Cowboys’ Ezekiel Elliott will miss Falcons game due to disciplinary reasons

FRISCO, Texas – Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott will not be able to travel to Atlanta and will miss Sunday’s game for reasons the team has not disclosed.

Saturday’s announcement means Elliott will miss a game for the first time in eight seasons during two stints with the Cowboys due to injury, suspension or for reasons other than games where punts could not justify stepping away.

ESPN cited anonymous sources in reporting the absence It was due to disciplineS.

Elliott, the No. 4 overall pick in the 2016 draft by two-time champion Dallas, returned to his original team in the offseason after a year in New England. The Cowboys released Elliott after the 2022 season in a cost-cutting move.

The return of the 29-year-old player was not very productive. Elliott is averaging a career-worst 3.1 yards per carry with 149 yards on 48 attempts. He has only two rushing touchdowns by running backs in the NFL’s worst running game. Dallas (3-4) is averaging just 74 yards per game on the ground.

Dalvin Cook has been removed from the practice squad for the second straight week and will serve as Rico Dowdle’s backup against the Falcons (5-3).

Dowdle was the final scratch in last week’s 30-24 loss to San Francisco due to illness.

Elliott won both championships in his first three seasons.

Last year, he led the NFL in rushing yards per game when he was suspended six games for domestic violence allegations.

Elliott missed just five games outside of suspension in his first seven seasons with the Cowboys.

Three of those were due to injuries and two were regular-season finales with the Cowboys already in the playoffs.

Elliott’s goal against the 49ers last weekend was his 70th field goal against Dallas; He finished second on the club’s career list, two behind Pro Football Hall of Famer Tony Dorsett. The NFL’s all-time rushing leader, Emmitt Smith, also a Hall of Famer, leads the Cowboys in rushing yards and touchdowns.