Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott will play in Saturday’s
preseason game against the Oakland Raiders, coach Jason Garrett
announced.
Elliott was a former high school star at John Burroughs High School.
When asked by reporters on Thursday whether Elliott will play this
weekend, Garrett was succinct with his response: “Yes.”
Elliott, who is expected to play anywhere from eight to 12 snaps,
took turns with the first-team offense going against the scout team
in Wednesday’s practice. He played 14 snaps and had seven carries
for 48 yards in the third preseason game last year against the
Seattle Seahawks.
The 22-year-old Elliott faces a six-game suspension for violating
the NFL’s personal conduct policy. The ban stems from the league’s
13 month-long investigation into domestic violence accusations made
against Elliott by former girlfriend Tiffany Thompson.
Elliott has denied the allegations and plans to appeal the ruling
on Aug. 29 before league-appointed arbitrator Harold Henderson.
The suspension is scheduled to begin Sept. 2 and Elliott is
eligible to return to the Cowboys’ roster on Oct. 23, one day after
the team’s Week 7 road game against the San Francisco 49ers.
Elliott is coming off a sensational rookie season in which he
rushed for a Cowboys rookie-record 1,631 yards and 15 touchdowns.