FRISCO, Texas – Running back Ezekiel Elliott was already set to miss at least the next three games until a Dec. 1 expedited appeal of his six-game NFL suspension. Now, according to NFL.com and reports, Elliott has decided to drop his appeal and serve his full six-game suspension – meaning he won't return to game action until the Cowboys' Dec. 24 home game against the Seattle Seahawks.
Last Thursday, the Second Circuit Court of Appeals denied the NFL Players Association's motion on Elliott's behalf for a preliminary injunction that would have continued to block his suspension for violating the league's personal conduct policy.
Elliott had appeared in the first eight games of the season and ranked second in the league with 783 rushing yards and 7 touchdowns.
The Cowboys lost 27-7 at Atlanta last Sunday in their first game without Elliott. Alfred Morris, Rod Smith and Darren McFadden rushed 15 times for 65 yards.
The Second Circuit had scheduled Elliott's appeal hearing for Dec. 1, four games into his suspension. It was quite possible Elliott would have had to serve his full suspension anyway. But now the Cowboys know they'll be without their All-Pro back until the final two games of the season.
According to NFL.com's report, "The NFLPA still can pursue its lawsuit against the NFL on Elliott's behalf even though he's accepted the terms of the suspension."
The NFL suspended Elliott in August despite Elliott never being criminally charged over domestic violence allegations by a former girlfriend. He has denied those accusations and remained focused on football throughout the legal process, thanking the Cowboys for their support along the way.
