Ezekiel Elliott frames return to Dallas Cowboys, longevity of career perfectly

Ezekiel Elliott had to go back to go forward in his return to the Dallas Cowboys and he’s ready to make the most of his second stint in the great state of Texas.

After one year with the New England Patriots, Elliott is back in Dallas in what could be the twilight of his career. He’ll begin his ninth NFL season this Fall, nearing the end of a decent shelf life for running backs.

In fact, Elliott referred to said shelf life and mentioned how he already beat the odds.

“The shelf life of an NFL player is three years,” Elliott said, via Jon Machota. “Every snap, every year, one more year I get is a blessing. … I think it was important for me to come back because I have unfinished business. I felt like I wanted to come back and be with my guys and take another spin at it. Right now, the focus is now, having as much fun as I can. I don’t know how many more of these I’m going to have. And just take advantage of being here and living in the moment.”

Ezekiel Elliott ready for second go ’round in Dallas

While he put up career lows last season, Elliott only started five of the 17 games played and had a career low in carries (184). He finished the year with 642 rushing yards, three touchdowns, 3.5 yards per carry, 51 catches, 313 receiving yards and two touchdown receptions.

Of all the running backs on the Cowboys’ roster, Elliott is the only one who’s played the feature back role in the NFL. Despite bringing him back for another run, Mike McCarthy isn’t planning to put the full load on the former first-rounder as he believes that wouldn’t be “fair.”

“We’re running back by committee, but I think he’ll definitely play at the level that he’s played, I know, in my time here. I anticipate that,” McCarthy said this offseason. “I don’t see any drop off in the way he moves. He’s in good shape. … He’s come in here, and he’s picked up right where he left off.”

It might be a running back by committee approach this year in Dallas, but Elliott is more than ready to do whatever it takes.

“I don’t know exactly what it looks like, but we’ll see,” Zeke said of the running back-by-committee approach Dallas is taking. “I love football, so I’m gonna do anything it takes for me to help this team win — whatever that is.”