Timeline of Ezekiel Elliott's Dallas Tenure and Jerry Jones' Decision to Release the RB Explored

Former Dallas Cowboys player Ezekiel Elliott returns to AT&T Stadium as a member of the New England Patriots, facing his former team. His emotions will play a role in the game's outcome.

Ezekiel Elliott is set to make his return to AT&T Stadium, the home of the Dallas Cowboys, for the first time since being cut by the team last offseason. Now a member of the New England Patriots, Elliott is sure to experience a whirlwind of emotions as he faces off against his former team.

It is crucial for Elliott to channel these emotions in the right way if the Patriots hope to upset the Cowboys on their home turf. This highly anticipated matchup gives us an opportunity to delve into Elliott's career in Dallas and the events that led to his release.

Selected as the fourth overall pick in the 2016 draft, alongside his teammate Dak Prescott, Elliott wasted no time in making a name for himself. He immediately showcased his talent by amassing an impressive 1,631 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns, proving that his skills from Ohio State translated seamlessly to the NFL.

In Dallas, Elliott became the focal point of the offense, providing a sense of stability and protection for the young Prescott. The Cowboys even secured a spot in the playoffs, although they ultimately fell short against Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers.

Nevertheless, Elliott's star power was undeniable, as he clinched the NFL rushing title that season. Despite only playing 10 games in 2017, he came close to reaching the 1,000-yard mark, falling just 17 yards short.

The following two seasons, 2018 and 2019, witnessed Elliott's continued dominance in the NFL. He amassed an impressive 2,791 rushing yards and 18 touchdowns during this period. However, after the 2019 season, his performance began to decline.

In 2020, Elliott's running style seemed to catch up with him, resulting in a mere 979 rushing yards and six touchdowns in 15 games. It was during this time that Tony Pollard started to emerge as a viable option in the backfield.

Elliott's production continued to dwindle, and he appeared sluggish on the field, likely due to injuries and the toll of playing the physically demanding position of running back. In 2021, he managed to surpass 1,000 rushing yards, but he no longer resembled the dominant force he once was. Additionally, Pollard began to play a more significant role in the offense.

Last season, Pollard took over as the primary back, relegating Elliott to the number two spot. This decision shed light on Jerry Jones' perspective on Elliott's future with the team. With Pollard's emergence and Elliott's declining performance, coupled with his hefty salary, the Cowboys made the difficult decision to part ways with their former star running back.

Now a member of the Patriots, Elliott will have the opportunity to spoil the Cowboys' party at AT&T Stadium. The stage is set for an emotional and highly anticipated showdown between Elliott and his former team.

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