Ezekiel Elliott has dealt with an injured right knee since the Dallas Cowboys Week 4 win against the Carolina Panthers. Even though he’s experienced expected soreness, Elliott hasn’t missed a game in 2021 and is just 101 yards away from his fourth 1,000-yard season.
Although he’s only gained 89 yards in the last two games, Elliott has run with more conviction and has scored a total of three touchdowns. As the Cowboys prepare for an important NFC showdown with the Arizona Cardinals this Sunday, Elliott feels good about his progress in getting back to full health.
“I’m very encouraged by the direction it’s going,” Elliott said. “I feel more explosive. I can tell I feel faster. I can tell there’s more stability. …If I keep progressing, by playoffs, I think I’ll be close to 100 percent.”
Elliott has been wearing a knee brace for the last several games to help offset the pressure on the joint.
The Cowboys running game was a driving force to begin the season as they averaged 164.3 yards in the first six games with two performances north of 200. That number has dropped to 126.9 yards for the season after several pedestrian performances. However, the Cowboys are still ranked in the top six in rushing, and if Elliott’s progress continues, his bruising style of running combined with the explosive ability of Tony Pollard will be a major weapon for the final two weeks of the season as the Cowboys look to possibly secure the NFC’s top seed.
A more effective Elliott and Pollard will allow Dak Prescott and the passing game, which got back on track in Week 16 against the Washington Football Team, to be more productive as defenses adjust and load the box.
Despite Elliott’s knee issue this season he’s still averaging well over four yards per attempt and has scored 12 total touchdowns (10 rushing, two receiving). That speaks to the toughness and warrior mentality he has and the healthier he becomes the more dangerous the Cowboys’ offense will be going forward.
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