Cowboys facing trouble without Ezekiel Elliott

The Dallas Cowboys are already in the midst of a disappointing season, and it could get much worse.

After being suspended for six games back in August, Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott appealed the ban and ultimately as granted an injunction from the courts, allowing him to play the first five games of the year. In that stretch, Dallas has gone an underwhelming 2-3, leaving it in third place of the NFC East behind the Philadelphia Eagles and Washington Redskins.

Now, the Cowboys could be losing Elliott for those six games, with a ruling from the fifth-circuit that states the injunction is no longer valid. In essence, Elliott is suspended effective immediately an won’t be able to return until the end of November. While Elliott could continue to fight the issue and potentially put the suspension off for awhile (or even forever should he win the case), Dallas is dealing with a crippling blow at the moment. The league released a statement on the matter, per NFL.com:

“Earlier today, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals vacated the preliminary injunction that prohibited the league from imposing the six-game suspension issued to Ezekiel Elliott for a violation of the Personal Conduct Policy,” the league wrote in a statement. “The Court also directed the district court to dismiss the union’s lawsuit which was filed on Elliott’s behalf. As a result, Elliott’s suspension will begin effective immediately. Elliott is eligible to return to the team on Friday, November 24 following the Cowboys’ Thursday, November 23 game against the Los Angeles Chargers.”

Should the suspension stick, it’s fair to wonder if the Cowboys are going to miss the playoffs. With their first-team All-Pro running back, the issue was in doubt, but without him, the climb seems borderline impossible.

While Elliott is out, Dallas has to take on the Redskins, Eagles, Atlanta Falcons and Kansas City Chiefs, all arguably top-eight teams in the league. It would be tough for Dallas to win two or three of those games completely healthy considering the issues surrounding the defense. Without their best player, the Cowboys would be in a tough way.

However, the struggles in Dallas shouldn’t be shocking. Over the past 10 years, the NFL has seen 33 teams go from missing the playoffs to making them, accompanied with an increase of at least four wins. Last year, the Cowboys, Miami Dolphins, Oakland Raiders and New York Giants fit that bill. Of the previous 29 teams to accomplish that feat, only 11 reached the playoffs in the following campaign.

If the playoffs began today, none of them would be in the postseason.

This story likely has many twists and turns ahead, but for now, the Cowboys are in real trouble.