The Dallas Cowboys simply can never be normal. In a move that has reportedly been building for weeks, Ezekiel Elliott will be a healthy scratch on Sunday for the first time in his career.
While Elliott has one of the worst rushing success rates in the NFL at the running back position, he was also benched for disciplinary reasons. According to NFL Network's Jane Slater, Elliott has been tardy throughout the season and late to a number of team meetings.
It remains to be seen what this means for Zeke's future in Dallas, but all signs point to it being a one-week punishment. At the end of the day, that a third-string RB being inactive is a major story is another distraction unto itself and proves he shouldn't have been signed.
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While signing Elliott has blown up in the Cowboys' face, they also botched their handling of Micah Parsons' injury. Parsons will not play Sunday against the Atlanta Falcons. He did not practice this week as he continues to recover from a high-ankle sprain.
Parsons will miss his fourth straight game, proving once and for all that he should've went on injured reserve from the jump.
Cowboys Week 9 inactives
Player | Position | Injury |
|---|---|---|
Micah Parsons | DE/OLB | Ankle |
DaRon Bland | CB | Foot |
Ezekiel Elliott | RB | - |
Trey Lance | QB | - |
Andrew Booth | CB | - |
KJ Henry | DE | - |
Matt Waletzko | OT | - |
Can anyone explain why Parsons wasn't put on injured reserve? He's missed four games in a row, which is the minimum timeline for a stint on IR. We're not confident the front office would have made good use of Parsons' roster spot, but it's pretty negligent to have a roster spot consumed by an injured player.
The Cowboys' roster is decimated to begin with. It is poor roster management to not have had an extra defensive end taking Parsons' place for the last month. High-ankle sprains normally require a 4-to-6-week recovery. It was shortsighted of Dallas to think Parsons would defy those odds.
It's not a huge deal in the grand scheme of things. The pass rush has been non existent without Parsons anyway. But for a team that preaches focusing on the details, it has wasted a valuable roster spot for the last four weeks.
Between Parsons wasting a roster spot and Elliott being a healthy scratch for disciplinary reasons when he was signed for leadership and "good vibes" is just the latest in a long list of embarrassing feats for the Cowboys.
Falcons Week 9 inactives
Player | Position | Injury |
|---|---|---|
Troy Anderson | LB | Knee |
Justin Simmons | S | Hamstring |
Jase McClellan | RB | - |
Brandon Dorlus | DL | - |
Elijah Wilkinson | OL | - |
Brandon Parker | OT | - |
Kentavius Street | DL | - |
The Falcons will be without two starting linebackers today. Let's hope Mike McCarthy responds by attacking the middle of the field. Atlanta will also be without starting safety Justin Simmons, who has made two Pro Bowls in his career.
If there was ever a week for Dallas' offense to get back on track, this is it.