Tag: Ezekiel Elliott

Parsons ruled out in Cowboys vs Steelers final injury report; Diggs, Cooks, LB updates

Several key components from both clubs are going to miss the game and there are a handful of question marks too. | From @KDDrummondNFL

Here’s the good news. They got Ezekiel Elliott and Ryan Flournoy some fluids. The veteran running back and rookie WR set to make his debut in Week 5 vs the Pittsburgh Steelers are no longer a concern after dehydrating on Thursday.

Here’s the bad news. As expected, Micah Parsons and Brandin Cooks have officially been ruled out for the 2-2 Dallas Cowboys. Parsons’ high-ankle sprain was a virtual certainty, as was Cooks knee after an infection developed. There’s no word when either will return but it could be a minute for both. Also, CB Trevon Diggs left practice on Thursday and did not participate on Friday, but head coach Mike McCarthy says that he’s set to play.

Meanwhile, the Steelers will also be without a starting pass rusher and key offensive components.

In the final injury report for the week, Pittsburgh ruled out LB Alex Highsmith, RB Cordarrelle Patterson and RB Jaylen Warren. While they’ll still have T.J. Watt to terrorize the young Dallas offensive line, the Steelers struggling run game is going to be without their No. 2 and No. 3 running backs behind the currently plodding Najee Harris.

Also out for Pittsburgh is TE MyCole Pruitt. Here’s the designations from both teams.

Dallas Cowboys

LB Micah Parsons, Ankle | OUT
Wednesday, Thursday, Friday: Did Not Participate

WR Brandin Cooks, Knee | OUT
Wednesday, Thursday, Friday: DNP

CB Caelen Carson, Shoulder | QUESTIONABLE
Wednesday, Thursday, Friday: Limited Participant

Safety Markquese Bell, Ankle | NO DESIGNATION
Wednesday, Thursday, Friday: Full Participant

CB Trevon Diggs, Ankle | QUESTIONABLE
Thursday: Limited, Friday: DNP

OT Tyler Guyton, Shoulder | NO DESIGNATION
Thursday, Friday: Full

RB Rico Dowdle, Wrist | NO DESIGNATION
Thursday, Friday: Full

RB Ezekiel Elliott, Dehydration | NO DESIGNATION
Thursday: Limited, Friday: Full

WR Ryan Flournoy, Dehydration | NO DESIGNATION
Thursday: Limited, Friday: Full

LB Marist Liufau, Quad | QUESTIONABLE
Friday: Limited

Wednesday NIR Rest Days: Malik Hooker, Eric Kendricks Jourdan Lewis, Zack Martin

Pittsburgh Steelers

QB Russell Wilson, Calf | QUESTIONABLE
Wednesday, Thursday, Friday: LP

RB Jaylen Warren, Knee | OUT
Wednesday, Thursday, Friday: DNP

LB Jeremiah Moon, Ankle | QUESTIONABLE
Wednesday, Thursday, Friday: FP

LB Nick Herbig, Ankle | NO DESIGNATION
Wednesday: DNP | Thursday: Limited | Friday: Full

G Isaac Seumalo, Pectoral | NO DESIGNATION
Wednesday, Thursday: FP | Friday: Full

TE MyCole Pruitt, Knee | OUT
Wednesday, Thursday, Friday: DNP

RB Cordarrelle Patterson, Ankle | OUT
Wednesday, Thursday, Friday: DNP

DL Keeanu Benton, Ankle | NO DESIGNATION
Wednesday: LP | Thursday, Friday: Full

DT Larry Ogunjobi, Groin | QUESTIONABLE
Thursday, Friday: Limited

Cowboys vs Steelers: Diggs added to injury report, dehydration makes appearance with Elliott

Adding Diggs to a growing list of hobbled star players is not the way to trend when prepping for a rival. | From @KDDrummondNFL

Full disclosure is a wonderful thing, but it’s still a bit striking in certain scenarios. NFL teams have been tasked with being more specific when it comes to their injury reports in recent years. Surely it has nothing to do with the league opening their arms to the gambling communities, right?

Regardless, more details are important and in that vein, Thursday’s injury report for the Cowboys and Steelers rivalry renewal in Week 5 has that level of specificity. A couple Dallas starters have appeared after not being a concern on Wednesday, namely CB Trevon Diggs (ankle), LT Tyler Guyton (shoulder) and RB Rico Dowdle (wrist). But the twist is two players were limited due to dehydration.

Of course that happens all of the time in the NFL; it’s a grueling sport that pushes participants to the absolute limit. It’s just a unique designation that hasn’t been witnessed too often (if at all) before in these parts. That was attached to both running back Ezekeil Elliott and rookie WR Ryan Flournoy, who expects to be activated for the first time due to Brandin Cooks’ knee issue.

Diggs will be something to monitor. Dallas has been without All-Pro DaRon Bland and he has yet to have his 21-day practice window activated. Rookie Caelen Carson is trying to return after missing Week 4. Already looking to be without their top two pass rushers in Micah Parsons and DeMarcus Lawrence, a hobbled cornerback room is adding insult to, well, injury.

Here’s the latest updates.

Dallas Cowboys

LB Micah Parsons, Ankle | Wednesday, Thursday: Did Not Participate

WR Brandin Cooks, Knee | Wednesday, Thursday: DNP

CB Caelen Carson, Shoulder | Wednesday, Thursday: Limited Participant

Safety Markquese Bell, Ankle | Wednesday, Thursday: Full Participant

CB Trevon Diggs, Ankle | Thursday: Limited

OT Tyler Guyton, Shoulder | Thursday: Full

RB Rico Dowdle, Wrist | Thursday: Full

RB Ezekiel Elliott, Dehydration | Thursday: Limited

WR Ryan Flournoy, Dehydration | Thursday: Limited

Wednesday NIR Rest Days: Malik Hooker, Eric Kendricks Jourdan Lewis, Zack Martin

Pittsburgh Steelers

QB Russell Wilson, Calf | Wednesday, Thursday: LP

RB Jaylen Warren, Knee | Wednesday, Thursday: DNP

LB Jeremiah Moon, Ankle | Wednesday, Thursday: FP

LB Nick Herbig, Ankle | Wednesday: DNP | Thursday: Limited

G Isaac Seumalo, Pectoral | Wednesday, Thursday: FP

TE MyCole Pruitt, Knee | Wednesday, Thursday: DNP

RB Cordarrelle Patterson, Ankle | Wednesday, Thursday: DNP

DL Keeanu Benton, Ankle | Wednesday: LP | Thursday: Full

DT Larry Ogunjobi, Groin | Thursday: Limited

Ravens vs. Cowboys: Top photos from 28-25 win at AT&T Stadium

We’re looking at the top photos from the Baltimore Ravens 28-25 win over the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium

For one week, we thought John Harbaugh’s team would be entering the 2024 regular season.

All-world running back Derrick Henry ran for 151 yards and two touchdowns, MVP quarterback Lamar Jackson logged a passing and rushing score, and the Baltimore Ravens held on for a 28-25 victory over the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday after blowing a 22-point fourth-quarter lead.

Baltimore (1-2) scored touchdowns on their first two drives, while the Cowboys (1-2) have allowed 120 points in their past three home games.

With the final results, here are the top photos from Sunday’s massive win.

***

Dak Prescott said he and Ezekiel Elliott shared an emotional moment over his monster Cowboys contract extension

Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliott have a tremendous bond.

When it comes down to the brass tacks, Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliot’s remarkable friendship as Dallas Cowboys teammates over the years can’t be denied. That’s undoubtedly what made Elliott the perfect person for Prescott to celebrate his new monster contract extension with the team.

After the Cowboys dropped a 33-17 beatdown on the Cleveland Browns in a game that also featured Tom Brady’s announcing debut for Fox, Prescott got the opportunity to wax poetic about this current place in his career. He got a chance to reflect on where he’s come with the Cowboys and where he still has to go.

Prescott chose to focus on an emotional, celebratory moment he shared with Elliott right after his Dallas extension was made official. Elliott was Prescott’s first hug after the news. Because of course he was.

It would always be Elliott:

 

Man, say what you want about the Cowboys — Mike McCarthy admittedly does make that easy — but you can’t deny the connections they’ve built over the years. Prescott and Elliott have the look of two guys who have been pals forever and who would do anything for each other.

It’s only fitting that Elliott celebrates Prescott and his achievements now after he helped take care of him as a younger player.

Geriatric Cowboys continue calling on veteran FA, hoping they’re fine wine

With two more veterans visiting the team, the Dallas Cowboys continue to add older players to the 2024 roster. | From @BenGrimaldi

The Dallas Cowboys like the players they’ve got, unless they don’t. When that happens, they turn to older players who’ve had past success. Stephen Jones’ philosophy over the past decade-plus is the team doesn’t spend money in free agency because they like the core players they have. Improvement will come from drafting and the Cowboys’ ability to develop their own players.

That was what the Joneses tried to sell the fan base on this offseason while sitting on their hands for months on end. Yet now, the organization seems to be in a bit of a panic. They are lacking depth – which could’ve been avoided by being proactive in free agency – and now Dallas is the place to be for any veteran player looking to stay employed in the NFL.

After signing a few older players recently, the trend has continued. The latest invites are more experienced options in running back Dalvin Cook and pass rusher Tyus Bowser.

Cook played for the Minnesota Vikings for six years, which included four straight 1,000-yard seasons and four Pro Bowl appearances. He’s just two years removed from his last 1,000-yard campaign, but Cook fizzled out last year with the New York Jets before they released him and he wound up signing with the Baltimore Ravens for the playoffs. Between the two teams, Cook rushed for just 214 yards and a career worst 3.2 yards a carry.

At 29-years old, the best days are behind Cook. Yet the Cowboys are interested in him to pair with another older, plodding RB in Ezekiel Elliott, who is ironically the same age.

Bowser is another 29-year-old the team is bringing in for a workout. After having a few good years with the Ravens and topping out at seven sacks in 2021, Bowser tore his Achilles in the same season, which limited his output in 2022. The defensive end was hurt last summer and never played in the 2023 season.

However, the Cowboys need pass rushing help and don’t seem swayed by the injury history from Bowser, who has played a full season just three times. Bowser could replace another older pass rusher the Cowboys had signed recently, Carl Lawson, who happens to be the magical age of 29 but was released on Tuesday. Another veteran the Cowboys signed this summer is defensive end Al-Quadin Muhammad, who wears number 92, which is the inverse of his age, 29-years old.

The Cook and Bowser workouts come after the Cowboys traded for defensive tackle Jordan Phillips, who is currently 31, but will turn 32-years old in September, and signed another DT, Linval Joseph, off the streets at 35-years old. There’s not a lot of youth there for the recently added group.

Then again, adding veterans has been the tenor for the entirety of the slow offseason. The only two players who were considered quality acquisitions for the Cowboys were both around the age of 30. Elliott is 29, which is ancient for a RB, and linebacker Eric Kendricks, is 32-years old.

Now, late in the offseason, the Cowboys seem to continue to be heading down the same path. What makes adding these veterans this late so frustrating is the team could’ve just signed a much better, and younger, player or two when free agency began, instead of trying to find answers now. Dallas didn’t need to sign the best guys on the open market in March, but being a little aggressive in finding younger talent then could’ve avoided the search now, when their options are limited.

Perhaps we now know why Jerry Jones said the team would be “all-in,” because this is the last time many of these players will play in the league.

Just call them the geriatric Cowboys.

You can chat with or follow Ben on twitter @BenGrimaldi

Cowboys working out 4x-Pro Bowl RB coming off down season

Report: Cowboys to fly running back Calvin Cook to Dallas for a workout.

After signing wideout CeeDee Lamb to a massive extension, it appears as if Dallas has now shifted focus to the running back position. Sources tell NFL insider Tom Pelissero that the Cowboys will be flying free-agent running back and four-time Pro Bowler Dalvin Cook to Dallas for a workout.

Flirtations with Cook are nothing new but the team is extending their dance to a face-to-face meeting.

The Vikings selected Cook in the second round of the 2017 NFL draft out of Florida State. He failed to reach 1,000 combined rushing yards in his first two seasons, but broke out in his third year en route to four consecutive millenium campaigns.

He was named to the Pro Bowl four times, each season between 2019 and 2022.

After his release from Minnesota in 2023, Cook signed with the New York Jets in the middle of August but failed to find his footing and was released by the team in early January. The veteran back tallied 214 yards on 67 carries averaging 3.2 yards per rush.

Less than a week later, Baltimore signed Cook to their practice squad to help with their playoff push.

Cook dealt with a shoulder injury in 2023 but looks to be healed from the injury that may have impacted him last season. Something must give in the running back room if Dallas signs the veteran.

Ezekiel Elliott was brought back to Dallas after a one-year hiatus in New England. The team also employs RB Rico Dowdle, who figures to be the back who shoulders the heaviest of the load in the rotation. Second-year backs Hunter Luepke and Deuce Vaughn are among the favorites to land a roster spot but the addition of Cook could complicate his situation.

Dallas could also choose to add Cook after the season begins to avoid guaranteeing his salary for the entire 2024 season.

After sitting out free agency, Dallas has been very active adding players in the last few weeks. Cook would be another big name added to owner Jerry Jones’ “All In” offseason.

Report: Cowboys monitoring Panthers RB Miles Sanders

According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, the Cowboys have their eyes on Panthers RB Miles Sanders.

Could Miles Sanders be heading back to the NFC East?

According to ESPN senior NFL reporter Jeremy Fowler, the Carolina Panthers running back may be of interest to the Dallas Cowboys—who still seem to be sorting out their backfield. Fowler, after recently visiting the reigning division champions at training camp, wrote the following of their situation:

The Cowboys know they face questions at running back after losing Tony Pollard to a bigger contract in Tennessee. They will monitor the Ezekiel Elliott-Rico Dowdle-Royce Freeman experience, while keeping a short list of external options, just in case. Carolina’s Miles Sanders is on that list. And Dalvin Cook has shown interest in playing for Dallas. As it stands, Elliott is slated as the starter, but the Cowboys will manage his snaps. They need Dowdle to stay healthy; McCarthy likes what he has shown in camp. And the team really likes Freeman’s tape from the Rams last season and believes he can be an impact RB2/RB3 option — a banger in small doses.

After spending his first four NFL seasons as a member the Philadelphia Eagles, Sanders signed a four-year, $25.4 million deal with the Panthers in the spring of 2023. He’d go on to experience his worst campaign as a pro—hitting lows in starts (five), attempts (129) and rushing yards (432) while averaging 3.3 yards per carry.

The 27-year-old could be a third wheel in Carolina upon the clearance of rookie Jonathon Brooks, whom the team selected with the 46th overall of the 2024 draft. Sanders is currently listed behind starter Chuba Hubbard on the unofficial depth chart.

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2024 Schedule Swings: Running Backs

Which RB gets an easier schedule for 2024? Who experiences the worst drop in schedule strength?

The schedule strength for running backs is always the more accurate among fantasy positions, thanks to their volume of work and the tendency of teams to feature the run and rely more consistently on individual players. That makes this analysis the most reliable.

The average fantasy points allowed by defenses to running backs last year were applied to each offense’s schedule to determine their true schedule strength of last year, and applied the same values to their 2023 schedule. This includes considering both home and away venues separately for each defense.

See Also: Quarterbacks | Receivers

The resulting fantasy point advantages are compared between years and the difference is their “swing points.”  The higher the Swing Points, the better their schedule is compared to last year. This analysis is more telling than standard schedule strength. You know what happened last year with players – do they get an easier or tougher schedule for 2024?

Best schedule swings

 Kenneth Walker/Zach Charbonnet (SEA) – After two seasons as the No. 20 fantasy running back, Walker gets a chance to take advantage of the most dramatic swing for the position. His schedule strength rockets up from No. 30 to No. 2 and that should be apparent so long as Charbonnet doesn’t take a hefty chunk away from him.

Aaron Jones (MIN) – The offensive line won’t be an advantage unlike back in Green Bay, but Jones’ first season with the Vikings with a boost from the No. 29 up to the No. 9 schedule. He wasn’t there last year, but he suffered through the worst schedule in 2023 while with the Packers. The schedule should help get him back on track.

Breece Hall (NYJ) – Hall already exploded last year when the Jets kicked off the training wheels and let Hall become the workhorse back. He’ll enjoy a lighter schedule this time around and maybe even a passing offense that can take the pressure of him.

Javonte Williams (DEN) – After a tough 2023 when he was still recovering from his torn ACL, Williams has a nice upgrade to his schedule but he seems to have lost a bit from his injury and the Broncos added Audric Estime. This isn’t as safe of an advantage as it might seem.

Rachaad White (TB) – With the Buccaneers getting a rougher passing schedule, White may already be in line for more receptions from the backfield. But he also gets a solid upgrade in rushing schedule that should keep him on the field and productive. Bucky Irving was drafted to help out, but an easier schedule should keep White looking better and keep Irving from making inroads for a bigger share.

About the same schedule strength

The only notable teams are the Bengals and Colts who repeat what were already tough schedules from 2023.

Worst schedule swings

Christian McCaffrey (SF) – Okay, so the best running back from 2023 has the worst swing in schedule strength. Is that enough to sway you from taking him with the 1.01 pick? Probably not. McCaffrey’s problem is more about staying healthy but he’s always a monster when he plays because he just switches to being a receiver if the rushing lanes are clogged. Still, will be interesting to track.

Bijan Robinson (ATL) – Not Bijan too! The Falcons’ stud running back is hoping to become “all that he can be” now that Arthur Smith is gone and new OC Zac Robinson wants to use him extensively in any way they can get the ball into his hands. But the dip from No. 7 down to the No. 29 is concerning for any back. On the plus, Robinson’s volume should be much higher for 2024, and he was already the No. 8 fantasy running back last year with partial use.

Ezekiel Elliott (DAL) – While Christian McCaffrey and Bijan Robinson should be better than their schedules, the same may not be true for the aging Elliott, who has slowed down and is now back in Dallas for the second time for a team with a lesser O-line and now the worst schedule for running backs. Elliott is no lock to remain the RB1 in Dallas all season and has fallen deep in drafts. This won’t make him any more appealing.

Travis Etienne (JAC) – The schedule strength has taken a downturn from 2023, but like McCaffrey and Robinson, Etienne is a dual-threat back and the center of their backfield that contains no real competition.

James Cook (BUF) – This is a bit concerning for a lesser talented back than the above players. Cook ended as the No. 11 fantasy back last year as a surprise, but he was facing the No. 2 best fantasy schedule for the position. He drops below average for 2024, and the Bills offense will be different with their best wideouts gone. That may help Cook see more receptions, but he’s probably not “better than his schedule.”

Is there hidden fantasy value among Dallas Cowboys running backs?

Is Zeke totally washed? Can Rico Dowdle emerge? Will Deuce Vaughn shine?

As the NFL’s top scoring offense last year, the Dallas Cowboys finished 14th in rushing (112.9 yards per game), led by running back Tony Pollard, who signed with the Tennessee Titans during the offseason. It was a swift fall from grace for the Memphis product after he was anointed RB1 following a tremendous 2022 campaign while splitting time with running back Ezekiel Elliott. Thrust into the primary role, he never recaptured that form.

Even with Pollard moving on, the Cowboys elected to invest zero draft capital at the position, instead handing out a pair of one-year deals in free agency, one to journeyman RB Royce Freeman and the other to Elliott, who returns after a season with the New England Patriots. They join last season’s No. 2 back, Rico Dowdle, and preseason darling Deuce Vaughn.

On paper, it’s a suspect unit, made doubly so by head coach Mike McCarthy’s well-established love of the passing game. Still, that doesn’t mean there won’t be fantasy value to be found. With that in mind, let’s look at Dallas’ backfield options for 2024.

Did the Cowboys overcorrect in their devaluation of the RB position?

The Cowboys have one of the lowest rated and lowest paid RB rooms in the NFL. Did they jump on the wave to the extreme? | From @ReidDHanson

After years of overvaluing the running back position the Cowboys have appeared to finally grasp that a committee can be every bit as productive as a workhorse, but at a fraction of the price.

It seemed the Cowboys finally caught up to what the analytics community had been preaching for years; RBs are replaceable parts and rarely worth second contracts. But Dallas took that sentiment to an entirely different level. They ignored the RB position entirely in the draft and have unofficially dubbed Rico Dowdle the next starting RB.

It wasn’t long ago Ezekeil Elliott was the highest paid RB in the NFL. Elliott cashed in at a time the rest of the league was cashing out. Dallas came to regret the six-year, $90 million extension when signs of decline showed up even before the new money kicked in.

In 2023, the Cowboys finally had their opportunity to get out from under Elliott’s contract, releasing him outright and turning the page of an era in Dallas.

Still not quite grasping the true value of the RB position the Cowboys franchise tagged Tony Pollard to take over the lead role in 2024. Recovering from a postseason injury suffered just months prior, Pollard took a while to get going. He eventually hit his stride but overall, it was a disappointing campaign given his expectations and lofty one-year salary.

Again, the Cowboys adjusted.

In 2024 they allowed Pollard to leave virtually unopposed. And despite the free agent RB class being one of the best in years, Dallas refused to throw their hat in the ring, eventually settling on journeyman Royce Freeman on a thrifty one-year, $1,292,500 deal.

The Cowboys have since brought Elliott back into the fold.

After a 642-yard campaign in New England, Elliott has returned to the franchise that drafted him. He’s no longer expected to be the player he once was, but as a steady and well-rounded veteran, he’s someone who can fill a number of roles in a committee.

The RB position has reached peak devaluation levels in Dallas. The Cowboys took a hard pass at the top players in free agency and skipped the position altogether in the draft. Unless a last-minute trade is made this summer, they’re prepared to roll into the new season with a fairly pedestrian committee.

Have the Cowboys taken the devaluation of the RB position too far?

Only time will tell. Their lack of attention paid to the position have caused even the biggest RB detractors to furrow their brow at the situation. Neither Dowdle nor Elliott posted positive rushing yards over expected. As such, it’s probably on the Cowboys offensive line to make this rag-tag committee successful.

The offensive line is undergoing a renovation this season with two of the five starting spots undergoing change. To make things even more tenuous, the front-runners at those two spots are both rookies. A serviceable running game is all anyone should expect, given the situation.

Perhaps that’s all the Cowboys want. Since building a dominant running game is costly and typically a poor use of resources, perhaps serviceable is exactly what Dallas wants for the team this season.

The Cowboys have come a long way in their handling of the RB situation over the past couple years and while the direction they’re moving is a wise one, the extent that they’ve gone may prove to be unwise.

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