Ezekiel Elliott’s Cowboys Spot Questioned After Apparent Demotion

Amid the smiles and back-pats that followed the Cowboys’ gutsy win over the Steelers on Sunday was one simple and cold truth: Former star running back Ezekiel Elliott is not about to come back and become current Cowboys star Ezekiel Elliott. In fact, by the time the Dallas wrapped up its dramatic 20-17 road victory, it was apparent that Elliott’s demotion on the Cowboys’ depth chart is a permanent fixture.

Rico Dowdle had 20 carries for 87 yards on Sunday night. He has firmed up his position as the Cowboys’ clear No. 1 runner, a process that has developed over the course of this season.

The two split carries in the first two weeks, with Elliott getting 16 carries and Dowdle getting 15. Over the next two weeks, it was clear that Dowdle pulled ahead of Elliott, taking 19 carries in Weeks 4 and 5 combined, with Elliott getting eight. But in Week 5 it was clear that Elliott is in danger of falling off the depth chart altogether.

He had just six carries for 17 yards, a mere 2.8 yards per carry. That drops Elliott to a career low of 3.3 yards per attempt.

Worse, Cowboys fans noted throughout the game that Dallas was reluctant to use Elliott in third-and-short situations, which is where he should—theoretically—still be useful. But the Cowboys had a third-and-1 play in the first quarter and called a pass play, had another third-and-1 in the third quarter and gave the ball to Hunter Luepke, and had yet another to start the fourth quarter, and handed the ball to Dowdle.

The Cowboys had a third-and-1 with 3:16 to play in the fourth, and did give the ball to Elliott. He converted.

Still, one carry on four one-yard situations is not a vote of confidence. If Dowdle is the top back, and the Cowboys have Luepke, with Dalvin Cook on the practice squad, the question many were asking was a sensible one: What’s Elliott doing on the roster?

The Cowboys brought Elliott back in April, and though the early results have been disappointing, the team has shown loyalty--some might say stubbornness--to the idea of keeping him on the roster.

But with Dowdle taking over the RB1 spot, with Cook waiting in the wings, and with short-yardage situations not necessarily going Elliott's way, it's getting harder for the Cowboys to justify keeping him around.

Related: Cowboys’ Dak Prescott Sends Heartfelt Message to Ezekiel Elliott Amid Criticism