Heading into the 2021 season, the hype around the Dallas Cowboys offense was at an all-time high. While the offseason was filled with questions about quarterback Dak Prescott in his return from his ankle injury and training camp shoulder injury, running back Ezekiel Elliott’s slimmed down rejuvenated form had fans excited over the possibilities.
Elliott lived up to the hype, starting with 422 rushing yards and six total touchdowns in the first five games, averaging 5.2 yards per carry. As the season progressed though, Elliott’s efficiency began to slow down. He had injured his knee and following the team’s 23-17 elimination from the playoffs on Sunday, he revealed the extent of the injury. Elliott suffered a torn PCL, but still managed to play in all of Dallas’ 18 games.
Zeke Elliott said he played with a partially torn PCL.
— Calvin Watkins (@calvinwatkins) January 17, 2022
Elliott’s leadership and relentless drive to win is exemplified by his playing with such an injury. There is a discussion of why the club didn’t rely more on backup Tony Pollard with Elliott not at his best. Pollard’s touches increased with Elliott being hampered, but then the backup suffered a torn plantar fascia in his foot, leaving the club with two hobbled running backs.
It was declared prior to Sunday’s game that Pollard was as close to 100% as the coaching staff had seen him, but he saw just four carries and two targets on the game.
Elliott didn’t have a strong day rushing the ball, totaling 31 yards on 12 carries, but he made a highlight play in pass protection, leveling two blockers to set up a first down. Dallas fell in a nail biter after coming inches and milliseconds from executing the comeback on multiple occasions. Elliott expressed his frustration after the game.
Zeke Elliott: “Shit it hurts. All of us are hurting.”
— Calvin Watkins (@calvinwatkins) January 17, 2022
For Elliott, it was another 1,000-yard rushing season but that’s never what mattered for the former All-Pro and he sacrificed his own health for a chance. Elliott relays the injury won’t require surgery but now he begins a long offseason of recovery and rebuilding after a heartbreaking end to the 2021 season.
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