The Dallas Cowboys will have star running back Ezekiel Elliott after all when they host the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday afternoon.
Even as recently as Thursday, the Dallas Cowboys expected to host the Kansas City Chiefs without their best offensive weapon as running back Ezekiel Elliott was supposed to begin sitting his six-game suspension that’s been appealed time and again to delay it to the midpoint of the regular season. Now, however, Adam Schefter has news that the Cowboys will have their star after all.
Ezekiel Elliott is back for this week. 2nd Cir just granted request for administrative stay.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) November 3, 2017
So Ezekiel Elliott now can play Sunday vs Chiefs. Back and forth it goes.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) November 3, 2017
Ezekiel Elliott fate decided next week; if 2nd Cir panel reverses Judge Failla's rejection of PI, almost certain to last through end of year
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) November 3, 2017
On Thursday, Cowboys reporters noted that Alfred Morris was expected to start at running back against the Chiefs on Sunday afternoon, with the rest of the backs, including Rod Smith and Darren McFadden, also being told they would get their chance to play. Somehow Elliott found another legal way to keep playing and extend his season in the hopes that perhaps Roger Goodell will end up lowering his initial punishment of six games or just do away with it altogether.
The Cowboys offense is certainly much different with Elliott behind the team’s Pro Bowl-laden offensive line. Travis Frederick, Tyron Smith and company are all excellent at creating the sort of lanes that give Elliott room enough for his tremendous burst and vision to take care of the rest. Currently Elliott leads the NFL in rushing touchdowns with six, but he has four of those over the last two weeks where he has averaged over 148 yards rushing per game as he’s found his rhythm as the season wears on.
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Elliott’s presence means that the Chiefs run defense, which has already looked poor for most of this season, must really step up. The change could also make a difference in how the Chiefs have game planned until now with the back and forth creating issues of how much film study the team will be able to do.
Elliott has 164 carries for 690 rushing yards on the season.