When the Cowboys re-signed Ezekiel Elliott this offseason, he chose to change his jersey number from 21 to 15, which he wore in college. The team was hopeful they would see a return to his former self, but maybe the change in uniform was foreshadowing something—Elliott appears to be unrecognizable to the player who became the third all-time rushing leader in franchise history.
On Saturday, it was reported that Elliott would be healthy and inactive for the first time in his career, besides resting in late-season meaningless finales, in favor of elevating Dalvin Cook. Elliott’s benching was believed to be for disciplinary reasons, and his absence from the traveling with the team was a “mutual decision.