Just five days before the Dallas Cowboys played their season finale, three-time Pro Bowl running back Ezekiel Elliott requested to be released in hopes of latching onto a playoff team to chase a Super Bowl ring.
Dallas granted his requestand Elliott will now be eligible to participate in the playoffs after joining the Los Angeles Chargers’ practice squad on Tuesday night, by NFL Media.
Elliott became a Charger because he lost a competition for his former spot as the Cowboys’ primary running back, with undrafted veteran Rico Dowdle taking that role and producing the first 1,000 rushing yard season of his career. Elliott has rushed 74 times for 226 yards and three touchdowns while catching 12 passes for 69 yards in 15 games played in 2024.
He entered the NFL as the fourth overall pick in the 2016 draft out of Ohio State. Elliott took his first steps at the professional level, throwing for a league-record 1,631 yards and 15 touchdowns in his first year, earning a first-team All-Pro selection as well as a trip to the Pro Bowl. He led the NFL in rushing yards per game in each of his first three seasons, and led the league in total rushing a second time in 2018 with 1,434 yards. During his career with the Cowboys, Elliott was named All-Pro twice and made three Pro Bowls. However, Elliott has not rushed for 1,000 yards or averaged more than 3.8 yards per carry since 2021.
What can Elliott bring to the Chargers?
The Cowboys’ third all-time leading rusher, still just 29 years old, is a depth signing for an 11-6 Chargers team that has battled injuries at the running back position throughout this season.
Leading rusher JK Dobbins, who has 905 rushing yards and nine touchdowns on 195 carries this season, missed four games from Weeks 13-16. due to a knee sprain suffered in week 12 against the Baltimore Ravens. No. 2 running back Gus Edwards missed six games this season with an ankle injury, and he did not play in Los Angeles’ final two games of the regular season.
Elliott’s new team is expected to bring him back to Texas on Saturday for the first game of the playoffs, a 4:30 p.m. ET showdown on CBS with the AFC South champion Houston Texans (10-7).
If Edwards is unable to dress this weekend, there could be a chance for Elliott to be elevated to the active roster and play on Saturday.
