ARLINGTON, Texas — Dak Prescott dealt with the uncertainty of running back Ezekiel Elliott’s looming six-game suspension last year when the Dallas Cowboys slid from an NFC-best 13 wins to out of the playoffs.

Now the star quarterback faces the unknown of a revamped and largely unproven group of receivers after the departures of Jason Witten and Dez Bryant.

Elliott, Prescott’s fellow rookie standout from two years ago, is the supposed sure thing for a team looking up in the NFC East at defending Super Bowl champ Philadelphia.

Cole Beasley is the leader of the pass-catchers simply by having the longest Dallas tenure. The Cowboys have high hopes for newcomer Allen Hurns and rookie Michael Gallup, the first receiver drafted by the club (third round) after dumping franchise touchdown catch leader Bryant in a cost-cutting move.

“They’re very hungry guys,” Prescott said. “They’re guys that you may not necessarily know their names, but that’s what they want. They want to get out there and make those plays, let people know that they can play and they can play at a high level.”

Elliott ended up serving the suspension over domestic violence allegations halfway through last season, triggering a three-game losing streak that was too much to overcome in the tight NFC playoff race.

Throw in the retirement of Tony Romo last year spurred by the sudden emergence of Prescott, and the team’s three most important offensive players for a decade have been replaced by Elliott, the 2016 rushing champion, and his backfield mate, that year’s NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year.

“It just shows how fast time goes and how quick things can change, but I think we’re both ready to embrace this leadership role,” said Elliott, who still led the NFL in yards rushing per game last season. “We’re excited for this year to come.”