Ezekiel Elliott is back with the Dallas Cowboys, but this time, things have changed since his days as a top rushing leader. Despite the assumption that he might now be part of a group of running backs, Elliott isn’t content with that idea just yet.
“I see myself as a dominant player,” Ezekiel Elliott asserted to reporters at a Cowboys charity event. “To uphold that perception, I must continually demonstrate it through my performance on the field. My unwavering motivation stems from my deep love for competition and my dedication to giving my all for the team.”
There’s one noticeable change: Ezekiel Elliott’s jersey number. He’s sticking with 15, the number he wore at Ohio State and during his brief stint in New England, rather than his familiar No. 21 from his early Dallas days.
“I view it as a fresh start,” Ezekiel Elliott clarified. “Ever since the rule change permitting running backs to wear single-digit or teen numbers, I’ve been eager to make the switch.”
Drafted fourth overall in 2016, Ezekiel Elliott and quarterback Dak Prescott formed a formidable duo in their rookie season, leading the Cowboys to an 11-game winning streak and the NFC playoffs’ top seed. Despite this, Prescott edged out Elliott for the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year award.
Prescott expressed excitement about Ezekiel Elliott’s return, emphasizing their bond both on and off the field. He believes Elliott’s presence will bolster the team’s culture and performance.
Ezekiel Elliott spent the previous season as Rhamondre Stevenson’s backup in New England but started the final five games due to Stevenson’s injury. While his rushing yards were respectable, Elliott posted career lows in touchdowns and yards per carry.
Returning to Dallas, Elliott joins a roster featuring Rico Dowdle, his former teammate, along with younger players like Deuce Vaughn, Hunter Luepke, and Malik Davis. The Cowboys also acquired journeyman Royce Freeman in the offseason.
Despite a recent decline in production, with just one 1,000-yard season in the last four years, Prescott believes Elliott’s leadership and work ethic make him invaluable to the team.
Elliott’s impressive career stats make him the third-leading rusher in Cowboys history, trailing only Emmitt Smith and Tony Dorsett. However, postseason success has eluded him, with the team failing to advance past the divisional round in his tenure.
Elliott is determined to change that narrative. “I have unfinished business,” he declared. “I’m here to chase the ring.”
