Dallas Cowboys Release Star Running Back After Seven Seasons

After seven seasons, it is no longer time to ‘Feed Zeke’ in Dallas, as the Cowboys and Running Back Ezekiel Elliott officially parted ways this week.

After being taken in the first round in the 2016 NFL Draft, Elliott spent his entire career in Dallas. He will be designated as a post-June 1st cut, allowing the team to save $10 million in cap space.

Cowboys to release RB Ezekiel Elliott. (via @RapSheet, @TomPelissero) pic.twitter.com/DuRApvbHTR

— NFL (@NFL) March 15, 2023

Elliott was drafted out of Ohio State in the first round of the 2016 draft and immediately impacted a struggling Cowboys offense. He rushed for 1,631 yards and 15 touchdowns in his rookie year, making him the lead rusher in 2016.

Elliott would continue to have a consistent tenure with the Cowboys, rushing for 983 yards in 2017, 1,434 yards in 2018, 1,357 yards in 2019, and 979 yards in 2020.

After a solid year in 2021, where he rushed for 1002 yards and 10 touchdowns, Elliott would have a down year in 2022, rushing for only 876 yards and 12 touchdowns. As the season progressed, he would more and more often find himself as the second option behind Running Back Tony Pollard, who was proving to be more productive running the ball.

ESPN ANALYST MAKES RACIST COMMENT ABOUT NBA STAR NIKOLA JOKIC WITH ANOTHER MVP WIN JUST AROUND THE CORNER

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones would officially announce the release of Elliott on Wednesday, saying, “We will always have a special place and love for Zeke and what he means to our Cowboys family, both as a person and a player. That will never change.”

Jerry Jones statement on Ezekiel Elliott via the #Cowboys pic.twitter.com/X11y51eXxO

— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) March 15, 2023

“Zeke’s impact and influence is seared into the Cowboys franchise in a very special and indelible way. He has been a consummate professional and leader that set a tone in our locker room, on the practice field, and in the huddle.” Jones would continue. “Zeke defined what a great teammate should be, and anyone that has ever played a team sport would be lucky to have a teammate like Zeke and be much better for it.”

“We have mutually agreed with Zeke that the best decision for everyone is that he will be able to experience free agency, and we can increase our flexibility and options as well.” Jones would officially state, adding that these are the hard decisions that have to be made when operating a pro football team.

As of publishing, a likely landing spot for Zeke is the Buffalo Bills, but no official word has been stated yet.

Follow Josh Beauchamp on Twitter here