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NFC East Notes: Giants, Slayton, Ojulari, McCloud, Cowboys, Mingo

November 7th, 2024 at 1:13pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

Despite rumored trade interest, the Giants were not interested in dealing wide receiver Darius Slayton at the trade deadline, according to ESPN’s Jordan Raanan.

The 2-7 Giants were thought to be sellers at the deadline as they ponder the team’s future, especially at the quarterback position. Slayton is set to be a free agent after the season and New York has yet to explore an extension with their 2019 fifth-round pick, so a trade could have recouped some value for the Giants if they were planning to part ways in the offseason.

Not only has Slayton been extremely consistent in the NFL, with at least 45.0 yards per game in four of his five seasons, he is on pace for one of the best seasons of his career with 32 catches for 469 yards through nine games. While he doesn’t have the same pedigree as other receivers who were moved at the deadline like Amari Cooper and DeAndre Hopkins, Slayton was statistically outperforming both players even though all three were dealing with uneven quarterback play.

But rather than enter the active receiver trade market, the Giants held onto Slayton. It’s possible the team wants to keep him in New York past this season, but they may also be trying to field the most competitive team possible for the rest of the season. They declined to trade Saquon Barkley at the 2023 deadline for the same reason, per Raanan.

Cowboys Not Considering Starting Trey Lance Over Cooper Rush

November 6th, 2024 at 9:15pm CST by Sam Robinson

Trey Lance has been on the Cowboys’ roster for more than 14 months. Dallas added the former San Francisco starter after Sam Darnold had beaten him out for the 49ers’ QB2 job in 2023, effectively going forward with a roster stash. But Lance has not made much progress with his second NFL team.

The former No. 3 overall pick entered this season as the Cowboys’ third-stringer, doing so after being inactive throughout the 2023 slate. Any notions of him factoring into the team’s 2025 starter conversation were buried once the team gave Dak Prescott a record-smashing extension (four years, $240MM). With Prescott moving to IR, the door is open for Lance. For the time being, however, a 3-5 Cowboys team does not appear to have designs on starting him.

[RELATED: Micah Parsons Expected Back In Week 10]

Cooper Rush is the locked-in starter over Lance, according to ESPN.com’s Dan Graziano, who indicates the team believes the veteran provides a better chance to win. Lance-specific packages may be implemented, but Graziano adds no consideration is being given to him leapfrogging Rush on the depth chart for a potential extended look. This comes after Stephen Jones kept the door open for Lance work amid Prescott’s hamstring injury.

With the Cowboys teetering on the brink of dropping out of the playoff chase during a season in which Mike McCarthy is a lame duck, it is certainly understandable the coaching staff is not interested in long-term evaluations just yet. Whether ownership could eventually intervene could be an interesting subplot for this year’s Cowboys edition, especially if the team’s current losing streak continues without Prescott, who is guaranteed to miss at least four games.

Dallas has held its own with Rush at the helm in the past, going 5-1 with the former UDFA as the starter. Rush, who is five years into his second Cowboys stint, replaced Prescott in September 2022 — after the longtime starter suffered a thumb injury. Prescott missed five games that season, and Rush earned praise by going 4-1 as a starter during that stretch. He completed less than 59% of his passes, however, at just 6.5 yards per clip. Prescott already exited Week 9 ranked 25th in QBR, highlighting issues with the quarterback’s performance and the team around him. It will be interesting to see how Rush fares in this situation, as he now holds the keys to the Cowboys reentering playoff discussions or moving toward the NFC basement.

An midsummer report indicating Lance had a chance to usurp Rush did not precede such a move, as Rush held onto the No. 2 QB gig during training camp. The Cowboys gave Lance extensive preseason work, as the North Dakota State alum has a historically thin resume — for a top prospect, at least — in terms of game work post-high school. The Cowboys were tied to a fully guaranteed $5MM on Lance’s contract by trading for him, but they joined the Steelers (Justin Fields), Jaguars (Mac Jones) and Broncos (Zach Wilson) in declining the fifth-year option on a traded first-round QB from the 2021 class.

With Rush a fairly known commodity at 30, any Lance work would immediately generate more interest in Dallas. Lance, 24, has not seen any regular-season action since a fractured ankle sustained in Week 2 of the 2022 season moved him out of the 49ers’ starting lineup. The 49ers had reached a renegotiated deal with Jimmy Garoppolo as Lance insurance that year, after the team spent the offseason dangling Garoppolo in trades. With Lance proving unready, Garoppolo (and then Brock Purdy) piloted San Francisco back to the NFC championship game. Darnold then beat out Lance, who had effectively lost his job to a former seventh-round pick, leading him to Dallas.

The Cowboys have now given up fourth-round picks in trades for Lance and Jonathan Mingo, the latter transaction occurring Tuesday. While Mingo is signed through 2026, Lance is not headed toward 2025 free agency with any momentum. The Cowboys could potentially provide some by greenlighting some game work, but more than a year into his Dallas tenure, it is notable the team is not looking into moving him past an eighth-year backup to replace Prescott.

Cowboys’ Dak Prescott Likely Heading To IR, Could Require Season-Ending Surgery

November 6th, 2024 at 9:00pm CST by Adam La Rose

NOVEMBER 6, 9:00pm: The Cowboys are evaluating Prescott’s injury to determine if the quarterback will require season-ending surgery, per Calvin Watkins of The Dallas Morning News.

If Prescott’s tendon can heal on its own, he will have a chance at returning this year. If surgery is necessary, Prescott won’t play against this season, likely ending any playoff hopes for the 3-5 Cowboys.

5:15pm: Prescott may be looking at a longer absence than four weeks. The initial diagnosis revealed a partial avulsion of his hamstring tendon — an injury in which the hamstring tendon is partially torn off the bone — NFL.com’s Jane Slater reports. Prescott is seeking additional opinions, but the Cowboys want a definitive timeline before acting here.

This sounds somewhat similar to the injury that knocked Tyron Smith out of most of the 2022 season. The then-Cowboys left tackle went down with an avulsion fracture, tearing a hamstring tendon during a late-August practice. He did not return until December that year, obviously opening the door to a reality in which Prescott does not return this season. But the Cowboys will wait on more information.

NOVEMBER 5: The hamstring injury which forced Dak Prescott to exit Dallas’ Week 9 loss threatens to sideline him for a notable stretch. Owner Jerry Jones said on Tuesday (via Jon Machota of The Athletic) the team’s franchise quarterback is likely headed to injured reserve.

Testing which took place yesterday revealed the injury is worse than the Cowboys originally thought. As a result, a multi-game absence was already expected, but that would be ensured by a stint on IR. Such a move would leave Prescott unavailable for at least the team’s next four contests, a stretch which includes games against each of the other three teams in the NFC East.

Given their current state of affairs, the Cowboys – losers of three straight – would have faced a difficult path back to postseason contention even with Prescott available. With him out of the fold for any notable period, attention would no doubt quickly turn to the offseason with a playoff berth becoming increasingly out of reach. Of course, Prescott’s absence would create opportunities for Cooper Rush (and potentially Trey Lance) to see time under center.

2020 marked the first and only time (for now, at least) that Prescott found himself on IR. He managed to miss only five contests since then prior to Sunday’s hamstring injury, one which represents an unwanted development on a number of fronts. Sitting at 3-5 on the year, Dallas already faced a steep climb to a wild-card spot, and reaching the postseason will be more difficult without last year’s MVP runner up in the lineup. Prescott secured an historic extension on the eve of the regular season, landing a four-year pact averaging $60MM per year – a $5MM bump from the previous top of the QB market.

Given the massive financial investment made in Prescott, his health over the long and short term will remain a central priority for the Cowboys. In his absence, Rush, 30, will look to add further to his 30 career appearances (including six starts) ahead of a trip to free agency. Lance is also on track to reach the open market this spring, and he could rebuild his value to a degree by seeing game action in Prescott’s absence.

Wideout CeeDee Lamb‘s AC joint sprain is not seen as serious, and he may be able to suit up in Week 10 against the Eagles. The same could also be true of edge rusher Micah Parsons, whose return would mark a notable boost on defense. In spite of that, the Cowboys’ chances of turning their season around are on track to take a hit with a Prescott IR stint.

2024 NFL Trades

November 5th, 2024 at 10:06pm CST by Sam Robinson

We have reached the 2024 trade deadline, which came one week later than the league’s usual endpoint. An offseason measure to move the deadline back one week passed, sliding the deadline beyond Week 9 after it had resided the Tuesday following Week 8 since 2012. That opened the door to more activity this year.

The 2024 offseason also featured extensive work, as teams added starters and depth pieces. Here are the trades involving veteran players (or rookies already drafted) to take place this year:

March 4

Bears chose defensive end Austin Booker at No. 144

March 9

Broncos sent Seahawks No. 136, included 203 in trade with Jets for QB Zach Wilson

March 10

Patriots chose QB Joe Milton at 193

March 11

Bucs drafted WR Jalen McMillan at No. 92; Lions traded No. 201 to Eagles

Panthers traded down from No. 39, giving Rams access to DT Braden Fiske; team moved No. 141 in Bills deal that sent WR Xavier Legette to Carolina. Giants chose RB Tyrone Tracy at 166.

March 12

Bengals chose DB Daijahn Anthony at No. 224 

March 13

Texans traded No. 232 to Vikings

Ravens chose WR Devontez Walker at No. 113, QB Devin Leary at 218; Jets drafted RB Braelon Allen at 134

March 14

Commanders traded Nos. 78, 152 to Eagles in trade that sent CB Cooper DeJean to Philadelphia; Seahawks moved down from No. 102, drafted G Sataoa Laumea at 179

Bolts traded No. 110 to Patriots 

March 15

Steelers chose LB Payton Wilson at No. 98; Eagles traded No. 120 to Dolphins in package that brought back 2025 third-rounder

March 16

Fields must play in 51% of Steelers’ offensive snaps for pick to elevate from sixth to fourth round

March 22

Chiefs traded No. 221 to Bills; Titans chose OLB Jaylen Harrell at 252

March 29

Pick would have become second-rounder had Reddick played 67.5% of Jets’ 2024 defensive snaps and recorded at least 10 sacks. Reddick’s holdout ensured Philly’s pick will land in Round 3.

April 3

Texans dealt No. 189 to Lions for Nos. 205, 249

April 12

Browns chose CB Myles Harden at No. 227

April 22

In trade that gave Vikings J.J. McCarthy draft real estate at No. 10 overall, Jets sent No. 203 to Minnesota; Broncos chose C Nick Gargiulo at 256

April 27

May 9

August 9

August 11

August 14

Dallas carried Phillips on its active roster for two games, meeting minimum requirement for conditional sixth to transfer

August 22

Pick did not convey due to Commanders cutting York before he played in two games with team

August 23

August 24

August 26

August 27

August 28

October 14

October 15

Pick would upgrade to second-rounder if Adams earns first- or second-team All-Pro recognition or is on Jets’ active roster for 2024 AFC championship game or Super Bowl LIX

October 23

Pick would become fourth-rounder if Hopkins both plays 60% of Chiefs’ remaining offensive snaps and Kansas City advances to Super Bowl LIX

October 28

October 29

Robinson’s playing time will determine if Jags pick climbs to a fourth-rounder and whether Vikings will end up receiving 2026 seventh

November 4

November 5

Sixth-rounder going to New Orleans comes from pick Saints sent Commanders for John Ridgeway 

Minor NFL Transactions: 11/5/24

November 5th, 2024 at 9:07pm CST by Ely Allen

Tuesday’s minor moves:

Baltimore Ravens

Buffalo Bills

Carolina Panthers

Cincinnati Bengals

Dallas Cowboys

Green Bay Packers

Kansas City Chiefs

Los Angeles Chargers

Los Angeles Rams

Minnesota Vikings

New England Patriots

Philadelphia Eagles

Pittsburgh Steelers

San Francisco 49ers

Washington Commanders

Free Agent

We don’t have a reason for Moreland’s suspension yet, but we know that it will last three weeks. He hasn’t played in the NFL since 2021, but if a team were to sign him, he wouldn’t be available for three games.

Cowboys Release DT Jordan Phillips

November 5th, 2024 at 3:27pm CST by Sam Robinson

Involved in an intra-NFC East trade this summer, Jordan Phillips has now been jettisoned from two teams in that division. The Cowboys moved on from the veteran defensive tackle Tuesday.

The Giants had traded Phillips to their division rivals in August, but the Cowboys placed him on IR early this season. Phillips, 32, played in just two games with Dallas. That satisfied the terms of the Dallas-New York trade, even though the swap did not move the needle for the Cowboys. Although Phillips considered retirement after last season, he had inked a one-year, $1.79MM Giants deal. New York traded Phillips and a 2026 seventh-round pick to Dallas for a 2026 sixth-rounder.

Dallas had designated Phillips for return from IR, but since the team will not move him back to its active roster, it will not lose one of its remaining activations. Phillips still had another week to return to Dallas’ 53-man roster, but he is no longer in that window. The Cowboys have only activated DaRon Bland from IR this season, leaving them with seven such moves to use in the second half.

Phillips spent the previous two seasons with the Bills, returning to Buffalo after his Cardinals deal did not work out. The Cards cut Phillips in 2022, leading him back to the Bills, with whom the interior D-line presence had played previously. Phillips finished with 9.5 sacks in 2019, leading to a three-year, $30MM Cardinals deal. That proved an outlier campaign from a pass-rushing standpoint, but the Bills used the proven DT as a regular upon re-signing him.

DaQuan Jones‘ pectoral tear last season brought Phillips back into Buffalo’s starting lineup, but after he had logged nine starts for the AFC East champs, a dislocated wrist shut him down. More wrist trouble led Phillips to IR this year, though the 10-year contributor said he, in fact, was not injured and thus disputed the transaction. It went through, and he will not end up exiting IR with Dallas.

Panthers Trade Jonathan Mingo To Cowboys

November 5th, 2024 at 8:57am CST by Sam Robinson

Jerry Jones‘ mystery wide receiver is now revealed. The Cowboys will make a deal with the Panthers, who are sending Jonathan Mingo to the NFC East team, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport tweets.

In a corresponding move, Pelissero notes cornerback Andrew Booth has been waived. The 2022 Viking made only a pair of starts across two seasons in Minnesota. The former second-rounder was dealt to the Cowboys in a swap for fellow corner Nahshon Wright back in August, giving both players a change of scenery. Booth, 24, played just 38 snaps with Dallas and he will now hit the waiver wire.

Mingo was viewed as a player no longer in Carolina’s plans, and the 2023 second-rounder had not caught on in either of the two offensive systems in which he has played. The Cowboys are taking a flier on a player who was a top-40 pick just last year. The Cowboys will add Mingo and a seventh-round pick, while the Panthers will receive a fourth-rounder, ESPN’s Adam Schefter tweets.

[RELATED: Panthers Deal Diontae Johnson To Ravens]

Mentioned in PFR’s rundown of the WR trade market, Mingo joins Adam Thielen as players the Panthers appeared OK dealing. Thielen remains with Carolina, but the 34-year-old veteran is believed to be eager to join a contender. Thielen is signed through 2025 but profiles as a cut candidate next year — due to his age and his ’25 salary being nonguaranteed. The Panthers have already dealt two of their WRs; a third would certainly be interesting, even for a rebuilding team.

This is a better return than the Panthers received for Diontae Johnson, who fetched merely a Day 3 pick swap in the Ravens trade. Mingo being signed through 2026 undoubtedly procured that for the Panthers, as the Cowboys will have multiple years to evaluate the Ole Miss alum. Mingo’s age (23) and contract status factored into this value, as it is worth noting the Cowboys-Browns Amari Cooper trade and the Dallas-Houston Brandin Cooks swap did not involve a fourth-round pick.

Mingo managed a 4.46-second 40-yard dash at 220 pounds during the 2023 Combine, leading to the Cowboys showing interest, per Jones. ESPN’s Scouts Inc. rated Mingo as its No. 37 overall prospect. Mingo only topped 300 receiving yards in one of his four Rebels seasons, however, with the 2022 campaign bringing 861 yards and five touchdowns last season. But he still caught the Panthers’ eye before becoming the No. 39 overall pick last year. Carolina had managed to keep No. 39 despite acquiring Bryce Young via trade-up; that decision led to Carolina trading No. 61 to Chicago, which also acquired the Panthers’ 2025 second-rounder in that seminal swap.

The Cowboys had chosen Jalen Tolbert in the 2022 third round and had traded for Cooks shortly before last year’s draft. Cooks is now on IR. Mingo profiles as more of a developmental piece compared to one that will immediately reignite the Cowboys like Cooper did following a 2018 in-season trade. Mingo has just 12 receptions for 121 yards this season. During a rookie season that featured Frank Reich being fired after 11 games, Mingo managed 43 catches for 418 yards. He does not yet have an NFL touchdown. Under the hood, The33rdTeam.com notes Mingo ranks either last or second-to-last in yards per route run and catch rate for players with 50 receptions since 2023.

Mingo will now join Tolbert and CeeDee Lamb in Dallas’ receiving corps. Carolina, meanwhile, has until 3pm CT today to decide on trading Thielen. It is also possible Thielen becomes a post-deadline release, though that is far from certain. The Panthers will retool around rookie first-rounder Xavier Legette and rookie UDFA Jalen Coker.

Cowboys Planning To Trade For WR

November 5th, 2024 at 8:42am CST by Sam Robinson

Jerry Jones has not seen his 2024 team deliver on his expectations, but the Cowboys are not selling. In fact, the owner confirmed a full-fledged effort to buy is underway.

After Jones appeared to show more interest in adding before today’s deadline, he said during a 105.3 The Fan interview (via ESPN.com’s Todd Archer) a wide receiver trade should be expected. This is certainly an interesting development, as the Cowboys are 3-5, and it all but signals a trade is imminent.

[RELATED: Examining Final Stage Of WR Trade Market]

Jones indicated this mystery pass catcher drew interest from the team coming out of the draft — whichever one said player was part of. The Cowboys have Brandin Cooks on IR, leaving CeeDee Lamb short on complementary help. Lamb is also iffy for Week 10, but the All-Pro is not certain to be out. The recently extended WR1 suffered an AC joint injury in Week 9.

The receiver market has seen several dominoes fall already, though a few trade chips remain. It would be borderline stunning if the Giants dealt Darius Slayton to a division rival, so that path is probably closed. One of the Patriots’ trade pieces could be in play here. Beyond Kendrick Bourne, K.J. Osborn and Tyquan Thornton are believed to be available. Ditto Adam Thielen, but he would not qualify as a player a team liked in the draft; after all, Thielen is 34 and latched on with the Vikings after impressing at a rookie minicamp.

The Jets initially made Mike Williams available upon acquiring Davante Adams — a player the Cowboys checked on before quickly exiting that market due to contract reasons — but after Allen Lazard hit IR, Gang Green may now be fine keeping the former top-10 pick. The Chargers also may have Josh Palmer available; the former third-round pick is in a contract year and is not believed to be part of the team’s post-2024 plans.

A 2018 trade for Amari Cooper, who cost a first-round pick, ignited the Cowboys and keyed a turnaround that produced an NFC East title. The Cowboys have been effectively trying to replace Cooper since trading him to the Browns in 2022. Cooks has not proven wildly underwhelming, but he is now 31 and has not been as effective compared to his work following the other three trades in which he was involved. This Cowboys team is also, especially considering Dak Prescott‘s imminent IR placement due to a hamstring injury, in bigger trouble than the ’18 edition was.

Dallas has neither impressed on offense or defense. Prescott ranks 25th in QBR, while Mike Zimmer’s troops rank 31st in points allowed and 27th in total defense.

Cowboys’ Dak Prescott Expected To Miss Multiple Weeks; Door Open For Trey Lance?

November 4th, 2024 at 10:12pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Cowboys’ slide has called into question their offseason decisions, with Jerry Jones‘ inactivity at the center of many discussions. The longtime owner did ultimately pay his two contract-year standouts, however, but the deals for Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb have preceded a 3-5 record.

This situation may well worsen soon, as Prescott’s hamstring injury is expected to sideline him. Tests have revealed the issue to be worse than initially suspected, according to NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero, who report a multiweek absence is on tap for the ninth-year quarterback. Although Prescott will seek a second opinion, Rapoport adds, at least a short-term absence should be anticipated.

Jones had said he was worried about Prescott’s availability for Dallas’ Week 10 matchup against Philadelphia, and the reigning MVP runner-up went through an MRI today. Prescott damaged his hamstring on a scramble against the Falcons, per AllDLLS.com’s Clarence Hill, but visibly aggravated it during a subsequent pass attempt. It is not yet known if IR is in play, though committing to Prescott missing four games would be a risk due to Dallas’ early-season struggles.

The injury moved two-stint Dak backup Cooper Rush into action, as the former UDFA replaced Prescott as he did in 2022 during the starter’s time away due to a finger injury. Rush is the Cowboys’ backup, but EVP Stephen Jones opened the door to some Trey Lance work (via the Fort Worth Star-Telegram’s Nick Harris) as well. Lance joins Justin Fields, Zach Wilson and Mac Jones as 2021 first-round QB draftees in contract years as reserves. Wilson and Lance, the Nos. 2 and 3 picks that year, entered the season as third-stringers.

After it looked like Prescott would go into a contract year, the Cowboys finalized a deal hours before their Week 1 kickoff in Cleveland. Prescott’s extraordinary leverage led to a $60MM-per-year extension that included the no-tag and no-trade clauses his second deal — which also came with the QB in a unique leverage position — ended up including. This came after the Cowboys made Lamb the NFL’s second-highest-paid wide receiver. While injuries elsewhere have hurt this Cowboys edition, the Joneses have received scrutiny for not doing more to add talent elsewhere. These expenses also came months before true Micah Parsons extension negotiations are expected to begin.

Prescott, 31, has bounced back from absences before. He finalized his first Dallas extension — four years, $160MM — after a season-ending ankle injury. Dak returned and did not miss a start due to injury for the 2021 Cowboys, though he admitted this offseason his ankle injury has continued to affect him and require regular maintenance. Following the finger issue, Prescott returned that October and has not missed a start since. That streak is expected to stop at 36 games, introducing more obstacles for a struggling Cowboys squad.

Last year’s second-team All-Pro passer, Prescott sits 25th in QBR this season. The Cowboys brought down his historic cap hit this year but are tied to the former fourth-round find through at least 2027 now. Prescott is due a $47.75MM base salary in 2025, and the Cowboys will need to adjust his cap number — pushing more money into future years — due to it currently residing at $89.89MM. Even the Browns’ Deshaun Watson contract/calamity does not enter that neighborhood in terms of cap hits. The Cowboys will hope Prescott bounces back, but he received tremendous security in September.

Lance receiving work would represent the most interesting component here, as he has gone from 2022 49ers Week 1 starter to afterthought. Sam Darnold beat out Lance to back up Brock Purdy in 2023, leading to the Cowboys giving up a fourth-round pick for the former North Dakota State star. Lance’s career quickly drifted off track, and the ankle fracture he sustained in 2022 moved him to a crossroads.

No real updates have changed that status, despite a rumor indicating Lance could leapfrog Rush for the QB2 gig. That did not end up happening. The Cowboys could certainly consider going with a higher-upside play rather than Rush, though the latter has seen extensive work in Mike McCarthy‘s offense and offers more stability. At 3-5 and in a lame-duck year, McCarthy will obviously lean toward stability over development. Though, it would be interesting if ownership overruled him — given the HC’s contract status — on a potential play to see what Lance can contribute.

Latest On Cowboys’ Ezekiel Elliott Discipline

November 4th, 2024 at 12:07pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Cowboys dropped to 3-5 on the year with a Sunday loss to the Falcons. A main talking point before the contest was the absence of running back Ezekiel Elliott.

Team and player mutually decided he would not travel to Atlanta in the wake of Dallas’ choice to make him inactive for Week 9. That move has since led to reports of tardiness in team meetings, a common cause for such moves. Other factors could be in play – such as a lack of playing time in his second Cowboys stint – but for the time being Elliott’s absence is strictly viewed as a disciplinary measure.

“Well, it was a decision that Zeke understands, and so that’s the way it is,” owner Jerry Jones said when speaking after the game (via the team’s website). “And he’s one of the best team men. He’s one of the best workers that I’ve ever been around, and he was just that and has been that, and that [decision] was unconditionally a result of him being late for meetings.

“… I can’t emphasize enough what an exemplary teammate Zeke is, and I want to be real clear about that. In my mind, he’s what a football player is all about. But this was a discipline thing.”

Elliott’s first Cowboys stint came to an expected end in the 2023 offseason, paving the way for his one-year Patriots tenure. The former rushing champion did not enjoy an efficient campaign with New England, although he did lead the team in receptions and total 955 scrimmage yards. A Dallas reunion came about shortly after this past draft (one in which the Cowboys did not add a rookie running back), allowing for Elliott to handle a role in the team’s backfield committee.

As the season has progressed, though, Rico Dowdle has emerged as the clear-cut top option on the league’s 31st-ranked rushing attack. Veteran Dalvin Cook has been elevated from the practice squad each of the last two weeks, but the former Vikings Pro Bowler has managed only 20 yards on eight carries to date. Nevertheless, keeping both Cook and Elliott (who has averaged a new career low with 3.1 yards per carry this year) in place as backups would likely be redundant.

Elliott’s discipline has generated speculation about a trade being possible, and Jones said yesterday the Cowboys are likely to make a move or two before tomorrow afternoon’s deadline. At 29 and with a poor showing on the statsheet in 2024, Elliott’s value would not be particularly high to interested teams. That could sway Jones in favor of keeping him, something further suggested by this latest vote of confidence.

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