FRISCO, Texas — Ezekiel Elliott's return to the Dallas Cowboys is over with one game left to play.
The team waived its No. 3 all-time rushing leader on Tuesday, marking the second time the Cowboys have released Elliott in three years. He was released after the 2022 season for salary cap reasons and spent 2023 with the New England Patriots.
The Cowboys made the decision now to give Elliott, 29, a chance to join a playoff contender if he clears waivers.
“Out of respect and appreciation for Zeke and a desire to give him the opportunity to pursue any potential playoff participation, today we released him from the Cowboys roster,” Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones said in a statement. . “As I have said many times before, Zeke's impact as one of the greatest to ever play with the star on his helmet will never change and will be etched in our record books and our history forever. We thank him, we love him and We wish him the best.”
Elliott's agent, Rocky Arceneaux, thanked Jones “for providing Zeke with this unique opportunity to grant us our release.”
“While nothing is imminent, Zeke is excited about the possibilities and is grateful. He has a lot of football left in him and will remain a Dallas Cowboy for life,” he said in a statement sent to several media outlets.
After the 2024 draft, Elliott signed a one-year contract worth up to $3 million if he had met incentives based on reaching 1,100 yards from scrimmage, 10 touchdowns and 51% playing time, plus of the Cowboys making the playoffs.
Elliott has 74 carries for 226 yards and three touchdowns on the season. He has caught 12 passes for 69 yards.
Elliott did not surpass the 40 yards he had in the first game of the season against the Cleveland Browns. He hasn't rushed for more than 11 yards this season. He was inactivated for the Nov. 3 game against the Atlanta Falcons for missing meetings, according to multiple sources. His future with the team was in doubt after that game, but he remained on the 53-man roster.
Coach Mike McCarthy recently said Elliott has been a consummate teammate and supported Rico Dowdle, who emerged as a leader and surpassed 1,000 yards on the season last week against the Philadelphia Eagles.
Elliott has been active in every game since the penalty, but has gone over 14 snaps just once in the last eight games. In the Week 16 win against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Elliott scored on a 1-yard touchdown run, giving him 71 in his Cowboy career. Only Hall of Famers Tony Dorsett (72) and Emmitt Smith (153) have more in franchise history.
From 2016 to 2022 with the Cowboys, Elliott rushed for 8,262 yards. The three-time Pro Bowl selection set team rookie records with 1,631 yards and recorded 30 100-yard games in his time with the Cowboys. He led the NFL in rushing yards in 2016 and 2018, but hasn't surpassed 1,000 yards since 2020 (1,002).
In fact, Elliott's production has decreased every season he has played.
Behind Dowdle, the Cowboys now have Deuce Vaughn on the active roster with Dalvin Cook and Malik Davis on the practice squad.
