BREAKING: Ezekiel Elliott Has Told the Dallas Cowboys He Is Frustrated with His Role.

The Dallas Cowboys are 3-2, just a single game behind the Washington Commanders for first place in the NFC East. After a frustrating 1-2 start to the season, Dallas has won two games in a row but faces a challenging opponent in the Detroit Lions in Week Six.

Despite the two-game winning streak, the Cowboys have been far from dominant. They have scored just 20 points in each of their past two wins and have not scored 30 since Week One. One of the biggest reasons for their lack of scoring is their woeful run game. Dallas currently ranks 31st out of 32 teams in rushing yards per game with 82.4.

Only the New York Jets, who just fired head coach Robert Saleh, average fewer rushing yards per game.

The Dallas Cowboys Failed to Adequately Address the Running Back Position

Ezekiel Elliott, Dallas Cowboys — Oct 6, 2024; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott (15) works out before a game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Barry Reeger-Imagn Images

One of the Cowboys’ biggest offseason losses was running back Tony Pollard signing with the Tennessee Titans. The 2022 Pro Bowler posted back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons for the Cowboys but was allowed to walk in free agency without much of an effort to bring him back.

With Pollard gone, many Cowboys fans hoped that the team would pursue Derrick Henry. Jerry Jones, though, decided that Henry was too expensive and instead re-signed Ezekiel Elliott. Henry ended up signing a two-year $16 million contract with the Baltimore Ravens.

Henry averages over 114 rushing yards per game by himself this season.

The Cowboys have been using a running back by committee this season, but it appears that Rico Dowdle has emerged as their best rushing theat. He has been given the majority of the handoffs, which apparently has left Elliott frustrated.

Ezekiel Elliott Has Told the Dallas Cowboys He Is Frustrated with His Role

Dallas Cowboys, Ezekiel Elliott — Sep 8, 2024; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott (15) runs back to the locker room following the game against the Cleveland Browns at Huntington Bank Field. Mandatory Credit: Scott Galvin-Imagn Images

According to Cowboys insider Clarence Hill Jr., Elliott has become so frustrated with his role on the team that he has taken the issue to the coaching staff:

So far this season, Elliott has run the ball 30 times for 98 yards and a single touchdown. His 3.3 yards per carry is the worst of his career and continues his streak of seeing his effectiveness drop in every season since 2021.

Dowdle, on the other hand, is averaging 4.1 yards per carry on his 54 rushes for 221 yards.

Elliott surely does not have the role he envisioned himself having when he re-signed with Dallas after one year with the New England Patriot, but it is hard to argue with results. Dowdle has been better than him, by a lot.