Dallas Cowboys RB Ezekiel Elliott Will Not Play In Week 9 Vs Falcons

The Dallas Cowboys will reportedly not have running back Ezekiel Elliott for their NFL Week 9 matchup against the Atlanta Falcons.

Nick Harris of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram shared the stunning news on Saturday, noting the running back did not travel with the team and citing an undisclosed reason for Elliott's absence.

This breaking news is tough for a Cowboys team that needs a win badly , and for an offense that has already struggled to produce on the ground this season. That being said, Elliott has already started taking a back seat to Rico Dowdle in recent weeks until an illness kept Dowdle out of their last game against the San Francisco 49ers.

Ezekiel Elliott's Stats Show A Running Back In Decline

Once the undisputed bell-cow running back for the Cowboys, Elliott hasn't produced at a high level for a few seasons now.

So far in 2024, Elliott has averaged a paltry 3.1 yards per carry, totaling 149 rushing yards and two touchdowns on the ground. The Cowboys have not asked Elliott to carry a full load yet, either, giving him no more than 10 carries in any single contest.

Elliott has not provided much spark as a receiver, either, catching just seven passes for 40 yards this season.

The Cowboys Already Have The Worst Running Game In The NFL

After eight weeks, the Cowboys have the worst rushing attack in the league . The 'Boys average a league-worst 74.1 yards per game, 3.4 yards per carry, and they are tied for the worst mark in the NFL with just three rushing scores.

Thanks to this inability to generate anything on the ground, Dallas features an offense that hasn't been able to get out of its own way all season. Dak Prescott, who just shattered NFL records with a new contract extension, is playing like a bottom-half quarterback thanks to the imbalance.