Emmanuel Acho had some stern words about Ezekiel Elliott after the Cowboys running back was left out of their game today against the Falcons in Week 9 of the 2024 NFL season. The player did not accompany the rest of the team on the flight, and the NFL analyst reacted harshly to the news.
As a veteran, Ezekiel Elliott is expected to provide leadership, per Emmanuel Acho. That the running back has instead got himself into trouble did not sit well with the former footballer. He wrote on X, formerly Twitter,
"9 year NFL vet still getting disciplinary suspensions? Smh"
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Ezekiel Elliott's absence could be more damaging to the RB than the Cowboys
Ezekiel Elliott returned to the Cowboys this season after spending a year with the New England Patriots to fill in for the departure of Tony Pollard to the Tennessee Titans. As teams looked to upgrade on that spot, Jerry Jones chose to bring the former fan favorite back to Dallas.
The running back has recorded just 149 yards in seven games this season. He has an average of 3.1 yards per attempt, having carried the ball 48 times. It is a poor return, especially considering there was a time when the Cowboys were being linked to Derrick Henry, who is now flourishing with the Ravens and has made them a genuine Super Bowl contender.
Meanwhile, Dallas goes into this game today against Atlanta with a losing record. They are 3-4 for the season and are falling behind the Commanders and the Eagles in the NFC East. Even a Wild Card berth looks out of reach at the moment, with all four teams in the NFC North boasting a winning record.
The failure of the run game has contributed to Dak Prescott throwing more, and he has relapsed into his old habits of giving up costly interceptions. That he is the highest-paid player in league history does not help.
Within this context, Ezekiel Elliott might fear that whoever shares his workload against the Falcons could presumably end up doing better than him and that could mean the end of his career with the Cowboys and the NFL. They have added Dalvin Cook for veteran presence, and Rico Dowdle is already establishing himself as the first-choice in this position.
The disciplinary issues that the one-time favorite is facing today could lead to him further falling down the pecking order to the point where he is considered dispensable. No elaboration has been given for what exactly transpired.
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