Morning briefing: 3-Nov-24 – Zeke Elliott did not travel to Atlanta with Cowboys team for ‘disciplinary reasons’

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Blogging the Boys

Dallas Cowboys news: Ezekiel Elliott won’t travel to Falcons game due to disciplinary reasons

With Dalvin Cook set to be promoted for Sunday’s game against the Falcons, Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott is not making the trip to Atlanta with the team.

It was reported on Saturday that Cook would once again be called up and that Elliott would not only be inactive, but that he was not even making the trip with the team.

What is more is that shortly after that report came [a clarification] from ESPN’s Todd Archer where he noted that Elliott’s absence was due to disciplinary reasons.

Criticism has come from far and wide for how the Cowboys handled the running back position over the offseason with how the most notable “addition” to the room was bringing back franchise icon Ezekiel Elliott. To date, Zeke has been one of the least explosive running backs in the game and last week Dallas turned to Dalvin Cook, who they signed very late in the game, to try and mix things up.

ESPN

Is Giants fan-favorite QB Tommy DeVito inching closer to another opportunity?

DeVito took the area by storm while winning those three straight games spanning mid-November into early December last season. It came just months after going undrafted out of the University of Illinois.

Living at home and not shy about his Italian heritage, he is relatable to a large portion of the fanbase. It made him an instant sensation being the ultimate ‘Jersey boy’ who hit the Italian pinched fingers celebration on touchdowns.

It’s hard to imagine that DeVito isn’t the most famous third-string quarterback in the NFL. When he’s walking in public next to Lock, there is no competition for who gets recognized more frequently. It’s DeVito who gets his teammates the reservation to famous New York Italian restaurant Carbone or tickets to Yankees World Series games. He was there for Games 4 and 5 this week in the Bronx.

[T]here is still a segment of the fanbase that appreciates what the hometown hero did as a rookie. And with the Giants struggling, that subset of the fanbase longs for last year’s rags-to-riches fairytale story. The thought process seems to be, at the very least, it will make it more exciting than watching Jones struggle again.

NBC Sports

Lane Johnson explains how push from players helped change Eagles’ offense

Lane Johnson said he and some offensive linemen made a push to transform the Eagles’ offensive identity.

Right tackle Lane Johnson on Friday afternoon explained that during and just after the bye week, he and other veteran members of the Eagles’ offensive line spoke up in offensive meetings to push for more runs and play action passes.

“It was really an offensive-led movement,” Johnson said. “We knew we had to make some adjustments. Some of the guys, some of the leaders, veterans, on the O-line, we had our fair share of talks and help in it. We just want the offense to be the best version of itself and win some games and hopefully score some points in the f—ing first quarter.”

Johnson, along with Jordan Mailata and Landon Dickerson, were vocal in offensive meetings to find a new formula to get the offense rolling at a better clip.

Johnson on Friday compared it to the shift in offensive philosophy the team went through during the 2021 season beginning with the Lions game in Week 8 that year. Before that game, the Eagles were 2-5 but turned things around to finish with a 9-8 record and a playoff berth. They did it by leaning more on the run game.

After averaging 21.5 points per game in the first three weeks of the season, the Eagles have averaged 28.3 during this three-game winning streak.

Pro Football Focus

NFL Week 9 Preview: Schedule, storylines and matchups to watch

Dallas Cowboys vs. Atlanta Falcons (-2.5)

Storyline of the game: Can the Cowboys slow down this Falcons running game?

Kirk Cousins and the Falcons closed out the first half of the year with a positive 5-3 record, having won four of their last five off of powerful offensive performances. Since Week 4, this offense has generated the fifth-highest EPA per play, a credit to holding the league’s highest-graded rushing offense (92.0) over that span.

Dallas’ struggles halting opposing running games has been at the forefront of the team’s defensive issues, having generated the NFL’s lowest team run defense grade (43.6). After seven games, this defense has tallied just 20 tackles for loss or no gain on run plays —the fewest in the NFL — while surrendering 4.73 average yards of depth per tackle.

Matchups to watch: Falcons RB Bijan Robinson vs. Cowboys LB Eric Kendricks

The man behind this powerful Falcons running game, Bijan Robinson, has been playing lights-out in recent weeks. The second-year ‘back has laid claim to a league-leading 91.1 PFF rushing grade since Week 6, powered by 3.1 yards after contact per attempt and a trio of scores.

Slowing down Robinson and this Falcons running game will be a group effort, but the one that sets the tone in that regard has to be Eric Kendricks. The veteran linebacker holds the team’s highest run defense grade (73.4) by a defender with 100-or-more run defense stats. While he missed a pair of tackles this past week, he has also generated 14 run stops.

Additional news:

• Cowboys DE Sam Williams, who suffered a season-ending knee injury this summer, has been suspended for three games due to violations of the NFL’s personal conduct policy.
• Cowboys CB DaRon Bland activated from IR, status unclear if he returns this week.
• Dallas opens the week with big names in Edge Micah Parsons (ankle), CB Trevon Diggs (calf) and OG Zack Martin (shoulder) on the injury report.

Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Philadelphia Eagles (-7.5)

Storyline of the game: Eagles hitting their stride heading into back-half of the year

The Eagles closed out a perfect 3-0 run in October with a pair of incredible performances on the road, taking down Cincinnati and New York by a combined 45-point margin of victory. Jalen Hurts‘ resurgence is due significant credit. Over the past three games, the quarterback has culminated in an 87.0 overall offensive grade — the third-highest at the position over that span.

On the other sideline, the Jaguars are struggling to string together wins amid game mismanagement and injuries, seemingly squandering good performances from Trevor Lawrence. Now, this offense may have to contend without a number of their top weapons heading into the week of practice. After losing Christian Kirk for the year, the Jags may also need to find fill-ins for Brian Thomas Jr., Gabe Davis, Travis Etienne and Tank Bigsby, who opened the week as limited in practice.

Matchups to watch: Eagles RB Saquon Barkley vs. Jaguars LB Foyesade Oluokun

Having a dynamic back like Saquon Barkley has proven to be game-changing for this Eagles offense amid its offensive breakout heading into the second half of the year. Barkley is a threat in both facets of the game, currently holding a top-10 overall offensive grade (81.0) at the position. On the ground, he’s generating 5.9 yards per carry, having surpassed 80 yards of rushing production in all but one of his seven outings.

Oluokon, the Jags’ veteran linebacker, returned from injury this past week to produce his best run defense grade (72.1) of his limited season. This beleaguered defense will need it again this week. Against the Packers last week, Oluokun notched a pair of run stops, including his second tackle for loss or no gain this season.

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The Athletic (paywall)

Russini’s what I’m hearing about NFL trade deadline: 13 players, 18 teams to watch closely

It’s no surprise the red-hot Washington Commanders are calling around in search of a corner. Coach Dan Quinn knows this is a weakness on his roster, and at 6-2, Washington needs help if they want to get past the Philadelphia Eagles and their superb receiver group in the NFC East.

It’s a poorly kept secret that the New York Giants, sitting in last place in the NFC East, are shopping young edge rusher Azeez Ojulari. Teams that are keeping an eye on the 24-year-old include the Falcons, Cardinals and Bengals. The Giants are already paying Brian Burns and spent a top-five pick on Kayvon Thibodeaux, so with Ojulari set to hit free agency after the season, GM Joe Schoen is trying to get something in return for him now.

No surprise: Buffalo safety Mike Edwards is available, and so is Jaguars five-time Pro Bowl guard Brandon Scherff

Teams have until 4 p.m. on Tuesday to make a major move. Make sure you check out Tuesday’s episode of the “Scoop City” podcast for all the latest on the trade deadline.