According to Dallas Cowboys beat writer Clarence Hill Jr., running back Ezekiel Elliott is reportedly “dumbfounded” by his limited role in the Cowboys’ offense through the first five games of the season. Despite being a key figure in the Cowboys’ offense in previous years, Elliott has seen a noticeable reduction in his touches, particularly in critical red-zone situations, prompting discussions with the coaching staff about his diminished role.
Elliott, who has yet to surpass 100 rushing yards on the season, has recorded 98 yards and one touchdown on just 30 carries heading into Week 6. For a player of his caliber, those numbers reflect a significant drop from his usual output, and it has raised questions about how the Cowboys are utilizing their veteran star.
In contrast, fifth-year running back Rico Dowdle has taken on a larger role in the backfield, leading the Cowboys with 54 rushes for 221 yards. While Dowdle has yet to score a rushing touchdown, his increased involvement has seemingly pushed Elliott to the background. The only other rushing touchdown this season for the Cowboys has come from quarterback Dak Prescott.
During his weekly radio appearance on 105.3 The Fan, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones addressed the situation, offering an explanation for Elliott’s reduced workload.
According to Jones, the Cowboys are being cautious with Elliott to preserve him for the latter part of the season, citing the All-Pro running back’s history of injuries.
Jones dismissed the notion that Elliott was truly “dumbfounded” by his usage, calling Hill’s report an exaggeration and defending the team’s strategy.
“That’s an exaggeration,” Jones said, referring to the report. “Dumbfounded is a mischaracterization and a bad description of how he feels about things. We’re saving him, and we should be. Rico (Dowdle) is an outstanding running back. He’s always had the challenge because of his size of doing his blocking and protecting the quarterback. But his big problem has been what? He’s had injuries over the course of his career. So it would be madness to depend on [that]… Zeke is there and we want to protect him over this particular period of time.”
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Jones acknowledged that Elliott had met with the coaching staff to discuss his role but dismissed Elliott’s concerns as “madness.” He reiterated that the team’s focus was on managing Elliott’s workload to keep him fresh for the latter half of the season, where they believe he’ll be most effective. The implication is that Elliott’s lighter usage now will pay dividends later in the season, especially as the grind of a long NFL schedule takes its toll on players.
While some fans may be frustrated with Elliott’s reduced role, Jones’ comments suggest that the Cowboys are thinking long-term when it comes to their star running back.
Elliott, who has battled various injuries over the years, may indeed benefit from a more strategic approach that limits his carries early in the season and allows him to be at full strength for the stretch run, when the Cowboys are expected to make their push for the playoffs.
However, the shift in backfield responsibilities to Dowdle has not gone unnoticed. The young running back has shown flashes of potential, though his lack of touchdowns points to an area where Elliott’s red-zone prowess may still be needed.
As the season progresses, it remains to be seen how the Cowboys will balance their desire to preserve Elliott with the need for production in critical moments, particularly when they face tougher opponents down the road.
For now, the Cowboys’ strategy is clear: they’re protecting Elliott for what they hope will be a deep playoff run.
But whether Elliott is on board with this approach remains a question, as his frustration over his role in the offense seems to be growing.
