FRISCO -- Jason Witten appreciates the assumption he will soon take his place alongside the sport's greats.

Who wouldn't? A little more than five weeks ago, as he walked through the Hall of Fame waiting for the induction of owner Jerry Jones, the Cowboys tight end got chills.

Questions about one day joining that group come more frequently at this stage of his career. Again, it's flattering. But you don't find yourself a week or two away from cracking the NFL's top five all-time receptions list by getting ahead of yourself.

Witten enjoys being part of this team. He believes there's more to accomplish and is driven to do all he can to make it happen. Please stop asking him to reflect on a career that isn't over.

He's not a bust in a museum yet.

"It's a tricky deal, right?" Witten said. "You always want to show your appreciation and you're humbleness.

"At the same time, I love where I'm at right now. I kind of like living in the world where you're defined right now."

Right now, Witten has more receiving yards than any player in Cowboys history. He passed Michael Irvin for that honor in Sunday night's win over the New York Giants.

Another record falls this weekend. The game against Denver will be No. 225 for Witten, easing him past Ed "Too Tall" Jones and into the top spot on the franchise list.

Former Cowboys coach Bill Parcells loved to say that football players need to play football during football season. No one takes that the heart more than Witten.

"It's outrageous," linebacker Sean Lee said. "For him to be able to play like that, I mean, he's a legend. We all see him as a legend in this locker room.

"As much as that's impressive, it's also the day in and day out that goes along with him playing so well, how he practices."

It can be the final practice of training camp or the last day of preparation for a game and there's Witten on a 7-on-7 route, fully extending himself for a diving catch.

That's what teammates see day in and day out. They don't see a 35-year-old star scaling back in practice or picking his spots. That's why he's revered by Lee and others in the Dallas locker room.

"Everything you can want as a leader, he has," Lee said. "Everything you can want on the field, the way he plays, how talented he is, how skilled he is. He's the complete package and really the role model for all of us to look up to.

"I learned early you better be prepared for how he runs his routes. But then he'll change them on you, now, once you get a bead on how he's running them. He's a savvy guy."

It's well known that Witten and former Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo are close. They came into the league together. When the history of Witten is written Romo will have a significant part.

But it's just as clear that the veteran tight end is energized by this young, exciting Cowboys nucleus. He wants to be part of the next chapter with Dak Prescott, Ezekiel Elliott and others.

He has too much respect for his teammates and what they can do together to attempt to articulate his legacy now.

"I really don't try to think that way," Witten said. "My approach has always been when I evaluate it, how can I get better, how can I continue to play?

"Certainly, I know where I am in my career and all of my focus truly has been on that there is a happy ending to the final chapters here, and that is competing and winning a championship."

Bob Lilly is known as Mr. Cowboy. No one is suggesting the first player drafted in franchise history, and the first one into the Hall of Fame, should be stripped of that title.

But Witten is worthy of carrying that nickname for another generation.

"That's how we see him," Lee said. "There is nobody better to represent this franchise, and really no one better to represent the NFL and how you succeed on and off the field."

All of this talk about Witten's place in history makes him uncomfortable.

"That's right," he said. "They'll be plenty of time to reflect and do that.

"Right now, I'm just trying to make the kids' fantasy team proud, you know."

He's off to a good start.

In Year 15.