The Dallas Cowboys have a big matchup this week on the road against the Atlanta Falcons.  An inter-conference matchup while Dallas remains one game below .500 (3-4) is as close to a “must win” as you can get at this point in the season.

Atlanta is 5-3 through their first eight games and have been playing sound football this year.  It won’t be easy for Dallas to take down Atlanta in front of their home crowd.

Now that task just got even more difficult.

“He Will Not Join The Team” Cowboys Severely Punish Own Starter (Report)

Jun 5, 2024; Frisco, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott (15) goes through a drill during practice at the Ford Center at the Star Training Facility in Frisco, Texas. Mandatory Credit: Chris Jones-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 5, 2024; Frisco, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott (15) goes through a drill during practice at the Ford Center at the Star Training Facility in Frisco, Texas. Mandatory Credit: Chris Jones-USA TODAY Sports

In Sunday’s game against the Atlanta Falcons, Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott will be a healthy scratch:

According to Cowboys reporter Todd Archer, the veteran back will not travel to Atlanta due to disciplinary reasons.

“Ezekiel Elliott will not be active vs. Atlanta and will not make the trip with the Cowboys because of disciplinary reasons, according to a source,” Archer reported on Saturday. “First time he is a healthy scratch in a non-season finale in his career.”

Elliott has been widely criticized this season as the Cowboys have the NFL’s worst rushing offense. His absence should see Dalvin Cook feature prominently after he was elevated to the main roster ahead of their previous game.

The Cowboys are going into Sunday’s game against the Falcons with a 3-4 record, which puts them third in the NFC East. They will be keen on a positive result against the Kirk Cousins-led side.

 

Jun 4, 2024; Frisco, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott (15) goes through a drill during practice at the Ford Center at the Star Training Facility in Frisco, Texas. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 4, 2024; Frisco, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott (15) goes through a drill during practice at the Ford Center at the Star Training Facility in Frisco, Texas. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

Here is a look at Elliott’s stats so far this season:

Rushing Receiving
Date Team Opp Result Att Yds TD Lng Y/A Tgt Rec Yds Y/R TD Lng Ctch% Y/Tgt Touch Y/Tch YScm RRTD Fmb
2024-10-27 DAL @ SFO L 24-30 10 34 1 11 3.4 1 1 4 4.0 0 4 100.0% 4.0 11 3.5 38 1 0
2024-10-13 DAL DET L 9-47 8 17 0 6 2.1 0 0 0 0 0 8 2.1 17 0 0
2024-10-06 DAL @ PIT W 20-17 6 17 0 5 2.8 1 0 0 0 0 0.0% 0.0 6 2.8 17 0 0
2024-09-26 DAL @ NYG W 20-15 5 19 0 8 3.8 1 1 5 5.0 0 5 100.0% 5.0 6 4.0 24 0 0
2024-09-22 DAL BAL L 25-28 3 6 0 4 2.0 2 1 6 6.0 0 6 50.0% 3.0 4 3.0 12 0 0
2024-09-15 DAL NOR L 19-44 6 16 0 7 2.7 3 2 16 8.0 0 15 66.7% 5.3 8 4.0 32 0 0
2024-09-08 DAL @ CLE W 33-17 10 40 1 9 4.0 2 2 9 4.5 0 9 100.0% 4.5 12 4.1 49 1 0
Jan 22, 2023; Santa Clara, California, USA; Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) hands off to running back Ezekiel Elliott (21) during the first quarter of a NFC divisional round game against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 22, 2023; Santa Clara, California, USA; Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) hands off to running back Ezekiel Elliott (21) during the first quarter of a NFC divisional round game against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi’s Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports