After one season with the New England Patriots, Ezekiel Elliott returned to the Dallas Cowboys, signing a one-year, $2 million deal. Unfortunately, his start to the NFL season has been less than ideal.
Elliott is averaging a career-low 3.0 yards per carry and has played only 33% of his team’s total snaps. A few days ago, he voiced his concern about the lack of opportunities, but Jerry Jones confirmed that the team has considered Elliott’s injury history and doesn’t want to get him hurt before the playoffs.
“I just focus on being a good teammate,” Elliott said. “I’ve been focusing on continuing to help lead this team and I’m not making it about me, it’s about this football team (winning) football games.”
Elliott’s production has been heavily criticized by fans, and the running back’s father recently defended him.
Ezekiel Elliott’s Dad Issues $10,000 Challenge
Elliott’s father, Stacy Elliott, in a conversation on “The Final Word,” issued a challenge of $10,000 for people who think that his son is “washed.”
“If you say he’s washed up, show me the tape,” said Stacy. “If you say his career is over, show me the tape, and I’ll pay you $10,000.”
Fans on social media have come up with stats and videos to win the challenge, but Elliott’s father has not accepted the defeat so far.
@stacy_elliott I’ll take my 10k now thanks pic.twitter.com/GdwPkz58qx
— B_Reed23 (@Reed23B) October 22, 2024
The Cowboys running back has rushed for 115 yards and a touchdown on 38 carries. He is averaging career-low numbers in rushing attempts per game, rushing yards per game, and yards per carry. Rico Dowdle has been preferred ahead of Elliott, and he has played 43% of total snaps for the Cowboys but is averaging just 3.3 yards per carry.
Elliott is a three-time Pro Bowler and has had a good career, but at this point in time, he has not been able to deliver on the opportunities that the team has given him. This could be his last year with the Cowboys, as the team could consider drafting or signing multiple RBs next season after largely ignoring the position this year.
All of these numbers are compounded by the fact that Derrick Henry, who openly admitted that he would have liked to sign with the Cowboys during free agency, is putting up career numbers.
Henry, a three-time All-Pro, currently leads the league with 873 rushing yards. The Ravens won their fifth consecutive win on Monday night 41-31 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, where the former Titan rushed for 169 yards. This marked his fourth 100-yard rushing performance of the season and his third performance with over 150 rushing yards.
Yet, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones continued to find excuses for the situation that Dallas is currently in. “I don’t know if he’d be having a career year in our situation,” Jones said in a recent radio interview with 105.3 The Fan. “We don’t run that type of offense at all. Derrick Henry didn’t fit (because of) managing the (salary) cap.”
A Look at Cowboys’ Struggling Start To the Season
The Cowboys are off to a 3-3 start to the year and could potentially miss the playoffs. They had a bye in Week 7 and will play the San Francisco 49ers in their next game.
Dallas is unable to run the ball and cannot stop the opposition’s running game. The NFC East franchise is averaging 77.2 rushing yards per game and 3.5 yards per carry. On the other hand, their defense allows an average of 143.2 rushing yards per game and 4.2 yards per carry.
Troy Aikman recently criticized the team’s wide receivers for their poor route running, and with so many issues on offense, Dak Prescott is simply unable to play well. The Cowboys quarterback signed a four-year, $240 million contract extension before the start of the season. In six games, he has thrown for 1,602 yards, eight touchdowns, and six interceptions, completing 63.4% of his throws with a passer rating of 85.5.
Head coach Mike McCarthy is in the final year of his contract with the Cowboys, and given how the team has played so far, he is unlikely to return next season. The upcoming game against the 49ers is crucial for Dallas, as San Francisco is dealing with injuries to multiple key players. A loss in Week 8 could force Jerry Jones to make some hard decisions.
