Why is Ezekiel Elliott not playing today? Everything we know about Cowboys RB for Week 9 vs Falcons

There was some reported rift between Ezekiel Elliott and the Dallas Cowboys for some time. From reportedly snubbing three team meetings to arriving late to team activities, Elliott was "indisciplined," as per the team.

The final straw came on Saturday when the Jerry Jones-owned Cowboys decided to bench Elliott against the Atlanta Falcons for Sunday's game.

NFL reporter Jane Slater tweeted:

"Ezekiel Elliott is a healthy scratch today. The first of his career. According to a number of sources, Elliott has been distracted this season."

She added:

"Aside from habitual tardiness, he’s missed three team meetings with Friday’s meeting the final straw. Both parties decided it was best he didn’t make the trip to Atlanta."

As a result of this decision, Rico Dowdle is expected to be the main RB for the Cowboys and additionally, Dalvin Cook has been called up from the practice squad.

Rico Dowlde will have added responsiblity with Dallas Cowboys benching Ezekiel Elliott

There's a high possibility that the Dallas Cowboys would want RB Rico Dowdle to take the lead in more critical runs since Elliott's skills have mostly been utilized in blocking or short-yardage plays.

Dowdle, who signed with the Cowboys in March 2024 has shown a lot of promise this season. In 2024, he ranks 36th among all NFL RBs, thanks to his 49.7 fantasy points. Moreover, in Week 5, he had his best game as he rushed for 87 yards, along with 27 receiving yards and a touchdown.

It is safe to say that Rico Dowdle is slowly making his mark in the league which can highly benefit the Cowboys, a team that is otherwise struggling with its running game.

This is Ezekiel Elliot's second stint with the Dallas Cowboys. Before signing with the team in April 2024, he played with the New England Patriots in the 2023 NFL season following his release from the Cowboys after 2022.

Since the Dallas Cowboys currently possess the worst rushing offense among all the teams in the league at 3.4 yards per carry, Ezekiel Elliott's absence will surely further complicate the offensive strategy.

However, on the positive side, Dowdle's moment to shine is right now.