RB Ezekiel Elliott inactive for disciplinary reasons, not traveling with Dallas Cowboys to Atlanta

Push has come to shove for running back Ezekiel Elliott and the Dallas Cowboys over his confounding role with the team.

Elliott was left behind by the team ahead of Sunday’s game against the Atlanta Falcons for disciplinary reasons, per a source.

The two-time NFL rushing champ will be a healthy inactive for the first time in his career.

According to the source, things have building for a while with Elliott, who returned to the Cowboys in 2024 one season after the franchise’s third all-time leading rusher was cut because of his high salary and declining production.

He spent last season with New England Patriots, leading the team in rushing yards and receptions before re-signing with the Cowboys on a minimum deal with the hopes taking care of some unfinished business with the organization that drafted him fourth overall in 2016.

After opening the season as the starter, Elliott played behind Rico Dowdle for the next five games.

And when the team to decided to elevate Dalvin Cook from the practice squad ahead of last Sunday’s 30-24 loss to the San Francisco 49ers, Elliott was scheduled to be the third running back behind Dowdle and Cook.

But Dowdle got sick before the game and Elliott was elevated to the starting role.

The team planned to have all three runners active against the Falcons until Saturday’s move to leave a disgruntled Elliott behind.

Elliott has 48 carries for 149 and two touchdowns this season. His 3.1 averaged yards per carry is a carry low.

Dowdle leads the Cowboys in rushing 59 carries for 249 yards.

The Cowboys have the worst rushing attack in the NFL. They are 32nd in yards, yards per game and rushing touchdowns.