It’s not exactly as Ezekiel Elliott envisioned when he reunited with his beloved Dallas Cowboys in 2024, but he’s not rocking the boat over the reduced role he’s seen through the first five games of the season — his rep count being turned down following the Week 1 victory against the Cleveland Browns.
The win over the Pittsburgh Steelers featured Rico Dowdle having a career game, and it helped push the Cowboys to a 3-2 record on the season and their first two-game win streak of the 2024 season.
In mixing in Hunter Luepke more as well, the three-man unit finally got the Cowboys’ rushing attack going, and against the No. 2-ranked run defense in the league, no less, and that’s what Elliott is keyed in on most.
“I think the biggest thing is we got the attempts [for the group],” said Elliott. “I think it is tough early in the game when you run the football, because the defenses, they’re not tired, They’re fresh and all geared up. But once you get that second half and you start getting those attempts, you start to see that D-line wear down.
“We started to see that front wear down and those guys getting pushed off the ball. So, I mean, I think the biggest thing is to continue to try to get those attempts.”
The committee combined for a total of 28 handoffs, 31 in all when factoring in Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb and KaVontae Turpin, and head coach Mike McCarthy noted after the game that the sweet spot there is roughly 30 carries.
Mission accomplished, for the first time this season.
As for Elliott’s role in how the committee is being relegated to a backup capacity, owner and general manager Jerry Jones was unequivocal in describing the Cowboys’ plan, in that it’s a long NFL season and, at some point, that means they’ll need Elliott to have fresh legs.
“That’s an exaggeration. Dumbfounded is a mischaracterization and a bad description of how he feels about things,” said Jones to 105.3 The Fan on Friday ahead of the matchup against the Detroit Lions. “… We’re saving him, and we should be. Rico is an outstanding running back, outstanding, but he’s always had the challenge because of his size in blocking and protecting the quarterback.
“But his big problem has been what? He’s had injuries over the course of his career. So it would be madness to depend on [that]. … Zeke is there and we want to protect him over this particular period of time.”
It’s something Elliott understands and, though it’s taken some getting used to by the former two-time NFL rushing champ, he’s been able to both absorb and maintain his drive despite of.
“It is definitely a little different, but I mean just to keep my head down, continue to work. Hopefully my opportunity comes,” said Elliott. “Just kind of letting it play itself out. Honestly, I’ve been focused on being a good teammate. I’ve been focusing on continuing to help lead this team.
“Not really so much making it about me, just making it about this football team, to win football games.”
At the most brutal and punishing position in football, the Cowboys are playing the long game, and it might pay off well for them before it’s all said-and-done.