Cowboys bring back veteran running back Ezekiel Elliott
After the Dallas Cowboys went through the 2024 NFL draft without selecting a running back, the front office added much-needed stability by inking veteran running back Ezekiel Elliott to a one-year deal worth up to $3 million.
Elliott spent last season with the New England Patriots, where he played a significant role. He rushed for a team-best 642 yards on 184 carries with three touchdowns and made a team-best 51 catches for 313 receiving yards and two touchdowns.
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“Well, Zeke, as we all know, is one of our favorites,” Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones said Thursday via ESPN. “He’s laid it on the line for this franchise. He’s the ultimate competitor. I mean, he’s a guy that we obviously think a lot of.”
The 28-year-old brings another viable option to the backfield, which lost Tony Pollard to the Tennessee Titans in free agency.
Elliott isn’t the explosive rusher he once was, but he remains an effective goal-line option. Due to his familiarity with the Cowboys’ offensive scheme, he will have a shot at earning the starting job.
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Although he could grab the lead-back role, the Cowboys won’t ask him to be the bell-cow option as the team will mix in Rico Dowdle, Royce Freeman, and Deuce Vaughn into the fold.
Dallas could have a much different offensive game plan that leans more heavily on the passing game, especially with Pollard gone. Pro Bowl quarterback Dak Prescott will likely be asked to do much of the heavy lifting in the passing game.
