Due to the drama which followed Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott during the 2017 season, many have questioned just how mature he is. Pundits have wondered if he can be a leader in the Cowboys locker room, or if he is even a “good teammate” at all.

OTAs have officially opened, and Ezekiel Elliott is in attendance for the voluntary workouts. Not only is he in attendance, however, but according to NFL Network’s Jane Slater, he is displaying real leadership.

I saw real maturity from #Cowboys RB Ezekiel Elliott today. He was coaching up the young kids. Told me it was something whole leadership council discussed and says that's how you win…bring up the young guys. Also says he is working on leading by example and being more vocal.

— Jane Slater (@SlaterNFL) May 23, 2018

Jane Slater tweeted on Wednesday that Ezekiel Elliott was “coaching up the young kids,” and is working on “leading by example and being more vocal.” Elliott seemed disengaged at times on Amazon’s All or Nothing, and it was clear that his looking suspension weighed heavy on his shoulders.

Now that the issue is behind him, Ezekiel Elliott should be able to return to his 2016 form: not only on the field as a player but also as a teammate and a leader. Of course, you don’t want to draw too many conclusions from such a small glimpse into these players’ lives, but Elliott did not seem himself during 2017.

It is certainly a great sign for the earliest reports out of Cowboys OTAs to sound like this one.