Ezekiel Elliott is back with the Dallas Cowboys, but he won’t be returning to the number he wore with the team from 2016-22.
Elliott wore No. 21 during his seven seasons in Dallas, but is changing things up this time around, according to ESPN’s Todd Archer.
“Hold off on buying a No. 21 jersey for Ezekiel Elliott. Told he will be moving to No. 15, which he wore in New England and Ohio State,” Archer tweeted Wednesday afternoon. “Trey Lance will move to No. 19. Not sure it means much at the moment for the return of Stephon Gilmore, who wore 21 last year, just yet.”
Last season, Elliott rushed for 642 yards and three touchdowns on 184 carries while wearing No. 15 for the Patriots.
Despite Elliott’s age (turning 29 in June) and the fact he’s posted less than four yards per carry in each of the last two seasons, Cowboys VP of Player Personnel Will McClay thinks the former No. 4 overall pick can be a starter for the team in 2024.
“Zeke’s a winning, starting running back in the league. You turn on the tape, you saw him do things, running power gap scheme, running inside/outside zones, helping in pass protection. All those things to show that the ability was still there,” McClay said.
“And then adding him to this roster, it adds a guy, No. 1 that loves football, that wants to win here, wants to be here, and adds something to the roster from a leadership standpoint, as well as his ability to play.”
Besides Elliott, the Cowboys also have second-year pro Deuce Vaughn, veteran free agent signing Royce Freeman and holdovers Malik Davis and Rico Dowdle as options at running back as of now.