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Jerry Jones Says Cowboys Are 'Saving' Ezekiel Elliott amid Rumors About RB's Usage

Mike Chiari@@mikechiariX.com LogoFeatured Columnist IVOctober 11, 2024

ARLINGTON, TX - SEPTEMBER 15: Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott (15) waits for the play to start during the game between the Dallas Cowboys and the New Orleans Saints on September 15, 2024 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Matthew Pearce/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Matthew Pearce/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones explained the team's limited usage of veteran running back Ezekiel Elliott so far this season during a radio interview Friday.

Appearing on 105.3 The Fan (h/t Jon Machota of The Athletic), Jones said the following in reference to Elliott: "We're saving him. And we should be."

Jones' comment was in response to a question about Elliott apparently taking issue with how he has been utilized.

Cowboys reporter Clarence Hill Jr. wrote Thursday on X that Elliott "confirmed" he has spoken to the Cowboys coaching staff about his usage, noting that Zeke is "dumbfounded" by how he has been deployed, especially in terms of his lack of red-zone opportunities.

The 29-year-old Elliott spent his first seven NFL seasons in Dallas, and he was a superstar for much of that time, earning three Pro Bowl nods and one First Team All-Pro selection.

However, after Elliott rushed for what was then a career-low 876 yards in 2022, the Cowboys parted ways with him and he signed with the New England Patriots in free agency.

Tony Pollard was the Cowboys' lead back last season, but he left for the Tennessee Titans in free agency, which prompted Dallas to bring Zeke back on a one-year deal.

It was widely expected that Elliott would be the Cowboys' starter in 2024 after the front office declined to make any other moves of significance at running back, he has started only one of the team's five games so far.

Since getting the start, playing 51 percent of snaps and rushing for 40 yards and a touchdown in Week 1, Elliott has rushed for a total of 58 yards and no scores over the past four weeks combined.

Elliott played 40 percent of snaps in Week 2, followed by 19 percent in Week 3, 18 percent in Week 4 and 30 percent last week.

The Cowboys have instead turned to Rico Dowdle as their No. 1 back, giving him four starts. He has also played between 43 percent and 50 percent of the offensive snaps in every game.

Dowdle has gotten progressively more productive as well, scoring a receiving touchdown in each of the past two weeks and rushing for a season-high 87 yards on 20 carries last week.

As for Elliott, he has seen his rushing yardage per game decrease in each of his NFL seasons, and with an average of 19.6 rushing yards per game this season, he is in line to become the first running back in NFL history to have his rushing yards per game go down in eight straight campaigns:

Football Perspective @fbgchase

Ezekiel Elliott is averaging 20 rushing yards per game after averaging 38 yards per game.<br><br>He is almost certainly going to be the first RB to see his rushing yards per game decline in 8 straight seasons. <a href="https://t.co/Wj4i6fBy7S">https://t.co/Wj4i6fBy7S</a>

Elliott's dip in production and playing time suggests the Cowboys don't view him as the answer in the backfield and perhaps have more trust in the younger and fresher Dowdle, who is 26.

While Elliott has carried the ball 2,095 times in his career, Dowdle has just 150 carries, meaning there is significantly less wear and tear on his body.

Still, Elliott has a track record of success as a pass protector and in terms of getting into the end zone with 72 career rushing touchdowns and 14 career receiving touchdowns to his credit.

That means Elliott could still be a valuable player but has not gotten many opportunities to prove it.

However, if Jones' comment is true, it may be a case of the Cowboys wanted to keep Elliott fresh and healthy before unleashing him more consistently down the stretch and in the playoffs.