Jerry Jones issues statement after Dallas Cowboys release Ezekiel Elliott

The Dallas Cowboys made the decision to release running back Ezekiel Elliott on Tuesday. Elliott has spent all but one of his nine NFL seasons with the franchise, taking a brief one-year detour to the New England Patriots in 2023.

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones addressed the move in a statement, calling him one of the greatest players to ever wear a Dallas jersey.

“Out of respect and appreciation for Zeke and wanting to provide him with an opportunity to pursue any potential playoff participation possible, we are releasing him from the Cowboys roster today,” Jones wrote. “As I have said many times previously, Zeke’s impact as one of the greatest players to ever play with the Star on their helmet will never change and it etched in our record books and history forever. We thank him, love him and wish him the absolute best.”

Elliott appeared in 15 games this past season to finish with 226 yards rushing and three touchdowns. It became evident that the 29-year-old was no longer the same player when he arrives in Dallas as a rookie in 2016, but he still leaves behind a great legacy.

The running back ends his career with the Cowboys as the third-leading rusher in franchise history with 8,488 yards and 71 touchdowns. His rookie season where he rushed for 1,631 yards and 15 touchdowns ranks as the fifth-best of any Dallas back ever.

Elliott came to the Cowboys as a first-round pick out of Ohio State. He would go on to earn three Pro Bowl appearances and was also named Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2016.

Elliott remained the starting running back for the next seven seasons before Dallas released him ahead of 2023. The Patriots then signed him and he went on to rush for 642 yards and three touchdowns in his lone season in New England.

Dallas brought him back ahead of this season, but he finished as the second-leading rusher as the team currently sits at 7-9. It’s unclear at this point whether any playoff team might be interested in signing Elliott ahead of the postseason.

The release of Elliott was apparently a mutual decision as the running back was the one who requested it. If he clears waivers, he will be a free agent and can sign with any team he wants.