Just as the Cowboys’ double-punch run game has begun to look consistently strong enough to quiet the debate about whether Ezekiel Elliott or Tony Pollard should get the majority of snaps at running back, the team is suddenly in some danger of being without one of them for their next contest.
Elliott will not take part in Wednesday’s practice, according to head coach Mike McCarthy. The two-time rushing champ will instead work off to the side with director of rehabilitation Britt Brown after a scary-looking direct hit to his right knee in the Week 7 win over Detroit.
McCarthy labeled the injury a “knee sprain” during his Wednesday press conference, but it’s supposedly not the same PCL sprain that Elliott suffered in Week 4 last season. He played the rest of the year through that injury.
The veteran returned to action after this most recent incident, too, and ended the day with 15 carries, 57 yards, two touchdowns, and one impressive hurdle of a Lions defender.
Here's the play where #Cowboys RB Ezekiel Elliott injured his right knee
Our panel of doctors believe he avoided serious injury
⏩https://t.co/7sLKTangl7 pic.twitter.com/j797HALN1E
— Sports Injury Central (@SICscore) October 23, 2022
“I think I got a contusion on it,” Elliott said after the Cowboys’ 24-6 win.
Wednesday may well be just a take-it-easy, abundance-of-caution day for Elliott, with Thursday and Friday’s participation reports deciding whether he’ll suit up Sunday for a meeting with Chicago. The Bears are giving up an average of 149.7 rushing yards per game, third-most in the league through seven games.
Pollard saw a season-high 41 offensive snaps (second-most in his career) in Week 6’s ground-heavy attack. McCarthy says he has no concerns about the fourth-year man playing even more if Elliott cannot go.
“We’re so, so fortunate to have both Tony and Zeke here. I think they’re both fully capable of carrying a full load,” the coach told media members Wednesday morning. “I think Tony Pollard is a very good between-the-tackles runner. He’s in the crease as it opens. That’s a huge characteristic that I’ve always looked for when you’re evaluating a running back.”
McCarthy says the team’s upcoming Week 9 bye will have no bearing on whether Elliott sits out this Sunday, to ostensibly give his knee an extended break before the Cowboys face a tough stretch of opponents (Packers, Vikings, Giants) immediately afterward.
“That’s just not the way we approach it. We’ll just see how he responds today, and Britt will continue to build the plan based off what they accomplish today.”
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