Working again Ezekiel Elliott appears to be questioning why the Dallas Cowboys reunited with him if they don’t seem to be planning on utilizing him.
On Thursday, Clarence Hill Jr. of DLLS Sports activities shared Elliott has mentioned his function with Dallas’ teaching employees, and he “stays dumbfounded” about his lack of touches within the purple zone.
Elliott began in Week 1 towards the Cleveland Browns, dashing for 40 yards on 10 carries in a 33-17 win. Since then, his function has diminished. Over the previous 4 video games, he hasn’t had greater than six carries.
Dallas could also be lowering Elliott’s function to make method for RB Rico Dowdle. In a 20-17 Week 5 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers (3-2), he rushed for a season-high 87 yards on 20 carries and caught one landing.
Whereas Dowdle deserves extra alternatives, ought to that come at Elliott’s expense? Plus, it does not sound like Elliott is asking to be an RB1 however a red-zone again. He has thrived on this function previously.
Per ESPN, in 15 regular-season video games in 2022, he had 35 carries for 97 yards and 12 TDs when he was within the purple zone. The Cowboys transformed 40 of 56 red-zone makes an attempt (71.4 percent), first within the NFL.
This season, he solely has three carries for 4 yards and one TD within the purple zone. Unsurprisingly, the Cowboys (3-2) have transformed 6-of-13 red-zone makes an attempt (46.2 percent), which is twenty second within the league.
Elliott — a nine-year veteran — can also be much less prone to make expensive errors than Dowdle.
“On a 2nd-and-goal within the remaining moments of the sport [against Pittsburgh], Dowdle made the error of not following the blocking scheme, which doubtless would have led to a sure landing to the skin behind pulling guard Zack Martin,” wrote Hill Thursday. “He inexplicably reduce to the center and jumped within the air the place he met Steelers linebacker Elandon Roberts, leading to a fumble.”
Cowboys QB Dak Prescott recovered the fumble and threw a TD to broad receiver Jalen Tolbert two performs later. If Prescott did not leap on the ball, Dallas in all probability would’ve misplaced the sport.
“It is a lengthy season,” Cowboys proprietor Jerry Jones mentioned of bypassing Elliott in vital goal-line conditions, through ESPN’s Todd Archer. “It is a lengthy season. And so judiciously managing snaps of veteran gamers is a giant a part of the entire present.”
Nonetheless, the Cowboys ought to think about giving the three-time Professional Bowler extra touches. He can nonetheless be a priceless contributor and provides their offense extra punch.
