2022 is a make-or-break year for Elliott – and his future as a Cowboy.
OXNARD, Calif. — It is a big year for Ezekiel Elliott.
“Yeah,” Elliott mentioned, “I think it is a big season.”
An enormous season, as a result of it may be his final as a Cowboy. Dallas has an out in his contract after 2022, that makes it possible for them to chop him if they need. The Cowboys may get out from beneath the ultimate 4 years of his deal, with simply $11.9 million in useless cash.
“I don’t think there’s really a reason to look that far down the road,” he mentioned, when requested about it on Wednesday. “I think if I handle my business every day, then I’ll be in a pretty good situation.”
First, although, he needed to put final season behind him. 2021 was, by Elliott’s requirements, a mediocre year. There have been causes for that, in fact. He was hampered a lot of the year by an injured knee. And that harm lingered on him.
“I was a little worried at the beginning of the offseason, like ‘dang, this thing still feels a little iffy.’ By the time OTAs hit, I was back 100,” Elliott mentioned.
“He overcame a lot to play,” head coach Mike McCarthy mentioned. “And I think that speaks volumes about him. And you need those types of individuals to win championships.”
Elliott’s work within the offseason, together with his working again coach Josh Hicks, is what helped him lastly really feel like himself once more.
“You know, it’s tough, being injured, and kinda feeling yourself lose a step,” Elliott mentioned. “And so it definitely helped to get moving, and get back to the speed I was used to, and just bringing that confidence back in myself, back in my body, back in my mind, that I can make those cuts.”
The Cowboys have not misplaced confidence in him.
“Zeke Elliott is one of rocks on this team,” McCarthy mentioned declaratively on Wednesday. “He’s a keystone player.”
And as Elliott works to get again to being the again he as soon as was, he is increasing his psychological capability too, even spending time in quarterback conferences to grasp the offense higher.
“He’s a very smart football player,” McCarthy mentioned, “and to be honest with you, he likes to be engaged at the quarterback level.”
“Just knowledge is power,” Elliot mentioned. “So, if I can go in there and get a nugget here, a nugget there, it’s gonna help me, down the road.”
And Elliott hopes it helps him sufficient that down the street he is nonetheless a Cowboy.
story by The Texas Tribune Source link