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The Cowboys are expected to turn to Tony Pollard as their lead running back this week. Ezekiel Elliott is not on track to suit up against the Bears, Clarence Hill of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram tweets.
Battling a knee injury, Elliott not playing this week would give him an extended stretch to heal up. Dallas’ bye looms in Week 9. Jerry Jones cited the bye in addressing how the Cowboys plan to manage Elliott ahead of their Bears matchup. The owner’s comments during his most recent 105.3 The Fan appearance point to the longtime starting back sitting Sunday (Twitter
links via the Dallas Morning News’ Michael Gehlken).
Elliott suffered a grade 2 MCL sprain during the Cowboys’ Week 7 game against the Lions, Hill notes, adding the seventh-year back also sustained a thigh bruise. Mike McCarthy confirmed an MRI revealed a sprain but has not ruled Elliott out for Week 8. The former rushing champion has not practiced this week. This is the same knee in which Elliott suffered a PCL tear in 2021. This element would certainly point to the Cowboys giving their longtime starter a longer recovery window.
Although Elliott missed six games in 2017 because of a suspension, he has never missed more than one in a season. The three-time Pro Bowler played all 18 Cowboys games last season, navigating the PCL issue to grind out a fourth 1,000-yard season. Zeke did not display top form as he battled that PCL injury, which could be expected, but he still scored 12 touchdowns and amassed 1,289 scrimmage yards.
This season, Elliott is averaging 4.1 yards per carry (109 totes, 443 yards). Pollard, who is in his third season in a change-of-pace role, is averaging 5.6 yards a pop (67 handoffs, 375 yards). The smaller back has also been a bigger part of Dallas’ passing game, totaling 105 receiving yards. Increased Pollard receiving usage came up during the offseason, but Sunday will represent a chance for more ground-game work.
The Cowboys extended Elliott on a six-year, $90M deal in 2019. He is tied to a $12.4M base salary this season and a running back-high $18.2M cap number. No other back counts more than $12M against his team’s cap this year.
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