Ezekiel Elliotts second Cowboys act isnt going as he planned: Dumbfounded

Ezekiel Elliott is hungry.The Cowboys once-star back can see his portion has slid across the table.Clearly, he’s looking to get some of it back.“Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott confirmed he has talked to the coaches about his role and remains dumbfounded by his lack of opportunities at least as [sic] red zone back,” longtime Cowboys reporter Clarence Hill posted to X on Thursday.Through Dallas’ first five games of the season, Elliott has played 108 snaps— 50 less than the new starter, Rico Dowdle.Since reuniting with the Cowboys following a one-year hiatus, Elliott, 29, has rushed for a career-low 3.3 yards per game.

The three-time Pro Bowler has added 36 yards through the air on six receptions.Earlier in his career, Elliott was one of the league’s top backs.He led the NFL in rushing yards twice, including during his rookie campaign in 2016.In seven seasons at the top of the Cowboys’ depth chart, he recorded 10,598 yards from scrimmage and 80 touchdowns.This season, Elliott’s competing for touches with both Dowdle and Hunter Luepke.Dowdle, a fourth-year back out of South Carolina, has been efficient on the season — rushing for 221 yards on 54 carries, plus 101 yards on 11 receptions — but imperfect.

His fumble inside the one-yard line in the final moments of last week’s win over the Steelers could have cost the game, though the ball was recovered by Dallas.  Leading up to that turbulent moment, head coach Mike McCarthy’s preference for Dowdle was evident.Elliott didn’t touch the ball once on Dallas’ 16-play, 90-yard touchdown drive in the third quarter.

Dowdle had the ball in his hands on more than half of those plays and recorded the touchdown— a 22-yard reception to put the Cowboy’s ahead, 13-10.By game’s end, Dowdle had logged 20 carries to Elliott’s six. When asked about Elliott’s role moving forward, owner Jerry Jones said, “it’s a long season.And so judiciously managing snaps of veteran players is a big par...