Ellis, just one season into a two-year deal with the Oakland Raiders, was released Monday, saving the team $2.5 million. Ellis tied for the team lead with seven sacks last season while playing defensive end, but he was hampered by knee and shoulder problems during the second half of the season.
Ellis' agent, James Williams, said Tuesday night his client is open to returning to the Cowboys, who drafted him in the first round in 1998. He still is eighth in franchise history with 77 sacks.
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Williams said Ellis is open to coming off the bench, something that bothered the outside linebacker at the end of his tenure in Dallas.
Ellis and the Cowboys parted ways last spring, as the team wanted to give Anthony Spencer the full-time job at outside linebacker.
Spencer emerged with six sacks, 36 quarterback pressures and a team-leading nine tackles for loss.
The Cowboys could use Ellis as a third-down pass rusher, something coach Wade Phillips was trying to get him to do when he was here.
