The Dallas Cowboys potentially could be without running back Ezekiel Elliott after the team announced on Wednesday that Elliott would be held out of practice to rehab a knee injury suffered in last week’s victory over the Detroit Lions.
Elliott downplayed the injury to media members but indicated there was a possibility he would not be able to play the game. It would mark the first time Elliott has missed a game since 2020.
“We still have a lot of time before Sunday,” Elliott said, “but right now, we’re just focused on getting me as healthy as I can.”
The running back said he thinks “it’s a mentality.”
“I believe my team needs me out there. I think pain is temporary, and I need to be out there with my guys. So that’s the priority … It’s my job to be out there and be available.”
Regarding whether he might take a break, he said, “I’m not going to take a game off because I don’t feel 100% … I think that’s soft.”
Elliott has had somewhat of a resurgence this season after dealing with a PCL injury in 2021 that limited his effectiveness in the second half of the season. The Cowboys confirmed that the injured knee Elliott is dealing with now is not the same knee that was injured last season.
Not logging a single 100-yard performance on the ground this season, Elliott has only one game totaling 100 yards rushing and receiving. It was when the Cowboys scored a victory over the New York Giants with backup QB Cooper Rush filling in for Dak Prescott.
Elliott logged only two 100+ yard rushing games last season; those performances came in Weeks 4 and 5. Jane Slater with NFL.com reported in the preseason that Elliott “aggravated” the PCL injury in Week 4 against the Carolina Panthers and re-aggravated the injury throughout the season.
Elliott is currently listed as questionable for Sunday’s game against the Chicago Bears. If Elliott is unable to go, primary rushing duties will fall to Tony Pollard, who has performed an expanded role out of the backfield this season.
“Next guy up,” Pollard said. “In this league, that’s the only thing that is guaranteed … Injuries. So, it’s expected, and the next guy has to be ready to step in. Whatever they ask me to carry, I got it.”
After a breakout, 13-carry, 103-yard performance in Week 1, Pollard’s carries dropped over the next several games. In the last two games, Pollard saw his workload increase.
He totaled 83 yards on 12 carries against Detroit last week, averaging 6.9 yards per carry on the day and 5.6 yards this season. Pollard has the longest offensive play of the season for the Cowboys, a 57-yard run against the L.A. Rams in Week 5.
“I would say I’ve pretty much gotten better in all aspects of my game,” Pollard said. “Just mentally slowing things down in my head so I can play even faster and just be comfortable out there.”
Elliott has struggled to regain the bursting power the back has been known for throughout his career as injuries have piled up in recent seasons. He is averaging only 4.6 yards per carry this season but leads running backs in scores with four, two of which came on one-yard rushes last week.
The Cowboys will evaluate Elliott ahead of the matchup Sunday, and he is likely a game-time decision for the team.
