What Happened To Ezekiel Elliott?

Ezekiel Elliott was the first-round number four selection for the Cowboys in the 2016 NFL Draft that looked very promising. Having built up a strong reputation on the field in his college days, Cowboys’ fans were all hyped up and ready to witness the next great in Elliott. In general, Ezekiel has got an athlete's DNA as both of his parents were former athletes at the collegiate level. His mother excelled in three sports but most notably in track, while his father was a linebacker for the Missouri football team. His maternal grandfather was also a basketball player so sports was always an important part of his life. As a matter of fact, Elliott while in high school Elliott played basketball, baseball, and track along with football as a running back.

‘Zeke’, as he is commonly referred to, started out strong in his rookie year. However, things have been going a bit downhill for the past two-three years. That is not to say that he has completely fallen out, but the problem lies in the fact that he has not been able to meet the lofty expectations he himself set with his ability and skill. Before deep diving into how his NFL career is shaping up, it is first important to understand his greatness during his college days that put a lot of expectations on his broad shoulders.

Also Read: where did Ezekiel Elliott get traded to?

Ezekiel Elliot at Ohio State

Elliott was considered a four star recruit out of high school and although there was much pressure on him to sign for the University of Missouri which is where both of his parents went, Zeke decided to attend Ohio State University. The Buckeyes have an excellent football program and a rich history in college football, so his choice was in all likelihood the better of the two.

As a freshman, Zeke didn’t get much time on the field as he was the backup running back. In 2014 though, Elliott became the starter and then had two monstrous years running wild for the Buckeyes. In both seasons, he put up over 1,800 rushing yards along with 18 and 23 rushing touchdowns respectively.

Some of his accomplishments include rushing for over 100 yards in six games in 2014 while he decimated that in 2015 with 10 straight 100-yard games. In his total college career, he ran for over 200 yards in a game five times which is a Buckeye’s record tied with Eddie George. Such monumental achievements put him in the running as college football’s top running back.

What went wrong with Ezekiel Elliott

Taken as the first running back off the board in 2016, the Cowboys and Elliott started off well. Twice in his first three years he led the league in most rushing yards and was on pace for another great year in 2017 but he missed out on the season’s first six games due to a suspension from the league on account of domestic violence against his ex-girlfriend.

Even though he has topped over 1,000 rushing yards in four of his seven seasons with the Cowboys, and come close on two more occasions, his performance has dipped slowly. 2020 was the first sign of some trouble as he first missed the 1,000-yard mark while playing the entire season and also fumbled the ball on a career high 6 times, losing it on 5 occasions.

Since 2020, Zeke’s numbers have slowly but steadily come down even if it is not a dramatic slide by any means. However, 2022 saw him have his worst season by far putting up the lowest numbers of his career in almost all important categories except for rushing touchdowns. The same pattern can be seen in his playoff appearances as the past two years have seen him slump in form drastically.

Ezekiel Elliot’s Current Status

The Dallas Cowboys after the end of the 2022 NFL season had a bit of thinking to do and eventually decided to let go of Elliott citing two main factors in the decision. First and foremost, the Cowboys management needed to free up some cap space for further signings and secondly, the declining production on Zeke’s part. As a result of which the star running back is now a free agent still searching for a team.

Ezekiel Elliot with New England Patriots

On August 16, 2023, Elliott signed a one-year contract with the New England Patriots. Joining the Patriots as a complementary back, Elliott was primarily utilized in third-down and red-zone situations behind starter Rhamondre Stevenson. Despite sharing the backfield, Elliott made notable contributions, including a standout performance in Week 14 where he recorded 140 scrimmage yards and a receiving touchdown in a win over the Steelers. Elliott's 2023 season ended with 184 carries for 642 yards and three touchdowns, along with 51 receptions for 313 yards and two touchdowns in 17 games and five starts.

Dallas Cowboys (Second Stint)

Elliott returned to the Dallas Cowboys on April 30, 2024, signing a one-year contract. This second stint with the Cowboys marks a reunion with the team where he initially made his mark in the NFL.