The Dallas Cowboys have made Ezekiel Elliott a healthy scratch for Week 9, and some new details have surfaced about what led to the veteran running back being benched.
Elliott did not make the trip with the Cowboys to Atlanta for their game against the Falcons. That marked the first time that the 29-year-old was a healthy scratch in a game that was not a season finale. ESPN’s Todd Archer reported that Elliott has been benched for disciplinary reasons.
According to Jane Slater of NFL Network, Elliott has missed three team meetings this season. The most recent was Friday, which is what led to the disciplinary action from the Cowboys. Slater says the team feels Elliott has been “distracted” this season.
Ezekiel Elliott is a healthy scratch today. The first of his career. According to a number of sources, Elliott has been distracted this season. Aside from habitual tardiness, he’s missed three team meetings with Friday’s meeting the final straw. Both parties decided it was best…
— Jane Slater (@SlaterNFL) November 3, 2024
Dalvin Cook was active for the first time this season in Week 8. He will likely split time with Rico Dowdle against the Falcons on Sunday.
Elliott, who is in his second stint with the Cowboys, has 149 rushing yards on 48 carries this season, which is an average of just 3.1 yards per carry. There were rumblings earlier this year that he was unhappy with his role in the Dallas offense, so perhaps there is mutual frustration between him and the team.
