Dallas Cowboys legend wakes up unemployed after shock release
A DALLAS COWBOYS icon has been released as the end of the season approaches.
The Cowboys made the decision to allow the legend to sign with a playoff contender.
With one game left of the regular season campaign, the NFL team waived running back Ezekiel Elliott on Tuesday.
It’s the second time the Cowboys have released its No. 3 all-time rushing leader in three years.
They cut Elliott after the 2022 season for salary cap reasons and played 2023 with the New England Patriots.
This time around, he requested the release to catch on with a contending team.
Elliott may get his wish as the 29-year-old cleared waivers on Wednesday and can now sign with a team and potentially play in the playoffs.
Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones announced the Elliott release in a statement.
“Out of respect and appreciation for Zeke and wanting to provide him with an opportunity to pursue any potential playoff participation possible, we are releasing him from the Cowboys roster today,” the 82-year-old Jones said.
“As I have said many times previously, Zeke’s impact as one of the greatest to ever play with the Star on their helmet will never change and is etched in our record books and history forever.
“We thank him, love him and wish him the absolute best.”
Elliott struggled this season, totaling 74 rush attempts for 226 yards and three touchdowns.
He posted 12 receptions for 69 yards.
Elliott didn’t have a run longer than 11 yards this season and was deactivated for the November 3 game at the Atlanta Falcons for reportedly missing meetings.
The 29-year-old remained on the 53-man roster and has been active for every game since the Week 9 absence.
However, Elliott topped 14 snaps just once in the last eight games as Rico Dowdle became the lead back for the team.
Still, he scored on a 1-yard touchdown run in the team’s win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 16.
It was his 71st touchdown in his career as a Cowboy, only trailing Hall of Famers Tony Dorsett (72) and Emmitt Smith (153) in franchise history.
The Cowboys will now have Deuce Vaughn behind Dowdle on the active roster with Dalvin Cook and Malik Davis on the practice squad.
A 2016 first-round pick, Elliott earned three Pro Bowl selections in the first stint with the Cowboys.
He set a rookie team rookie record with 1,631 yards and recorded 30 100-yard games in his time in Dallas.
