ATLANTA — Ezekiel Elliott was neither on the charter flight nor the field of play when the Dallas Cowboys unsuccessfully attempted to defeat the Atlanta Falcons. The two-time NFL rushing champ was ruled inactive on Saturday morning due to what the team deemed to be disciplinary reasons.
Speaking from Mercedes-Benz Stadium following their 27-21 loss, owner and general manager Jerry Jones provided more insight into what occurred with Elliott — identifying the issue as being related to team meetings.
"Well, it was a decision that Zeke understands, and so that's the way it is," said Jones. "And he's one of the best team men. He's one of the best workers that I've ever been around, and he was just that and has been that, and that [decision] was unconditionally a result of him being late for meetings."
Jones went on to stress it the decision was not rooted in the elevation of Dalvin Cook from the team's practice squad.
"We have rules," he said. "You run red lights, you do things like that — I can't emphasize enough what an exemplary teammate Zeke is, and I want to be real clear about that. In my mind, he's what a football player is all about. But this was a discipline thing."
Elliott's best friend, also the team's franchise quarterback, spoke about the decision as well.
"It's definitely a difficult situation, and for me personally, being as close as I am with him," Dak Prescott told the media after the game. "I wanted to help and I think that, if anything, this will be good. I say that because it was a mutual decision for him to not take this trip. As he'd say, he's just getting himself together.
"I'd like to see us rally around him and be the teammates and the brothers that we are, and good will come from it."
It is unclear what comes next for the relationship, however, as Elliott's reunion with the Cowboys this season has been anything but a homecoming dance. His production, for a variety of reasons that also include the offensive line and struggles in keeping opposing teams from pulling away on the scoreboard, is operating at a career-low mark in 2024.
Asked about where Elliott and the Cowboys go from here, head coach Mike McCarthy noted it's something they'll begin to sort out in the aftermath of another weekend that didn't just end poorly, but could further turn the season in the wrong direction — e.g., injury to Prescott.
"We'll pick up Monday and see where we are," said McCarthy of Elliott.
The week to come will feature some heart-to-heart conversations in Frisco.
