El Segundo, California – The Los Angeles Chargers welcomed Ezekiel Elliott to their practice squad on Tuesday, setting the stage for the veteran running back’s return to the field after being released by the Dallas Cowboys on December 31. This decision allows Elliott to potentially assist a playoff team in need of an experienced ball carrier as the Chargers embark on their postseason journey.
The Chargers, who finished the regular season with an 11-6 record, are set to kick off their playoff campaign against the Houston Texans this Saturday in the wild-card round. Coach Jim Harbaugh reflected on previous encounters with Elliott, sharing that he still feels the impact of Elliott’s impressive performances against his teams, particularly recalling a game in 2015 where Elliott rushed for 214 yards and two touchdowns during a significant victory for Ohio State. Harbaugh expressed enthusiasm for Elliott’s arrival, stating, “Competitors welcome. It is great to see him. He’s here and he’ll start going at it today.”
Joining Elliott on the practice squad is a familiar face: Joey Bosa, who was Elliott’s roommate during their time at Ohio State during the 2014 national championship season. Both players entered the NFL in 2016, with Bosa being selected by the Chargers as the third overall pick and Elliott going to the Cowboys just one pick later.
Elliott’s statistics this season were less than stellar, as he recorded only 74 carries for 226 rushing yards – marking career lows across the board with an average of 3.1 yards per carry. Despite these numbers, Elliott boasts impressive career totals of 9,130 rushing yards and 74 rushing touchdowns over his nine seasons in the league. It remains uncertain how quickly Elliott can acclimatize before the vital playoff match on Saturday.
Currently, J.K. Dobbins serves as the primary running back for the Chargers, significantly enhancing their rushing offense. With Dobbins in the lineup, Los Angeles is averaging 121.8 rushing yards and 4.1 yards per carry, in stark contrast to the lower averages of 74.8 yards per game and 3.6 yards per carry during Dobbins’s absence due to a knee injury. Dobbins concluded the regular season with a career-high 905 rushing yards and nine touchdowns, and he has performed well since returning from injured reserve, racking up 139 yards on 37 carries across two victories.
Gus Edwards, who is returning from a two-game absence due to an ankle injury, participated in practice on Tuesday, providing additional depth alongside Hassan Haskins and Kimani Vidal, both of whom are also on the active roster. The trend of acquiring veteran running backs in the lead-up to playoff games seems to be growing, resembling last season’s events when Dalvin Cook joined the Baltimore Ravens after being released by the New York Jets.
In a roster move to accommodate Elliott, the Chargers released wide receiver Laviska Shenault from their practice squad.
In other notes from practice, receivers Joshua Palmer (foot) missed the session, while offensive tackle Rashawn Slater was limited after previous knee discomfort. Additionally, receiver Simi Fehoko has returned to practice after recovering from a dislocated elbow sustained earlier in the season.
