Ezekiel Elliott suspended again; Will it stick this time?

A federal judge in New York denied Dallas Cowboys Ezekiel Elliott’s request for a preliminary injunction, reinstating his six-game suspension for suspected domestic violence.

Here we go again. But this time seems different. Late Monday, A federal judge in New York, Katherine Polk Failla, ruled to deny Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott’s request for a preliminary injunction that would have likely allowed him to play the rest of the season. Instead, by denying the motion, Elliott’s six-game suspension levied by the NFL for violating the it’s personal conduct policy has now been reinstated.

Prior to the start of the season, the league suspended Elliott after 13-month long investigation stemming from three different alleged domestic violence incidents from back in July of 2016. Following a failed appeal attempt, Elliott’s representatives were able to get a temporary restraining order and a preliminary injunction approved in a Texas court that allowed Zeke to play in the first five games of the regular season.

When that injunction was reversed and moved to New York, another temporary restraining order allowed Elliott to play the last two games, through Week Eight. But Monday’s decision by Judge Failla reinstates the NFL’s six-game suspension, following a 24-hour stay to allow for appeal options. And although the player’s representatives plan are expected to appeal the decision, Elliott’s chances of winning seem to be slim to none.

Although this latest decision is unlikely to stop legal battle between the two sides, it does appear Elliott will in fact miss some games because of it. The Cowboys next six contests include four home games and two on the road.

The games to be played at AT&T Stadium include the 6-2 Kansas City Chiefs, the 7-1 Philadelphia Eagles, the 3-5 Los Angeles Chargers and the 3-4 Washington Redskins, the latter the Cowboys just defeated on the road this past Sunday. Their two possible away games without Elliott include the 4-3 Atlanta Falcons and the 1-6 New York Giants. That’s three divisional contests in a six-game span.

Next: Dallas Cowboys defense shines against Redskins

Presumably without Ezekiel Elliott in the lineup, the Dallas Cowboys will attempt to make up his lost production with the three-headed monster of running backs Alfred Morris, Darren McFadden and Rod Smith. But the truth is, the Cowboys passing attack will likely be asked to carry more of the load now that the team is without their best player in the backfield.