season, which came in the final five games when Rhamondre Stevenson was injured with a high ankle sprain. Elliott returned to the Cowboys this offseason and will begin the season as the default RB1.

The Cowboys have Elliott listed as their starting running back, and coach Mike McCarthy confirmed Wednesday that he has approved it.

“Hey, let’s face it. You don’t just play 11 guys on offense or defense,” McCarthy said, via Jon Machota of TheAthletic.com. “So, I mean, usually it’s closer to the 14 that you would consider starters. And this even goes beyond the depth chart, because when you’re going to announce an offense or defense, teams that I’ve been a part of never just announce 11 guys. So I think it’s a product of that. So it’s also going to take more than one running back. That’s just not the way we want to play. I don’t want to go into the rotation. We can talk more about that next week, but those guys are all going to play.”

Elliott may not get the most snaps or the most touches for the Cowboys, who released Tony Pollard in free agency and replaced him with Elliott and Dalvin Cook, whom they recently signed to the practice squad.

Rico Dowdle recently said he expects a bigger role in the offense, and that’s likely the case with the team’s running back by committee. Dowdle replaced Pollard last season and had 89 carries for 361 yards.

The Cowboys’ only running back with much experience as a special teams player is Malik Davis, who is on the practice squad.

Dallas’ depth chart features rookie Marist Liufau over DeMarvion Overshown at linebacker, with three other rookies set to start. Cornerback Caelon Carson became a starter after DaRon Bland was injured, and center Cooper Beebe and left tackle Tyler Guyton earned starting jobs.

Since the merger of the AFL and NFL, the Cowboys have never started four rookies in the opening game of a season.