BREAKING NEWS: Dak Prescott breaks quiet over Ezekiel Elliott’s return to the Cowboys.
After a one-year absence with the New England Patriots, Ezekiel Elliott has returned to the Dallas Cowboys to play with Dak Prescott. Prescott is overjoyed to be reunited with Elliott in the Dallas backfield.
The Dallas Cowboys signed the running back to a one-year contract for up to $3 million. According to Lawrence Dow of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Prescott couldn’t wait to reintegrate Elliott into the Cowboys offense and culture when he arrived.
“I’m really excited. Prescott said of Elliott, “Just obviously knowing our history, my experience with him as a brother, but also as a teammate, understanding what he brings to the team.” “Just the locker room alone, the culture he sets, a guy that does everything the right way, from the locker room to the field.”
Elliott spent the first seven years of his career with the Cowboys, playing in 103 games. He rushed for 8,262 yards and 68 touchdowns. Elliott was a Rookie of the Year, three-time Pro Bowler, and All-Pro while in Dallas.
Prescott and Elliott joined the Cowboys in 2016, and they were welcomed to the NFL together. Dallas reached the playoffs four times until Elliott’s departure in 2022. Now that they’re back together, the quarterback and running back will try to make their current postseason run the longest ever.
The Cowboys were eager to split company with Elliott owing to the rise of Tony Pollard. They gave him the keys to the running back room in 2023. He rushed for 1,005 yards and six touchdowns. With no touchdown receptions (he had three the previous year), Pollard was deemed to have had a bad year.
It was enough for Dallas to release him in free agency. Pollard signed a three-year, $24 million contract with the Tennessee Titans.
With Pollard no longer in town, Elliott has a much easier path to reps. In his way are the likes of Rico Dowdle, Deuce Vaughn and Royce Freeman.
Dowdle saw the most time of his career in 2023, earning 89 rushing attempts. He turned that into 361 yards and two scores. Vaughn was a rookie in 2023, earning 23 carries for 40 scoreless yards. Freeman signed with Dallas this offseason after running for 319 yards and two touchdowns with the Los Angeles Rams in 2023.
The Cowboys have plenty of questions in their running back room that will need to be answered by training camp. But the fact they brought Elliott back after his year away shows Dallas at least expects him to be a part of their offense. He ran for 642 yards and three touchdowns during his time with the Patriots.
Dak Prescott considers Ezekiel Elliott a brother and is thrilled to have him back in the organization. Their connection may need to rekindle fast, since Elliott is expected to play a significant part in the Cowboys’ running back room.