Of all the NFL teams, the Dallas Cowboys were under more pressure going into the 2024 season. Dallas entered this season with a definite expectation to win at least one playoff game, if not more, and make a run for the Super Bowl following three consecutive seasons with twelve wins under Mike McCarthy.
In spite of the fact that the Cowboys lost starting players on both sides of the ball as well as important role players from the 2023 team, owner Jerry Jones, who had publicly said he was “all-in” for this season, recruited very little fresh talent to the roster.
The stories surrounding the team for the entire offseason centered on what would happen to its two top players, quarterback Dak Prescott and wide receiver CeeDee Lamb.
He sat on his hands, typical of Jerry Jones, while the other teams in the NFL paid their quarterbacks and standout receivers record-breaking salaries. Finally, with five days remaining in August, Lamb and the Cowboys came to an agreement on a $136 million, four-year contract extension. In addition to receiving a wide receiver record $38 million signing bonus and $100 million guaranteed, he became the second-highest paid non-quarterback in the NFL, right behind Justin Jefferson.After the Cowboys defeated the Cleveland Browns in their season opener in 2024, it was revealed that Dallas and Prescott had signed a four-year, $240 million contract deal, with $231 million guaranteed.
The Dallas Cowboys are second in the NFC East with a (3-2) record after five games of the 2018 NFL season, but there have been some obvious areas of worry. Apart from Lamb, who has already accumulated 378 yards and two touchdowns, the Cowboys attack lacks many weapons that could frighten rival defenses.
Dallas presently has the second-best passing offense in the NFL, averaging 271.6 yards via the air per contest, but its rushing offense, which averages just 82 yards on the ground per game, is ranked 31st.
Rico Dowdle, a seasoned running back, has been their go-to option for carrying the ball, but he has only gained 221 yards on 54 attempts this season.
Ezekiel Elliott of the Dallas Cowboys says he feels “dumfounded” by his current role.
The most significant offseason move made by the Cowboys was the return of running back Ezekiel Elliott, who played for the New England Patriots in 2023 after taking a year off.
However, Dallas has not really used the seasoned ball-carrier much thus far.
Elliott was on the field for 40% of Dallas’ offensive plays in Week 2 and just 19% in Week 3, despite having played 51% of the team’s offensive snaps in Week 1. Before seeing a spike to 30% in Week 5 last Sunday night, he saw only 18% of the snaps in Week 4.
Elliott has not even been used regularly by the Dallas Cowboys in goal line and short-yardage scenarios. Elliott is not happy with his role in 2024, according to a report earlier this week by Cowboys beat writer Clarence Hill Jr.
revealed earlier this week, Elliott seems dissatisfied with his 2024 job thus far.
Ezekiel Elliott, a rushing back for the Cowboys, stated that he has discussed his job with the coaches and is still perplexed by his lack of opportunities, at least as a red zone back.
Ezekiel Elliott, the rushing back for the Cowboys, said that he has discussed his role with the coaches. “I am still amazed at how little he gets to do, even as a red zone back,” Elliott tweeted.
Elliott’s decline from his prime is evident, but it is still surprising how little he has contributed to an offense that currently ranks second-to-last in the NFL in terms of rushing offense.
