Bill Belichick addresses Ezekiel Elliott's progress with the team

Ezekiel Elliott joined his new team in Green Bay this week. Of course, he was wearing a Patriots jersey as New England conducted joint practices against the Packers.

The two teams play a preseason game Saturday night at Lambeau Field. It’s unclear if Elliott, the former Dallas Cowboy, will see any action. Patriots coach Bill Belichick gave a brief update, emphasis on brief, on his newest running back before practice ended Friday

“I mean, he’s only been here two days,” Belichick told reporters. “We haven’t really been able to practice with him, so not so much team work. But, he’s done things. He worked out with the strength staff on Wednesday. So, it’s coming along. He’s definitely not there yet, but we’re getting there.”

Reporters spotted Elliott in team drills, Thursday, so the former Cowboy is getting to know the Patriots playbook. The goal is to be ready by the start of the regular season. Elliott is in his eighth season in the NFL. It’s not like he’d be playing preseason games if he still was in Dallas.

But it’s definitely been an interesting week for Ezekiel Elliott. He went with a new look/new number when he signed with the Patriots on Monday. Elliott rocked a shaggy, boho look as a Cowboy. But a barber cut off most of his hair and trimmed his beard.

Elliott posted a photo of his new look on Twitter. It generated more than 1,100 replies, 26,000 likes and 4.2 million views. People still care about the tailback, even if he wears another shade of blue.

Then when he’s on the field, he’s throwing it back to his college days at Ohio State. He switched from 21, his number with the Cowboys, to 15, what he wore with the Buckeyes.

pic.twitter.com/0qlnT4SVFR

— Ezekiel Elliott (@EzekielElliott) August 14, 2023

Bill O’Brien, the Patriots’ new offensive coordinator, said Elliott knows the sport. And it shows in the way he practices.

“He understands football,” O’Brien said earlier this week. “He picks up on it really quick.”

The Cowboys cut Elliott back in March. His contract had gotten too expensive to carry, especially since Tony Pollard was ahead of Elliott on the depth chart. A series of knee injuries appeared to slow Elliott’s game. However, because he knows football so well, he was terrific in short yardage, blocking and running routes.

The Patriots signed him with the idea that Elliott will play behind Rhamondre Stevenson, the former Oklahoma Sooner who gained 1,040 yards in 2022.

Stevenson and Elliott are friends since 2021. And quarterback Mac Jones already is a fan of the Stevenson-Elliott combo.

“Zeke is awesome so far,” Jones said. “Already was jumping in there getting some reps, so that was pretty cool to see fresh off a plane … He seems like a great fit; him and Mondre are going to be a great 1-2 punch, and you can’t forget about the other [RBs]…”