The Dallas Cowboys are set to take on the Atlanta Falcons today at noon in their Week 9 matchup, but America’s Team will be without running back Ezekiel Elliott after he was ruled inactive for disciplinary issues.
Elliott has been ruled a healthy scratch and will not make the trip with the team due to these disciplinary concerns, though Dallas has not provided any details about the issues that arose, as reported by ESPN’s Todd Archer.
This game will be the first time in Elliott’s career that he has been a healthy scratch outside of season finales that did not impact the team’s standings.
Elliott has struggled to find his footing through the first half of the 2024 season, totaling just 149 rushing yards with two touchdowns and collecting just seven receptions for 40 receiving yards.
The ninth-year running back has also averaged a career-low of 3.1 yards per rushing attempt, making four straight seasons in which his rushing yards per attempt have declined.
The news of Elliott’s inactive status resulted in Dallas opting to elevate running back Dalvin Cook from the practice squad to the active roster. This is the second straight week the Cowboys have decided to make this move.
The Cowboys will rely heavily on Cook and Rico Dowdle, who will return to the field after being ruled inactive last week due to illness.
Dallas is also set to take on the Falcons without linebacker Micah Parsons or cornerback Daron Bland, who were each rumored to be close to making returns before being ruled out of this Week 9 matchup.
Parsons will now miss his fourth straight game after suffering a high ankle sprain against the New York Giants in Week 4, though Cowboys Head Coach Mike McCarthy has continually stated that the linebacker has been making good progress on his recovery.
Meanwhile, Bland has yet to play for the Cowboys this season after suffering a stress fracture in his foot before the season, but his recent elevation from the injured reserve list is a promising sign that he should return soon.
Picking up a win against Atlanta will be incredibly important for the Cowboys, who are looking to stay alive for a playoff race. Due to the success of the Washington Commanders and Philadelphia Eagles, they are looking increasingly unlikely to win the NFC East division.
Although a win would not move the Cowboys into the playoff picture at the conclusion of Week 9, it would bring them back to .500 on the season and allow the team to likely be just one game behind one of the wild card spots.
