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Ezekiel Elliott could be pulling a Le’Veon Bell. The Dallas Cowboys running back is currently holding out from training camp with the hopes of landing a new contract. However, if a deal is not reached, he may never show up.
According to a report from Josina Anderson of ESPN, Elliott plans to sit out the entire 2019-20 NFL season unless he gets his desired offer.
While his teammates are preparing for the upcoming season, Elliott has been training in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.
From the ESPN report:
Representatives for running back Ezekiel Elliott have told Dallas Cowboys that he will not play in the 2019 season without a new contract, a source close to the situation told ESPN’s Josina Anderson on Tuesday.
The source added that at this time, it is not likely that Elliott’s holdout continues into the regular season, based on the belief that Cowboys owner Jerry Jones wants to get a new deal done with the running back before Week 1.
While it would be understandable for Elliott’s teammates to criticize the running back for not showing up to camp, quarterback Dak Prescott is supportive of Elliott’s “business” decision.
“Friendship is friendship and business is business,” Prescott told ESPN. “You don’t cross those…Obviously we miss the player that he is, but I know that he’s getting better. I know that he’s working on his game. He’s in shape. He’s going to make sure that he comes back and when he’s back on this team he’s a better player than before camp or before the spring. He’s a good friend. Obviously want him out here, but that’s business.”
There is also some good news, with reports that the Cowboys are preparing a “generous” offer for Elliott that would put him in the top five paid players at his position.
The Cowboys are set to officially kickoff their 2019 campaign on September 8 against the division rival New York Giants.
