In a season filled with struggles, the Dallas Cowboys faced another crushing defeat on Sunday, losing 34-6 to the Philadelphia Eagles. With quarterback Dak Prescott sidelined, backup Cooper Rush stepped in, but the Cowboys’ offense struggled to find momentum. Running back Ezekiel Elliott, making his return after missing Week 9 due to disciplinary issues, became a focal point of criticism after a costly fumble near the Eagles’ goal line—a miscue that kept Dallas from narrowing the score early on.
Elliott, once a key player in Dallas’ offense, has seen his role diminish this season. The 29-year-old, who lost his starting position to Rico Dowdle, recorded just six carries for 22 yards on Sunday. His first drive ended with a fumble inside the Eagles’ five-yard line, a blow that deflated the Cowboys’ hopes and shifted momentum firmly to Philadelphia. For many fans, this mistake highlighted frustrations with Elliott’s recent performance and sparked calls for change on social media.
NFL analyst Marcus Mosher voiced the growing sentiment: “Cowboys RB Ezekiel Elliott has not had a game where he’s averaged over 3.8 YPA since Week 1. It’s time to get him off the roster.” Another fan echoed the call for a shakeup, saying, “I’ll be happy to see no more of Cooper Rush and Ezekiel Elliott for the rest of the year.”
Elliott’s season has been difficult. Through seven games, he has managed just 149 yards on 48 carries, averaging 3.1 yards per attempt and scoring twice. These numbers are a stark contrast to his days as a star player and reflect a decline in his productivity. Still, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones decided to bring him back this season despite a drop in performance in 2022.
As the Cowboys’ playoff hopes grow slim, fans are growing increasingly vocal, with many questioning Jones’ decision to retain Elliott and pointing to a need for a fresh direction. Social media filled with similar sentiments, one fan writing, “On any other team, with any other owner/President/GM, Zeke would have been gone a while ago…”
With more pressure on Jones to reevaluate the roster, Elliott’s future in Dallas remains uncertain. He may go down as one of the Cowboys’ all-time greats, but for now, many are left wondering if it’s time for Dallas to move on and refocus for seasons to come.
