Ezekiel Elliott doesn’t travel with Cowboys, won’t play Sunday in Atlanta

Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott will not play against the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday.

Elliott is slated to be inactive for the game and is not traveling due to disciplinary reasons, a team source confirmed.

He was not on the team charter that left DFW on Saturday afternoon.

It’s been a messy reunion for Elliott and the Cowboys in 2024, as he returned on a one-year deal over the offseason after a season with the New England Patriots and has yet to find his stride in a running game that ranks dead last in every major category in the NFL including yards (519), attempts (152) and yards per carry (3.4).

After starting the season opener against the Cleveland Browns, Elliott has been relegated to backup responsibilities behind Rico Dowdle. His 48 attempts for 149 yards both rank second on the team and he has two of the team’s three rushing touchdowns on the year. His numbers have seen a substantial drop-off from his time with the Patriots when he accounted for 955 total yards and five touchdowns.

In Elliott’s absence, the Cowboys will trot out Dowdle along with Dalvin Cook who will make his second consecutive appearance off the practice squad. Deuce Vaughn is also an option as well as fullback Hunter Luepke. With the NFL trade deadline approaching on Tuesday, it could be one final look at the running back room before the front office could potentially make a move if Jerry Jones and Co. deem it necessary.

The Cowboys are set to kick off against the Falcons at 12:00 p.m. CST on Sunday on at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. The game will be televised on FOX.