The coaches warned their players about letting things get too physical, even though both knew there would be pads a-popping when the Cowboys and Broncos scheduled a joint practice for Thursday.
It didn’t take long for the rough stuff to start. And perhaps the biggest hit of the day was absorbed by one of the Cowboys’ primary playmakers.
Running back Ezekiel Elliott was leveled by Denver linebacker Bradley Chubb as he attempted to cut back on a toss play.
Cowboys RB Ezekiel Elliott got CRACKED earlier in the practice by stud LB Bradley Chubb…
Zeke got right back up and kept it moving…#CowboysNation pic.twitter.com/9uUJ7ybZHA
— Kevin Gray Jr. (@KevinGraySports) August 11, 2022
In the grand scheme of football things, it wasn’t a particularly vicious hit; Chubb threw a shoulder into Elliott but didn’t launch himself or wrap him up and land on him.
Indeed, training camp brawls have started over far less. But in the heightened setting of a preseason practice, it was a harder hit than was necessary under the circumstances… and enough to get a look-at-me dance out of Chubb.
The video shows Elliott exchanging words with Chubb as the players went back to their respective huddles.
Michael Gehlken of the Dallas Morning News reports that, according to Chubb, Elliott said to him, “You ain’t got to do that.”
The linebacker’s reply to Elliott, “My bad, bro,” before adding to reporters as he recounted the story, “You’ve got to keep ’em up.”
Finally, he added, “At the end of the day, it’s all love.”
Elliott, it should be noted, seemed unaffected by the hit and went on with practice.
I respect that hell out of how hard it is to faze Zeke Elliott. Bradley Chubb just gave him a shot that would've started a fight in 95% of training camp situations. Knocked him flat. And he just popped back up, jogged out the rep and got some water.
— David Helman (@davidhelman_) August 11, 2022
Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons could have returned the favor against Broncos quarterbacks, including star Russell Wilson, after coming free on several pass rushes. Last season’s Defensive Rookie of the Year pulled up before ever delivering the boom, though.
Most of the day’s scuffles came in the second hour of practice and were between offensive and defensive linemen. All were quickly broken up before they escalated into full-blown fights.
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