ARLINGTON, Texas — Ezekiel Elliott made his return as a player for the Dallas Cowboys just a week after being sidelined for disciplinary issues. Unfortunately for him, the running back had a significant fumble in the first half during the team’s match against their NFC East rival, the Philadelphia Eagles.

Elliott’s fumble occurred in the end zone when the Cowboys had the opportunity to take the lead in the second quarter. The ball was recovered by Philadelphia’s Cooper DeJean, turning a potential scoring drive into a critical missed opportunity.

A two-time rushing champion during his first seven seasons with the Cowboys, Elliott returned to Dallas this year but did not travel with the team for their previous game against Atlanta, which ended in a 27-21 defeat. His absence was due to tardiness for team meetings, marking the first instance where he was a healthy scratch for the Cowboys in a game that held significance.

At the moment of Elliott’s fumble, the Cowboys were trailing the Eagles 7-3. However, they received another opportunity when linebacker Micah Parsons sacked quarterback Jalen Hurts, causing a fumble that was recovered by Marist Liufau.

Following the turnover, Elliott was given the first carry from the 6-yard line of the Eagles and managed to gain 3 yards. However, after an unsuccessful pass attempt, starting running back Rico Dowdle lost 2 yards, forcing the Cowboys to settle for a field goal instead of a touchdown.