Ezekiel Elliott Benched for Cowboys' Game Against Falcons

Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott will miss the team's Week 9 game against the Atlanta Falcons due to disciplinary reasons, marking his first absence for non-injury reasons in his eight-season career. Elliott's reaction to being informed of his inactivity reportedly influenced the decision for him not to travel with the team. His performance this season has been lackluster, averaging a career-worst 3.1 yards per carry and contributing to the Cowboys' league-worst rushing attack, which averages just 74.1 yards per game. The Cowboys have elevated Dalvin Cook from the practice squad to fill the gap left by Elliott, as they seek to improve their struggling run game. Cook's previous outing against the San Francisco 49ers yielded only 12 yards on six carries, but he will share backfield duties with Rico Dowdle in Elliott's absence. The Cowboys hope to capitalize on facing an Atlanta defense that has been weak against the run, allowing an average of 132.6 rushing yards per game.