FRISCO, Texas -- There was a time when Alfred Morris and Darren McFadden were like Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott.

From 2012-14, Morris had three straight 1,000-yard seasons for the Washington Redskins. As a rookie, he ran through the Cowboys defense for 200 yards and three touchdowns in a de facto NFC East championship game in Week 17.

McFadden was once viewed as Elliott is. He was the fourth overall pick by the Oakland Raiders in 2008. Injuries told most of his story in Oakland, but in his third year he ran for 1,157 yards. He wouldn't have another 1,000-yard season until 2015, his first with the Cowboys, when he finished fourth in the league in rushing.

With Elliott likely set to miss the next six games because of a suspension, the Cowboys will call on Morris, McFadden and Rod Smith to do what Elliott has been able to do since joining the team in 2016.

None of the running backs knows just how much work he will get. Nor do any of the coaches. Jason Garrett said all three backs will get opportunities.

That's all Morris and McFadden want.

Morris had more than 200 carries in each of his first four seasons. But when he signed with the Cowboys as a free agent in 2016, the team had not yet selected Elliott in the first round. In his two seasons with Dallas, he has had more than eight carries in a game just once.

"There's no pressure. I mean, I've done this before," Morris said. "I came out as a rookie and I've done this before. I've done it my first few years -- over 1,000 yards. I was productive."

McFadden has yet to play in a game this season, a healthy scratch through seven weeks. He played in only three games last year because of a broken elbow suffered in the offseason. The last time he was an every-down back, in 2015, he ran for 1,089 yards for the Cowboys, doing most of his damage in the final 10 games of that season.

"I know game speed is different than practice, but I feel like it all starts with practice," McFadden said. "I've been out there practicing, running a lot of scout team, going against our first-team defense. And to me, going against them in practice is just about like playing in a game. So I feel like I'm going to be ready for it. It'll be a little rusty, but I'm sure it won't take long to shake it off."

Of the three, Smith is the least experienced. He has 74 yards rushing in his career, with 69 coming this season and 45 coming on one run.

"We've given Rod different opportunities to run the football, play on third down," Garrett said. "He's been a very good special teams contributor for us. He's just a guy who comes to work every day with tremendous passion. He loves to play. He's getting better and better every day. He's going to get an opportunity to do something for us on offense as well."

Garrett said each of the running backs bring different things to the offense. Morris has had success in the wide-zone running scheme. McFadden has top-end speed even at 30 years old. Smith runs with power.

Morris and McFadden were last lead backs two years ago. Smith hasn't been a lead back since high school. Combined, maybe they can do what Elliott has done. They have the backing of their coaches and teammates.

They also have their own confidence.

"A lot of people thinking, 'Oh, the run game's going to falter or this is going to falter because Zeke's not here,' but that's not the case," Morris said. "Will we miss him? Yeah, but at the same time the train goes on. So we're going to do our job and show up every day and work hard."