Ezekiel Elliott Makes Opinion Extremely Clear on Cowboys Playing Time

Ezekiel Elliott and the Dallas Cowboys enter their Week 6 showdown against the Detroit Lions with a 3-2 record this season.

While Dallas' star-studded offense ranks No. 10 in the NFL through five weeks, its rushing attack ranks second-to-last at 82.0 yards per game, better only than the New York Jets.

Elliott, 29, signed a one-year, $2 million deal in April to return as a veteran leader in an otherwise youthful Cowboys running back room. After a season-opening performance in Cleveland of 12 touches for 49 yards and a touchdown, Elliott has largely been invisible in the first month of the season.

On Thursday, longtime Cowboys beat reporter Clarence Hill Jr. offered an update after speaking to the three-time Pro Bowler running 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 red zone back," Hill wrote on X .

Elliott has not topped eight touches or 32 scrimmage yards in a game since Week 1. On the season, he has compiled just 36 total touches for 134 yards, averaging a pedestrian 3.3 yards per carry.

Teammate Rico Dowdle leads the Cowboys in carries (54), rushing yards (221) and first downs (14) to date. However, Dallas has not broken off a run of longer than 13 yards this season.

Elliott's last season averaging more than 4.0 yards per carry and surpassing the 1,000-yard mark came back in 2021.

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