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Something doesn’t add up with Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott who was not only made inactive for Sunday’s 27-21 loss to the Atlanta Falcons but didn’t even make the trip with the team.
Elliott, a two-time rushing champion and the franchise’s third all-time leading rusher, was disciplined for being tardy for team meetings.
But sources, say the situation has been building for some time and is more than just missing meetings. It was mutually decided it was in Elliott’s best interest to remain in Dallas.
Certainly, Elliott is not happy with his role in the offense. He opened the season the starter but has played behind emerging starter Rico Dowdle ever since and was on the brink of losing reps to practice squad running back Dalvin Cook.
It’s not what Elliott expected when he re-signed with the Cowboys one season after being cut because his high salary and declining play.
He led the New England Patriots in rushing and catches last season and returned to Dallas in hopes of reclaiming some old glory with the team that drafted him fourth overall in 2016.
While Elliott is not the back he once was, his team-first attitude has always stood out.
Him being late to meetings doesn’t jive with the Elliott the Cowboys have always known and lauded.
That’s the person owner Jerry Jones continued to praise in the aftermath of Sunday’s inactive discipline.
“Well, it was a decision that Zeke understands, and so that’s the way he is,” Jones said. And he’s one of the best team men. He’s one of the best workers that I’ve ever been around. That was unconditionally a result of him being late for meetings. I’m not disappointed in him.”
Quarterback Dak Prescott has been Elliott’s best friend since they joined the Cowboys together as rookies in 2016.
He suggested that Elliott possibly needed to stay behind to get himself together but he is not ready to give up on him.
“Definitely difficult situation,” Prescott said. “Me being as close as I am with him, wanting to help. And I think this this will be good. And I say that is obviously there’s a mutual decision for him to not take this trip, whether, whether just getting himself together. And I’d like to just see you know, us rally around him, be the teammates and the brothers that we are and good will come from it.”
Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy said the team will re-evaluate Elliott’s situation on Monday.
It’s a huge decision for the Cowboys, who are 3-5 and riding a three-game losing streak.
Dowdle has emerged as the team’s primary back and reinforced his standing with a strong effort against the Falcons, rushing 12 times for 75 yards. He also had five catches for 32 yards and a touchdown.
Cook has yet to make an impact. He had two carries for four yards against the Falcons one week after rushing six times for 12 yards against the San Francisco 49ers. He also had a crucial pre-snap penalty against the Falcons.
The Cowboys can elevate Cook from practice squad one more time before having to sign him to the active roster.
With Dowdle seemingly getting the bulk of carries moving forward, it doesn’t make sense to have Cook and Elliott on the roster.
Elliott has 149 yards on 48 carries this season. His 3.1 yards per carry is a carry low. But it’s better than what Cook has done so far in limited action.
Again, Jones the decision on Sunday was simply about Elliott breaking a team rule.
“We have rules,” Jones said. “You run red lights, you do things like that — I can’t emphasize enough what an exemplary teammate Zeke is, and I want to be real clear about that. In my mind, he’s what a football player is all about. But this was a discipline thing.”