Ezekiel Elliott Released By Cowboys After RB's Request amid Lack of Playing Time

Ezekiel Elliot's return to the Dallas Cowboys reportedly won't extend to the 2025 season.

Per NFL insider Josina Anderson, the Cowboys are releasing Elliot ahead of their final game of the 2024 campaign. According to Anderson, Elliot requested to be released from the Cowboys.

Dallas, which has already been eliminated from the playoffs, will close out its season against the Washington Commanders on Sunday without Elliot in the backfield.

Elliot spent the first seven years of his career with the Cowboys before joining the New England Patriots in free agency ahead of the 2023 season. Elliot struggled in his sole season with the Patriots and returned to the Cowboys this year.

His reunion with the team that drafted him didn't go the way he would have liked as Elliot had the worst season of his career. He had just 226 yards and three touchdowns on 74 carries and totaled just 69 yards through the air on 12 receptions.

Amid his season of struggle, Elliot missed Dallas' Week 9 matchup against the Atlanta Falcons due to disciplinary reasons. He reportedly missed three team meetings and had a habit of tardiness in the weeks leading up to the suspension, Jane Slater of 105.3 The Fan reported at the time.

Elliot wasn't the focal point of Dallas' run game as fifth-year back Rico Dowdle had a breakout year with 1,007 yards and a touchdown on 213 carries along with 237 receiving yards and three touchdowns through the air.

Elliot's second stint with the Cowboys went much differently than his first when he posted four seasons with 1,000 or more rushing yards. Now, he'll look to either join a squad before the playoffs or start preparing for free agency this offseason.