With ‘plenty left in the tank,’ Ezekiel Elliott expects emotional game against Cowboys

Ezekiel Elliott is trying to say the right things and have the right approach to Sunday’s game between the Dallas Cowboys and New England Patriots at AT&T Stadium.

He wants to do whatever he can to help his team win. That’s his focus.

It’s also his conundrum.

For the previous eight seasons, Elliott’s team was the Cowboys. And what a glorious time it was, right from the beginning.

He was picked fourth overall, became best friends with fourth-round pick quarterback in Dak Prescott, and took the league storm, helping the Cowboys go 13-3 while leading the league in rushing.

Elliott won two NFL rushing titles and finished last season as team’s third all-time leading rusher behind Hall of Famers Emmitt Smith and Tony Dorsett, while becoming beloved and selfless teammate who also kept the locker room in stitches with his humor.

Elliott hasn’t talked to Prescott or any his former teammates yet because he is trying to focus.

But he admitted to accidentally texting safety Jayron Kearse when he was trying to text Baltimore Ravens running back J.K. Dobbins, a fellow Ohio State Buckeye.

“Oh, dang, my bad,” Elliott recalled. “It’s gonna be a little bit interesting, a little bit different, you know, kind of going against guys that that I played with for so long.

“I really don’t have much time to be too emotional. I gotta prepare for a game. I gotta go out there and put my best foot forward. But there are emotions. I may do a good job hiding them. There will be some emotions I gotta go out there and perform.”

And that’s where those emotions turn to motivations.

A decline in production due to injuries and wear and tear, coinciding with his $10 million cap hit for 2023, forced owner Jerry Jones to make one of the hardest phones calls he ever had to make on March 15.

“Mr. Jones, he told me what was going on and it’s not something that he wanted to do,” Elliott said. “But it’s just part of the business.”

Jones, who once threatened to fire NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and sue the NFL over a six-game suspension for Elliott in 2017 for violating the NFL personal conduct policy, continues to gush over his former star running back.

“I know that he was one of the best teammates that I’ve had the privilege of seeing on the Cowboys,” Jones said. “For his team, he was inspirational. He was inspirational before the games, his practice habits were off the charts — he just would basically practice as though every play was for all the marbles. He had very unique skills as a running back, and boy, he could lower that pad and lower that center of gravity.

“As far as a back that the opposing team hates to tackle, I think he’s at the top of the list. (Earl) Campbell of the Houston Oilers seems to have that (title) — but man, Zeke took a toll on those defensive players. So I’ll always remember that, I’ll remember his positiveness. He has the perfect mentality to play this game and be a pro.”

There were some talks about possibly bringing Elliott back following his release. And a couple offers were exchanged, per a source.

The whole ordeal remains a sore point. He was without a team from March 15 until signing with the Patriots on Aug. 16.

“Anyone that gets released or gets cut, it’s gonna be tough mentally,” Elliott said. “That’s life. It is what it is. It’s just on me to get back on the horse. You can’t let negatives weigh you down. You’re got to take a negative and turn it to a positive and that’s what I’m working to do.”

Elliott is heading to Dallas at the right time.

He is coming off his best game of the season, rushing for 80 yards on 16 carries to lead a 157-yard Patriots rushing attack that powered a 15-10 victory against the New York Jets

Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy expects Elliott to be big part of the game plan on Sunday against a Dallasdefense that is coming off its worst performance of the season in giving up 222 yards on the ground in a 28-16 loss to the Arizona Cardinals.

Elliott signed with the Patriots during training camp and is still adjusting to his new in-season home.

“It is definitely been a journey,” Elliott said. “They’re a little bit different. Trying to get settled, learn a new playbook while also trying to find a place and get all that together. It’s kind of been somewhat of a whirlwind. I’m finally getting settled.”

And he can’t wait to show everyone that he can still haul it.

“I got plenty left in the tank,” Elliott said. “I still think I’m a very good back.”

He hopes to be well received by Cowboys fans at AT&T Stadium on Sunday considering the many fond memories they shared, highlighted by his jump into the Salvation Army kettle following a touchdown. He said most of his family has moved to the Dallas area and this will always be his permanent home.

“I think it’ll be you know, a good experience,” Elliott said. “I’ve had so many good moments with with with the fans in AT&T Stadium. I’m looking forward to you know, coming back and reuniting with the fans. And even though I may be in a different uniform I think it’ll be a good experience.”

Jones plans to give Elliott as warm welcome and indicated the Cowboys will do something to honor their former star on Sunday.

Just know that once the emotions are done, it will be all business from Elliott.

Asked if there’s any motivation to make the Cowboys regret not re-signing him, Elliott was unequivocal in his response.

“I think that’s every week,” he said.