Cowboys to face Ezekiel Elliott early in 2023 NFL season

The Dallas Cowboys decided to part ways with former first-round pick Ezekiel Elliott back in March and hand the keys to the running back room to Tony Pollard. Elliott won't have to wait long to see his old teammates, though. On Monday, Elliott signed a one-year deal with the New England Patriots, which sets up […]

Matthew Lenix

Aug 15, 2023 10:29 AM EDT

The Dallas Cowboys decided to part ways with former first-round pick Ezekiel Elliott back in March and hand the keys to the running back room to Tony Pollard.

Elliott won't have to wait long to see his old teammates, though. On Monday, Elliott signed a one-year deal with the New England Patriots, which sets up a return to Dallas for him in Week 4 of the regular season.

The #Patriots are expected to sign former #Cowboys star RB Ezekiel Elliott to a 1-year deal worth up to $6M after his successful FA visit earlier in camp, per me and @TomPelissero. Some backfield help for NE and a new home for Zeke… who plans to rock his No. 15 from college. pic.twitter.com/LrdbpHp17h
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 14, 2023

Elliott took the NFL world by storm by winning two rushing titles in his first three seasons and leading the league in yards per game in the one year that he didn't. After that, it was a struggle for Elliott.

In 2019, Elliott signed a six-year extension for $90 million. He finished fourth in rushing, second in all-purpose yards, and tied for first in 100-yard games that year. However, Elliott failed to reach 1,000 yards in two of his final three years in Dallas, and he missed time with multiple knee issues.

Dallas wanted to keep Elliott, just not at the price tag he had which was set to pay him $10.4 million in 2023. Plus, there's the Pollard factor.

The 2022 campaign highlighted once and for all that Pollard was the more explosive and reliable runner the Cowboys had as he led the team with 1,007 rushing yards despite having nearly 40 fewer attempts than Elliott.

The NFL is a business, that's well known by now. So, Elliott surely understands that having been in the league for eight years. But there's also this thing called pride that lies inside of every athlete, and Elliott still feels that he's a No.1 option, and the fact that Dallas didn't anymore, has to have lit a fire in him.

When the Cowboys and Patriots do get it on, it'll be must-see television.