Rookie running back Ezekiell Elliot made his preseason debut on Thursday, carrying seven times for 48 yards. The punishments continue to come off as petty and paternalistic, more like another disciplinary tool than a means to protect or improve the game or its players.
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Romo got injured when he scrambled on the play and was met by Cliff Avril when he went to slide. Romo then had brief conversations with Garrett and offensive coordinator Scott Linehan, threw a number of passes on the sideline, but when the Cowboys’ offense returned to the field, Romo remained on the sideline.
He immediately grabbed at his back, crumpled on the field while trainers sprinted from the Dallas sideline and images of Romo’s injury problems from past year immediately flashed to mind. We just thought it was in best interests of him and our team that we keep him out. Maybe because this is the preseason (and maybe because Jason Garrett isn’t most coaches), the Cowboys instead put Dak Prescott back under center to hand the ball off to the running back.
Jerry Jones is huffing and puffing over prized rookie Ezekiel Elliott’s trip to a pot shop, even if it was just some window shopping. I was a little surprised the first time, but he’s got a lot of courage for that. Romo completed his first pass of the game for an 11-yard completion to Terrance Williams. And he is the first player on our list of the five Dallas Cowboys whose stock, we believe, is rising the most following the game. He wanted to go back in.
Jones is just glad Romo didn’t get hurt and he was able to joke about the situation after the game. “And he needs to look at that”. Was stretching/warming up & ready to go back in.
It’s just not good. “I felt great going into the game last week, same this week”, Romo said. Earlier in the week, Danny Kelly of The Ringer broke down the multiple ways the Dallas running game has attacked opponents in the past, and many of them were on display on just these three runs. The 36-year-old All-Pro, who appeared in only four games last season after suffering two collarbone injuries, did not return to the game but said he could have while quickly shooting down any worries.
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The Cowboys have backed Elliott and have not seen his story change.
