For the first time since 2015, the Cowboys are set to enter a season without Ezekiel Elliott on the team. Dallas released the running back earlier in the offseason, and Elliott remains unsigned on the open market while the Cowboys have move forward with other options.
At the moment, the Cowboys have Tony Pollard, Malik Davis, Ronald Jones and recently drafted Deuce Vaughn on the running back depth chart. However, Cowboys hall of fame running back Emmitt Smith still thinks there is room for a reunion between Dallas and Elliott.
“I think Dallas needs to bring Zeke back if they can,” he said.
Emmitt Smith thinks the @dallascowboys should re-sign Ezekiel Elliott 😳 pic.twitter.com/DclMrimLnC
— USA TODAY Sports (@usatodaysports) May 4, 2023
Smith mentions Pollard’s injury as a reason why Elliott could still return. Pollard is coming off a broken fibula he suffered in the Divisional Round of the playoffs vs. San Francisco, something that required surgery.
“With the uncertainty of Pollard being able to come back, being the Tony Pollard that we all know, that is yet to be seen,” Smith said. “Until that is proven itself out, and he’s healthy enough to get out there and carry the football in some form of who he used to be, that is my biggest concern.
Smith is backing up what he said in February, when he argued for Dallas to keep both running backs instead of letting Elliott go.
Dallas gave Pollard the franchise tag, so the running back is playing on a one-year deal this season. He is coming off his best season in 2022, but it is to be determined how healthy he will be to start the year.
