Report: Cowboys RB Ezekiel Elliott benched Week 9 for disciplinary reasons

The Dallas Cowboys will be without running back Ezekiel Elliott on Sunday against the Atlanta Falcons.

ESPN's Adam Schefter reported Saturday that Elliott did not travel with the team and has been benched for disciplinary reasons.

It's not currently clear what those reasons are but Sunday will mark the first time Elliott will miss a game as a healthy scratch for Dallas before the team clinching a playoff spot.

Cowboys leading rusher Rico Dowdle is expected to handle the bulk of carries in the backfield on Sunday in Atlanta. The team also called up Dalvin Cook from the practice squad for the second straight week.

Elliott hasn't necessarily been the focal point of Dallas' offense, but he also hasn't added much either. He's tallied just 149 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 48 carries this year.

He signed a one-year, $3M deal with Dallas in what was supposed to be a triumphant homecoming of sorts after Elliott posted career lows as a member of the New England Patriots in 2023.

Elliott is just two rushing touchdowns short of tying Cowboys legend Tony Dorsett for second on the franchise's all-time leaderboard (72). He scored his 70th on the ground against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 8.