Cowboys News: Ezekiel Elliott's tribute video, injury updates on Zack Martin, Rico Dowdle

Dallas Cowboys fans couldn't have asked for more from Sunday's win against the New England Patriots. With the game out of reach, they were able to rest most of their starters late in the second half, including Dak Prescott, and Ezekiel Elliott received a warm welcome from the AT&T Stadium crowd and was held in check.

On second thought, though, a big game from Elliott would have been a perfect ending given how lopsided the score was at halftime. Even a touchdown would have sufficed.

The crowd uncorked "Zeke" chants whenever he touched the ball, but the Cowboys defense didn't cooperate, bottling up the two-time rushing champ to 16 rushing yards on six carries. With the Patriots trailing by 25 points at halftime, the game script didn't allow for an Elliott revenge game.

Even a 100-yard, 2-TD performance wouldn't have topped the Cowboys tribute video that played on the stadium's big screen before the game, however.

Try to fight back tears watching this.

Cowboys News: Ezekiel Elliott's tribute video, injury updates on Zack Martin, Rico Dowdle

After the video, the Cowboys brilliantly panned to a split screen of Elliott and Prescott, who was visibly emotional giving his former teammate a standing ovation. If the tribute (somehow) didn't move you to tears, this might do the trick.

It doesn't get any better than that. Prescott and Elliott are lifelong friends, so Elliott's release hit the quarterback harder than most. Dak spoke glowingly of Elliott in his postgame interview, where he credited Zeke with making him the player he is today.

From one former Cowboys running back to a current Cowboys back, Rico Dowdle's MRI revealed he suffered a hip contusion on Sunday. It's unclear what Dowdle's status is moving forward, but he should avoid a long-term absence.

Fans held their breath after Dowdle was ruled out with a hip injury, as a fractured hip suffered before in August of 2021 ended his season.

In other injury news, Zack Martin is nursing a bruised quad, per EVP Stephen Jones. Owner Jerry Jones said postgame that Martin is in "good shape" and reporters noted that the All-Pro guard was moving around well after the win.

Nevertheless, it's still something to monitor with a showdown against the 4-0 San Francisco 49ers on Sunday Night Football up next for the Cowboys. They'll need all hands on deck to win that heavyweight fight and Martin's status as one of the team's most important players goes without saying.

Crossing our fingers this is a minor injury for Martin, who missed Week 3 with an ankle injury and is suddenly more banged up after Sunday.

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