FRISCO, Texas — The Dallas Cowboys have announced that running back Ezekiel Elliott will not be traveling to Atlanta, effectively sidelining him for Sunday’s game. The team has not provided specific reasons for his absence.
This decision marks a significant moment in Elliott’s career, as it is the first game he will miss in his eight-year tenure with the Cowboys that is not related to injury, suspension, or instances where he was not utilized due to the game’s context.
Reports indicate, via undisclosed sources, that Elliott’s absence may be related to disciplinary measures. The former No. 4 overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft, Elliott had previously spent a year with the New England Patriots after being released by the Cowboys due to budgetary constraints following the 2022 season.
At 29 years old, Elliott’s return to Dallas has not yielded the best results. He is currently averaging a career-low 3.1 yards per carry, totaling 149 yards over 48 attempts. Remarkably, he has contributed the only two rushing touchdowns from a running back in what is currently the least effective ground game in the NFL, with the Cowboys averaging only 74 rushing yards per game.
To fill the gap left by Elliott, Dalvin Cook has been elevated from the practice squad for the second straight week and is expected to back up Rico Dowdle, who missed last week’s game against San Francisco due to illness.
Elliott achieved significant accolades early in his career, earning two rushing titles within his first three seasons and leading the league in rushing yards per game during his suspension related to domestic violence allegations. In his blockbuster career with the Cowboys, he has missed only five games outside of suspensions, three due to injuries, and two at the end of seasons when the team was already playoff-bound.
The running back’s recent touchdown against the 49ers marked his 70th score with Dallas, putting him just two touchdowns behind Hall of Famer Tony Dorsett for second place on the franchise’s all-time list. Cowboys legend Emmitt Smith, also a Hall of Famer, holds the record for the most rushing yards and touchdowns in the team’s history.