Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has fired back at Ezekiel Elliott after the running back questioned coaches about his limited role so far this season.
Speaking to Cowboys reporter Clarence Hill Jr. of DLLS Sports, Elliott said he is “dumbfounded” by his lack of opportunities this season, especially when the offense gets inside the red zone. He also admitted to approaching the Cowboys coaching staff, questioning his limited role.
“It’s definitely a little different but keep your head down,” Elliott told Hill. “I just focus on being a good teammate. I’ve been focusing on continuing to help lead this team and I’m not making it about me, it’s about this football team (winning) football games.”
Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott confirmed he has talked to the coaches about his role and remains dumbfounded by his lack of opportunities at least as red zone back
— Clarence Hill Jr (@clarencehilljr) October 10, 2024
Going into Week 6 of the season, Elliott ranks 55th among all players in carries (30) and is 70th in rushing yards at 98. He only has one touchdown on the season.
Related: Ezekiel Elliott seemingly takes shot at Dallas Cowboys coaching staff, unhappy over role
The Cowboys selected Elliott fourth overall in the 2016 NFL Draft. During his first seven years with Dallas, Elliott was a two-time rushing champion, a three-time Pro Bowler, and a one-time All-Pro.
He signed a one-year deal with the New England Patriots in 2023, but came back home to the Cowboys for 2024 after the team let running back Tony Pollard walk.
Elliott thought he would be getting more touches in the early part of the season, but that hasn’t been the case. He was on the field for 51% of the snaps in Week 1, but that has fallen precipitously since. In Week 2, it was down to 40 percent, then 19% and 18% in Weeks 3 and 4. However, his snap usage went up to 30% in Week 5’s win against the New York Giants.
Instead, running back Rico Dowdle has begun to emerge as the top threat in the Cowboys’ backfield committee.
Related: See where the Dallas Cowboys rank in Sportsnaut’s NFL power rankings
Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones fires back at Ezekiel Elliott
During an appearance Friday on 105.3 The Fan, Jones responded to Elliott’s criticism.
Jerry calls Zeke ‘dumbfounded’ report an exaggeration and mischaracterization https://t.co/riUgp4WT6S
— Shan Shariff (@1053SS) October 11, 2024
“That’s an exaggeration. ‘Dumfounded’ is a mischaracterization and a bad description of how he feels about things. … We’re saving him, and we should be,” Jones said. “Rico is an outstanding running back. He’s always had the challenge because of his size of doing his 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.”
What Jones and the Cowboys are “saving” Elliott for remains to be seen.
The Cowboys are 3.5-point home underdogs against the Detroit Lions this Sunday.
Sportsnaut’s Matt Johnson contributed to this report.
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