Ezekiel Elliott and his legal team are looking to find the way to keep the running back on the field, but Dallas Cowboys must not worry about that as their focus shifts to the next game against Kansas City Chiefs. The squad had their first practice without Elliott, who will be replaced by Alfred Morris, Darren McFadden, and Rod Smith.
“We have great confidence in those guys,” Garrett said. “They’ve had success in this league. Obviously, Alfred is someone who’s been very productive as a runner in this league. Darren was very productive for us a couple years ago, and we feel really good about Rod Smith and how he’s developed and the role that he can play for us. All of those guys will play, and we’ll just keep going down the road.”
When the NFL suspends a player, he cannot be with the team, but what he can do is be with the strength and conditioning coaches as well as athletic trainers. Garrett heard from Elliott after the victory over the Washington Redskins when the running back went to New York City for the hearing.
The Cowboys have been waiting for the suspension to be enforced ever since summer, and they have been preparing for that outcome. The league suspended Zeke since he violated the league’s personal conduct policy related to domestic violence allegations by Tiffany Thompson, his former girlfriend. Prosecutors in Columbus, Ohio decided not to charge Elliott, but NFL continued the investigation, which lasted for a year.
After series of back-and-forth moves by both the NFLPA and the league, we have come to the point that Elliott’s request for a preliminary injunction has been denied, which means that the NFLPA is going to ask for an expedited hearing, which they cannot do until next week.
With their star RB out, Dallas will have to adjust their game plan, but they will still rely heavily on their rushing game. Head coach Jason Garrett wants to put the pressure off of Dak Prescott, Dez Bryant, and the other wide receivers since Cowboys will try to play the same way as they have done with Zeke.
“The most important thing you can do in football is go out and do your job,” Garrett said. “There’s 11 guys on each play that have a job and a responsibility to do. What we try to do as coaches is emphasize the importance of everybody doing their job to their fullest. And we’ll continue to do that.”
