Those who have watched the Cowboys this summer and preseason have likely noticed something different about Ezekiel Elliott. No, it doesn’t have anything to do with the veteran running back’s play — though he is fully recovered from a knee injury suffered last fall.
Elliott is actually using a different helmet for the first time in his seven-year career. The 27-year-old previously wore Riddell’s Speedflex. He will play the 2022 season using their new helmet, the Axiom. Compared to helmets we’re used to seeing players wear on NFL fields, this sleek but futuristic-looking metal cap can be a bit jarring to take in at first glance:
Every time I see Ezekiel Elliott's new helmet I am in awe, this thing looks wild.
📷: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports pic.twitter.com/LOrlLHZIGL
— RJ Ochoa (@rjochoa) August 27, 2022
I mean … what? Every time I look at this picture of Elliott, I almost can’t believe a player has that kind of helmet on. He looks like he’s about to say it’s Morphin’ Time! Not play football.
It’s worth noting that the Axiom’s appeal doesn’t seem to be just about aesthetics. Per a press release from Riddell, every Axiom helmet is designed to be a custom fit for a player’s head, created from a high-tech digital scan. There’s also more efficient and effective padding that apparently helps absorb impact.
All that is well and good. Elliott’s new helmet — especially with that facemask — still looks like he can pilot his own Zord.
[the_huddle]