Big Cowboys Offseason Addition Already Looks Like a Bust

The Dallas Cowboys woke up on Monday morning filled with regret following a disastrous Week 2 loss to the New Orleans Saints. The home-opening defeat has shed some light on the Cowboys' handful of issues, including those that pertain to the backfield.

Dallas owns one of the NFL's least productive ground offenses through two games, averaging just 85.0 rushing yards per game (25th). Considering how the Cowboys averaged 112.9 rushing yards per outing in 2023, it's easy to see why fans are disappointed by the team's RB room — especially Ezekiel Elliott following his offseason return.

Cowboys News: Ezekiel Elliott's Return is a Bust

While nobody expected the 2016 or 2018 version of himself upon his return, Elliott has left much to be desired through two weeks. The former Ohio State product has only rushed for 56 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries.

A lot of fans thought that a return to Dallas would help him improve on his 2023 numbers, however, that hasn't been the case as proven by his 3.5 yards per carry — the same rate that he had last year behind a terrible New England Patriots offensive line. Things look even worse when you realize that five of Elliott's six carries in Week 2 went for three or fewer yards.

Despite how much Cowboys fans love Elliott, it's clear that he's no longer the player he once was. And the worst part is that everyone seemingly knew he was declining except Jerry Jones (or at least he didn't care).

Elliott no longer has the strength or speed that once struck fear into defenders across the NFL. His declining athleticism is a big reason why Pro Football Focus has given him a run grade of 49.1 — the third-worst mark among 43 eligible RBs to begin the 2024 season.

Elliott's signing looks even grimmer when you take the Cowboys' offseason moves (or lack thereof) into account. After Tony Pollard left in free agency, Dallas decided not to sign free agent RBs like Saquon Barkley and Derrick Henry, instead choosing to wait until Elliott was the 'best' apple left in a rotten bunch.

His return has been so disappointing that it's at the point where he's being mocked across social media.

The official FanDuel Sportsbook account on X (formerly Twitter) compared Elliott's return to 89-year-old World War II veteran Bryan Sperry, who scored a touchdown during a University of Kansas alumni flag football game in 2015.

"Every single play that Ezekiel Elliott is the focus for the offense is a wasted rep," an angry Cowboys fan posted during the game. "The reunion was cute, Yay. Get someone in here that can outrun a linebacker."

"We really brought back an old Ezekiel Elliott," another frustrated fan posted with a frustrated emoji. "This team is so [expletive]."

We'll see how the Cowboys respond to their latest loss when they host the winless Baltimore Ravens for a tough Week 3 matchup. Dallas certainly wouldn't mind if Elliott stepped up on Sunday afternoon given that America's Team is projected to be the 1.5-point underdog at AT&T Stadium, per FanDuel Sportsbook.

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