ATLANTA — The ending might be near.
Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott will not travel to Sunday’s Week 9 contest against the Falcons for disciplinary reasons, a person with knowledge of the decision told The Dallas Morning News. The move to make Elliott inactive raises questions about his future with the franchise.
Elliott, the third leading rusher in franchise history, had grown frustrated with a diminished role and had spoken with team officials about it.
After starting the season opener, Elliott’s playing time was reduced. He returned to the starting lineup last Sunday at San Francisco when Rico Dowdle was a late scratch because of a high fever. Elliott rushed for 34 yards on 10 carries with a touchdown in the loss.
Elliott has played 34.5% of the offensive snaps this season, which is slightly more than fullback Hunter Luepke (33.4%). Elliott has never finished a season playing fewer than 50% of the offensive snaps in his career.
Despite this, Elliott continued to support the team’s decisions when speaking with reporters publicly.
It’s the third time in Elliott’s career he’s become a healthy scratch.
He was inactive for games at the end of the 2016 and 2018 seasons because the Cowboys had clinched playoff spots.
After playing his first seven seasons with the Cowboys, Elliott signed with New England on a one-year deal in 2023.
Dallas brought him back this offseason, signing him to a one-year deal worth $3 million with a $600,000 signing bonus.
Given his current status, the need to release Elliott might be best for everyone involved.
With Elliott inactive for the Falcons game, Dalvin Cook, Dowdle and Luepke will be the running back/fullback combination. There is also a possibility running back Deuce Vaughn is active.
The Cowboys elevated Cook from the practice squad for the second time this year to pair with Dowdle. Also, cornerback Josh Butler was elevated from the practice squad to the gameday roster. Butler is being moved up with the possibility Trevon Diggs (calf) doesn’t play. He hasn’t practiced this week with a calf injury and remains a game-time decision.
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