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Mike McCarthy provides injury update on Ezekiel Elliott

Chandler Vesselsby:Chandler Vessels•11/22/21•

ChandlerVessels

Ezekiel Elliott Mike McCarthy
David Eulitt/Getty Images

Dallas Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy offered an encouraging update on the knee injury to running back Ezekiel Elliott on Monday. Although the issue has been bothering Elliott for a month, he will continue to play through it.

“The conversation with the trainers, I have no reason to think he won’t go,” McCarthy said.

The Cowboys are set to take on the Las Vegas Raiders at 4:30 p.m. ET on Thanksgiving Day in AT&T Stadium. They will hope to bounce back after suffering a loss to Kansas City in Week 11.

Elliott, the fourth overall pick out of Ohio State in 2016, has seemed to regress over the past couple of seasons. After averaging more than 95 yards per game in each of his first three seasons, the running back hit a career low with 65.3 in 2020. That total has risen slightly this year, but is still just 69.5.

At least some of the dip in production can be attributed to Dallas’ increased trust in Tony Pollard, who account for 31.4% of the Cowboys’ carries. Elliott is still the leader with 52.6%.

The Pro Bowl running back has still managed to find the end zone often, with seven rushing scores this season. That number is tied for sixth in the league and already better than the six he had in 2020. He is eight touchdowns away from his career high of 15.

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The Cowboys have lost two of their past three games, including Sunday against the Chiefs. At 7-3, they still have a comfortable lead in the NFC East division and look primed for a playoff appearance.

Dallas started its tradition of playing in Thanksgiving Day games in 1966 and has compiled a 31-21-1 record since then. They are 2-3 of the past five seasons, including a 41-16 loss to the Washington Football Team in 2020.

The offense, led by quarterback Dak Prescott, is currently the best in the NFL, averaging 418.1 yards per game. They also have the third-best scoring offense with 29.3 points per contest.

Although the injury update to Ezekiel Elliott indicates he isn’t 100 percent, it’s good to see his desire to fight through it down the stretch.