Dallas Cowboys honor former first-rounder Ezekiel Elliott before Patriots matchup

The Dallas Cowboys honored former first-round selection Ezekiel Elliott on Sunday ahead of their matchup against the New England Patriots. Jerry Jones’ squad played a video tribute with some of the former Buckeye’s best highlights, including his infamous Salvation Army kettle jumps.

Elliott rushed for 8,262 yards in seven seasons with Dallas, exceeding the 1,000-yard mark four times. He was responsible for 80 total touchdowns, 68 coming on the ground. The running back was also a three-time Pro Bowl selection while with the Cowboys.

Cowboys pregame video honoring Ezekiel Elliott pic.twitter.com/OfPRlJCkm4

— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) October 1, 2023

The Cowboys released Elliott on March 15, opting not to pay the remainder of the six-year, $90 million extension he signed in 2019. Elliott, 28, was set to count $16.7 million against the salary cap in 2023 had Dallas retained him.

He remained a free agent for five months before the Patriots signed him on Aug. 16. Between March and August, Jones considered adding him back to the roster. Alas, the former Buckeye went with a one-year deal for $3 million to New England instead.

“I wanted the best for him but also the best for the Cowboys,” Jones said of his business decision. “I was kind of laying in the weeds, thinking that maybe it wouldn’t go well for him with another team and we would get to do something but I knew that wouldn’t be the case when Bill Belichick called and asked all the right questions.”

Jones compares Elliott’s return to Emmitt Smith

This week, Jerry Jones opened up about what it would be like to welcome back one of his favorite players of all time – Ezekiel Elliott – in a different uniform.

Jones told The Fan hosts that even Emmitt Smith‘s return to Dallas with the Cardinals in 2003 doesn’t compare to the return of Zeke. Smith rushed for yardage on six carries when the Cardinals played the Cowboys. He ended up missing several games after that due to an injury.

“I’ll tell you, not any more so than Zeke,” Jones said. “I don’t think I can recall anyone more than Zeke. Emmitt, when he went to the Cardinals for two years, that was quite a time. I remember that he got hurt sometime early in the ballgame. I really felt the same way as I would have if he had been with the Cowboys at the time.

“Just can’t describe the positive things that Zeke brings. It’s a concern for me for him to play with the Patriots. Just his demeanor in the dressing room, in practice, in a way, it was as powerful as when you see him get that body low below his center of gravity and punish those tacklers.”

Kickoff between the Patriots and Cowboys is set for 4:25 p.m. ET on FOX on Sunday.