After Confirming Ezekiel Elliot’s Expectations, Dak Prescott’s RB Partnership Inspires Mike McCarthy’s Hope

After playing a season with the New England Patriots, the 3x Pro Bowler Ezekiel Elliott is set to reunite with Dak Prescott and his former team, the Dallas Cowboys. Excitement is in the air as Elliott had been an integral part of the Cowboys’ offense in the past. The running back didn’t have as much of a prolific season with the Pats, but this year might be different due to the responsibility of being a veteran set on his shoulders.

In the wake of his return, the Dallas Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy weighed in on Elliott joining the Cowboys again and laid out some future expectations of the team. Would it suffice to say that Dak Prescott and Elliott are to take over this year? Hope looms over their heads as the Dallas offense demands high efforts from the senior members.

Mike McCarthy weighs in on Ezekiel Elliott returning

McCarthy pointed out that Elliott’s transition to the Cowboys shouldn’t be so different. He remarked that the RB had an “unbelievable smile like he never left” the Cowboys. The HC also mentioned how their running back has been a huge locker-room motivation in the past and would continue to do so this season, especially with the experience he brings to the team.

One of the reporters asked McCarthy whether he expected Elliott to return like a similar player as he was before joining the Patriots. The coach pointed out the unfairness of the question to demand a player to remain at a stagnant pace. However, he attested to the fact that Elliott is in good shape, but his role might be slightly different after getting back with the Cowboys.

More importantly, McCarthy thinks that Ezekiel Elliott will not take much time to get back in tune with Dak Prescott. “The guy carried the ball more than anybody in the of football in the first couple of years you know. That’s not going to be his role you know, we’re running back by committee,” said McCarthy. But the coach has faith in their running back and thinks he can deliver well for his team.

“I don’t see you know; any drop off in the way he moves. He’s in good shape, you know, the weight room,” added McCarthy. “He works out with Dak, so I mean you’re in tune with who he works out with and the type of shape that he was projected to be in and that’s held true.”

However, this time might be different for Zeke and the Cowboys since Tony Pollard doesn’t play with the Dallas Cowboys anymore. Also, there are a few other problems with the Cowboys’ running back department.

How the Cowboys RB picture looks post Tony Pollard joining the Titans

Pollard was one of the difference-making RBs on the Cowboys team. He had a 1,005-yard season with 6 touchdowns in 2023. As he’s gone now, those responsibilities fall on the likes of Zeke, Rico Dowdle and Deuce Vaughn. Apart from Elliott, Dowdle and Vaughn don’t boast such an impressive resume.

Dowdle is fairly new to the league. In his rookie season with the Cowboys, he played 15 games and still had 24 yards to show for. He played 5 games in the following season with no stats to show for. In his latest season, he had 361 yards over 89 carries with only two touchdowns. He was a good backup for Tony Pollard, but this year seems to be a bit different.

Coming to Deuce Vaughn, who was a rookie in 2023, he played 7 games and had 40 yards and 0 touchdowns. The two RBs are fairly inexperienced as compared to Elliott and the Cowboys are back to square one by having him as their new-old RB.

What do you think about the Cowboys’ support system for Dak Prescott? And the major role Zeke has to play in it? Let us know your thoughts below!