Dallas Cowboys: What if Ezekiel Elliott is suspended two games?
If the NFL suspends running back Ezekiel Elliott for two games this season, it affords the Dallas Cowboys and quarterback Dak Prescott a rare opportunity.
According to ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter, there is a growing sense that Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott could face a one-to-two game suspension for an alleged domestic violence incident from last year.
In an investigation that has spanned nearly a year, the NFL appears to be closing in on some sort of resolution involving Elliott and a possible violation of the league’s personal conduct policy.
The basis for this investigation appears to be two separate claims of assault against the Cowboys’ running back by the same Ohio woman last season. She says she’s Elliott ex-girlfriend, although he claims they were just friends.
The league has left this investigation ongoing despite the fact Elliott has denied any wrongdoing and does not face criminal charges for either incident. But as a source told Schefter, it appears the NFL is trying to pin something on Cowboys’ star.
Although the league currently denies that a decision has been made in the case, you have to believe they’d likely issue a suspension prior to the start of the regular season. That is if they decide to levy one at all.
If the suspension is indeed as small as two games, that could potentially leave the Cowboys without the league’s top rusher against the New York Giants at AT&T Stadium on Sunday Night Football season opener and in a Week Two matchups against the Broncos in Denver.
With Elliott potentially sidelined, it would likely be veteran Darren McFadden getting the starting nod. The last time McFadden faced the Giants, he rushed for 152 yards and a touchdown in a Week 7 loss back in 2015.
So the Cowboys could still be effective on the ground without Zeke in the backfield, but undeniably the onus of the offense would be on the arm of second-year quarterback Dak Prescott. In fact, being forced to play without Elliott could be the perfect opportunity for Prescott to prove his doubters wrong once again.
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Many have surmised that Prescott’s success can be contributed solely to the fact Dallas has such a tremendous rushing attack. If Dak can prove he can still win games without Elliott in the backfield, it should go a long way to legitimizing his place among the best quarterbacks in the NFL.