The NFL made it official. Ezekiel Elliott is being suspended, pending an appeal, for six games after an investigation found he did commit domestic violence.
Specifically, the investigation, which lasted over a year, found that Elliott “engaged in physical violence against Ms. Thompson multiple times.”
The league released a statement Friday, noting it conducted interviews with more than a dozen witnesses and that it consulted with medical experts.
“League investigators examined all available evidence, including photographic and digital evidence, thousands of text messages and other records of electronic communications.”
NFL makes it official. #Giants pic.twitter.com/dgnjg4mOx2
— James Kratch (@JamesKratch) August 11, 2017
Elliott has also reportedly been told that he could be banned from the game for any future violations.
If Zeke Elliott has “any additional violations” of @NFL policy it “may result in your suspension or potential banishment,” Elliott was told
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 11, 2017
Elliott has three days to file an appeal.
If he does not win the appeal, then he’d be eligible to re-join his teammates on October 23, after the team’s Week 6 game against the San Francisco 49ers.
This ruling by the NFL is going to be heavily scrutinized. Elliott was cleared by police of domestic violence charges last summer, and the Cowboys have been on the offensive the past few weeks saying the league had no evidence of domestic violence.
Elliott made the First-team All-Pro squad last year after leading the NFL in rushing with 1,631 yards and 15 touchdowns on the ground.