The Dallas Cowboys will be without star Running Back Ezekiel Elliott today as they host the San Francisco 49ers. Despite reports earlier in the week that Zeke would be active today, a calf injury will keep him in street clothes for Week 15.
Tony Pollard will get the start today with rookie Rico Dowdle as the backup. We’ll also see RB/FB Sewo Olonilua called up to the active roster after spending most of the season on the practice squad.
Source: The #Cowboys won’t have RB Ezekiel Elliott. He’s inactive. A big surprise. Coach Mike McCarthy had said he expected him to play.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) December 20, 2020
This will be the first game that Elliott has missed in 2020. While it hasn’t been a banner year for him, especially with the fumbles, Zeke still has 832 rushing yards and is in range of another 1,000-yard season.
Many will be intrigued by seeing Tony Pollard as the starting back. He’s flashed great play-making potential as Elliott’s backup and take advantage of the change-of-pace role, but that doesn’t always translate to being the primary runner.
The Cowboys are hanging on to the slimmest of hope for making the 2020 playoffs. They have to win all of their remaining games and see Washington lose out to take the NFC East.
Missing Ezekiel Elliott today certainly won’t help towards that goal. We’ll see how the offense looks with Tony Pollard as the starter against the 49ers.
