The Dallas Cowboys are open to a potential reunion with running back Ezekiel Elliott, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.
Fowler reports that Dallas liked the way Elliott finished his season with New England, where he played in all 17 games.
Elliott, 28, finished the season with 642 rushing yards and three touchdowns along with 313 receiving yards and two touchdowns.
His workload significantly increased towards the end of the season when starting running back Rhamondre Stevenson suffered a high ankle sprain during the Patriot’s 6-0 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 13.
The Dallas Cowboys and running back Ezekiel Elliott are reportedly open to a reunion, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. Getty ImagesHe played 51% of the offensive snaps with the Patriots, and his 51 receptions were a team-high.
Elliott spent the first seven seasons of his career with Dallas before being released last March.
In August, he signed a one-year deal worth $3 million with New England and is currently a free agent.
The Cowboys selected Elliott fourth overall in the 2016 NFL draft and he went on to lead the NFL in rushing yards in two of his first three years in the league, in 2016 and 2018.
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Elliott has been selected to the Pro Bowl three times in his career, all with Dallas.
He has rushed for 8,904 yards and 71 touchdowns in his eight-year career.
Elliott was essentially replaced by Tony Pollard, who rushed for 1,007 yards and nine touchdowns in 2022.
His 2023 campaign was a little disappointing, rushing for 1,005 yards but only for six touchdowns. His yards-per-carry average also dipped from 5.2 yards in 2022 to 4.0 in 2023.
After being released by Dallas after the 2022 season, Elliott signed a one-year deal with the Patriots. He is currently a free agent. Bill Kostroun/New York Post Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliott meet on the field after the game at AT&T Stadium on October 01, 2023 in Arlington, Texas. Getty ImagesDespite Pollard’s down year, he signed a three-year $21 million deal with the Tennessee Titans, leaving a running back hole in the Cowboys roster.
That’s where the reunion between Dallas and Elliott makes sense.
Currently, the only running backs on the Cowboys roster are Rico Dowdle, Deuce Vaughn, Malik Davis and Snoop Conner.
None of those backs are a No. 1 running back, though Dowdle showed promise last season with 361 yards and two touchdowns.
