Running back Ezekiel Elliott’s reunion season with the Dallas Cowboys has produced modest results thus far.
It was reported on Thursday that the three-time Pro Bowler was “dumbfounded” by his role in the offense, specifically his lack of work in the red zone.
Team owner Jerry Jones addressed the topic on Friday, and his explanation left many Cowboys fans scratching their heads.
Elliott isn’t what he once was in his ninth season, as evidenced by his declining rushing numbers since his last 1,000-yard season in 2021.
The Ohio State product posted 1,002 rushing yards and 10 scores on the ground via 237 attempts, plus 47 catches for 287 receiving yards and two touchdowns through the air in 2021. Elliott dropped to 231 carries for 876 yards with career lows in receptions (17) and receiving yards (92) in his final year with Dallas in 2022, but still had 12 rushing scores.
He accumulated 642 yards and scored three touchdowns on 184 carries while playing second fiddle to Rhamondre Stevenson during his lone season with the New England Patriots in 2023. Zeke had his most productive year as a pass-catcher since 2020, registering 51 receptions for 313 yards and two touchdowns.
Elliott’s usage has dwindled since collecting 40 yards and a touchdown on 10 carries in Week 1 this year.
The 29-year-old’s yards per carry have decreased each season from 2021 (4.2) to 2024 (3.3), so his days as a workhorse back are past him.
Rico Dowdle has led the Cowboys backfield this fall, gaining 221 yards on 54 carries (plus 11 receptions for 101 yards and two touchdowns), but has yet to hit paydirt on the ground.
With no other running back having more than seven carries this year, it’d be in Dallas’ best interest to keep Dowdle as the starter but get Elliott more incorporated due to his knack for finding the end zone.
