Dallas police suspends investigation into Dallas Cowboys RB Ezekiel Elliott's alleged assault

The Dallas Police Department has suspended its investigation of an alleged assault involving Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott, citing a lack of witnesses and an inability to contact the victim.

"(The Dallas Police Department has) made several attempts to contact the victim through various ways but at this time have not been able to make contact," the police said in a statement.

The alleged incident occurred at Clutch Bar in Dallas late Sunday night and left a 30-year-old man hospitalized with a nose injury, according to a police report. No arrests were made, and police did not name any suspects.

An NFL official said earlier this week that the league is aware of the situation involving Elliott and "looking into it to understand the facts."

Dallas coach Jason Garrett said earlier on Wednesday that he planned to speak with Elliott about the incident on Friday.

Elliott was already under investigation by the NFL stemming from a 2016 domestic violence accusation that caused police in Columbus, Ohio, to question him. A former girlfriend alleged Elliott forcibly pulled her out of a car.

The reigning Offensive Rookie of the Year had been preparing a response to the league to be submitted in the next week, sources told ESPN.

Multiple sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter that Elliott could face a one- or two-game suspension, but the NFL denied it made a decision on a course of disciplinary action.

The NFL personal conduct policy affords the option of up to a six-game suspension for first-time offenders even if they are not convicted of a crime or face legal punishment. The length of the suspension can be reduced based on mitigating factors.

In July 2016, Elliott was questioned by authorities and he was cleared of any legal wrongdoing after the Columbus city prosecutor's office determined there wasn't enough substance to pursue charges after a lengthy investigation. But the NFL began its own probe and declined a status update in January and again in February during Commissioner Roger Goodell's state of the league address in Houston.

Elliott, the fourth overall pick in the 2016 draft out of Ohio State, rushed for 1,631 yards and 15 touchdowns as a rookie last season, leading the NFL in rushing yards.