JANUARY 1: As expected, Elliott cleared waivers on Wednesday, per KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson. He is now free to sign with any team’s active roster or practice squad, though he is looking for an opportunity to play in the postseason.
DECEMBER 31: The Cowboys are waiving running back Ezekiel Elliott, per veteran NFL insider Josina Anderson. Elliott requested his release so he could explore an opportunity with a playoff-bound team.
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones released a statement (via Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer) praising Elliott as “one of the greatest to every play with the Star on their helmet. Because vested veterans are subject to the waiver wire after the trade deadline, Elliott will not hit free agency until he clears waivers.
“Out of respect and appreciation for Zeke and wanting to provide him with an opportunity to pursue any potential playoff participation possible, we are releasing him from the Cowboys roster today,” Jones said in the statement.
This, of course, marks the second time the Cowboys have released Elliott in two years. They dropped his six-year, $90MM extension from the payroll in March 2023, designating the former rushing champion as a post-June 1 cut. That created the interesting scenario, once Elliott re-signed with the team in April 2024, of the ninth-year veteran carrying two contracts on Dallas’ payroll.
It remains unclear if Elliott will find the playoff opportunity he is seeking. His agent, Rocky Arceneaux, said that “nothing is imminent” and thanked the Cowboys for granting Elliott’s release, per FOX Sports’ Jordan Schultz.
Elliott is unlikely to be claimed on waivers after recording career-lows across the board this season, including 3.1 yards per carry and a 43.2% rushing success rate. A more likely route to a playoff team would be on a practice squad where he can get familiar with a new offense and work his way towards a postseason appearance.
However, almost every playoff team has at least one solid running back in their backfield. Elliott’s best chances might be in Cincinnati, where Chase Brown just suffered a sprained ankle and Zack Moss remains on injured reserve. Still, it’s hard to imagine Elliott playing anything more than a peripheral role this postseason after years of declining production following his excellent first three years in the league.
About time they cut him.
The funny part is that he requested it for “playoff opportunities”
Unless a team needs a water or towel boy, I’m not sure what he is expecting here.
Elliot will now spend the last week of the season appearing on the Cowboys’ dead cap list TWICE.
Damn ! Only had week to go. Harsh.
Mutual and so he can possibly get on a playoff team.
Class move, he gets a chance at the playoffs this way. It will be interesting to hear if Zeke asked for this or how it went down
Reportedly, he asked for his release, and the Cowboys obviously granted it. The move makes sense for both sides.
What playoff team is looking to sign a fat plodder who is useless in the passing game?
Apparently Elliott is a very decent pass blocker. In the day, he could catch out of the backfields as well. In 2018 he caught 77 out of 95 passes.
Thought i read he asked
Jerry redefined the term ‘All in!’ this year.
Happy new years PFR and commenters!
scab onto the lions with montgomery out?
ZERO chance of that…
They could have let him collect his last game check. I don’t think anyone is going to pick him up. He seems pretty spent.
I seriously doubt he actually wanted that. Sounds like an excuse so he can save face. They want the roster spot.
Given that he has carried the ball twenty times over the course of the last seven games, I could see why he would want to be released. He is only twenty-nine, but the clock on his career is ticking down. This gives him a chance to latch on somewhere else that might use him a little more, as well as potentially land on a playoff roster. The move really really is best for both sides.
Without looking at a FA list – Im still comfortable saying there are probably 15 rbs Id rather have.
Not including ps guys.
I believe all of Latavius Murray, Melvin Gordon, Dewayne McBride, Jerick McKinnon and Matt Breida are free agents. Those are five RBs I can think of that I’d rather have. Elliott had a very good first 6 years but went downhill fast. He’s not a viable RB anymore.
Nobody’s touching Gordon cos of his career highlight … “Oh, he fumbled again!”
Just sad Zeke should’ve been an all time great guess it’s time to start the podcast now
Not so long ago considered a HOF running back…..
He still is, I’m sure his high school will be inducting him soon.
2023 – 3.5 Y/A
2024 – 3.1 Y/A
But then I guess it’s hard to gain yards with a huge fork sticking out of your back. This guy is cooked.
I don’t see any logical playoff team signing him and taking up a spot.. maybe the Lions and reuniting with his college LT Taylor Decker but David Montgomery will be back next week or the week after. Zeke is a shell of who he once was. Maybe Buffalo will pick him up. Those are the main two I can see him going to.
They don’t actually know if Montgomery can go. They are hoping just like that are hoping hard that Hutchinson can go if they made SB. Both seem doubtful, Lions have a lot of injuries that it wouldn’t hurt to sign him and remove a PS player. Vaki, Reynolds, and Gibbs look fine enough so doubt they take him. Bills maybe since Cook seems to get a lot of run. They had Fournette last year and he was clearly done so they do that. Texans if Mixon keeps getting banged up.
Buffalo has three solid and young RBs. If he was a defensive lineman, they might be interested.
Who would want him? Broncos? Chargers?
I love and hate this. Love it for giving your veteran who gave a lot to the franchise and opportunity to go win something. I hate it bc f*** zeke Elliot and f*** the cowboys
The roster vacancy now allows Jerry to pursue Herschel Walker 🙂
Just because, he’ll end up with the Chiefs, play like an all-pro and they’ll win it all again.
Not that they wouldn’t without him of course.
They can spin this all they want that Dallas was doing some noble act, but they flat out dumped a guy that didn’t want to be there and asked out.
If, as you say, Elliot didn’t want to be there and asked out, how is this not doing right by the player?
They are letting him go not as a favor, but because the guy is a turd. They don’t want him stinking up their facilities any longer. Turds don’t smell good.
My money is on broncos chargers or texans
My money is on Zeke watching the playoffs on TV like the rest of us.
lol fair