FRISCO, Texas (AP) — Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott will miss out on a trip to Atlanta Sunday’s match for reasons the team did not explain.

Saturday’s announcement means Elliott will miss a game for the first time in eight seasons during two stints with the Cowboys due to injury, suspension or for reasons other than games where punts could not justify stepping away.

ESPN cited anonymous sources reporting the absence was for disciplinary reasons.

Elliott was the fourth overall pick in the 2016 draft when Dallas was a two-time champion. returned to his original team In the offseason after a year in New England. The Cowboys released Elliott after the 2022 season in a cost-cutting move.

The return of the 29-year-old player was not very productive. Elliott is averaging a career-worst 3.1 yards per carry with 149 yards on 48 attempts. He has only two rushing touchdowns by running backs in the NFL’s worst running game. Dallas (3-4) is averaging just 74 yards per game on the ground.

Dalvin Cook has been removed from the practice squad for the second straight week and will serve as Rico Dowdle’s backup against the Falcons (5-3). Dowdle was the final scratch in last week’s 30-24 loss to San Francisco due to illness.

Elliott won both championships in his first three seasons. Last year, he led the NFL in rushing yards per game when he was suspended six games for domestic violence allegations.

Elliott missed just five games outside of suspension in his first seven seasons with the Cowboys. Three of those were due to injuries and two were regular-season finales with the Cowboys already in the playoffs.

Elliott’s goal last weekend vs. 49ers He finished 70th in the field with Dallas, finishing second on the club’s career list, two behind Pro Football Hall of Famer Tony Dorsett. The NFL’s all-time rushing leader, Emmitt Smith, also a Hall of Famer, leads the Cowboys in rushing yards and touchdowns.

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