The former Ohio State Buckeye will return to his roots in his second stint with America's Team.
DALLAS — When Ezekiel Elliott laces up his cleats on Sundays this fall, he'll be wearing a different jersey number than the one Cowboys fans are used to seeing.
The former Ohio State Buckeye will return to his roots in his second stint with America's Team, wearing his college number 15 instead of the 21 he previously wore with the Cowboys. When Elliott was with the New England Patriots, he wore number 15.
Tony Pollard signed with the Tennessee Titans, and the Cowboys re-signed the former Pro Bowl running back after the team did not select a running back in the NFL Draft.
According to , Elliott will take No. 15 from Trey Lance, who will move to No. 19. ESPN's Adam Schefter.
“I just look at it like a different era,” Elliott said. “I wore No. 15 last year, so I wanted to go back. I had unfinished business. I came to chase the ring.”
In seven seasons with the Cowboys, Elliott threw for 8,262 yards and 68 touchdowns. Elliott ran for 642 yards and three touchdowns in one season with the Patriots. He is a three-time Pro Bowler and led the NFL in rushing yards in the 2016 and 2018 seasons.
Elliott was selected by the Cowboys with the fourth overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft.
Elliott returns to a team that includes Rico Doodle, Elliott's teammate from 2020-22, second-year players Deuce Vaughn and Hunter Luepke, and another young, unproven player in Malik Davis. do. Dallas also added journeyman Royce Freeman this offseason.
Prescott believes Elliott is the best fit. Never mind that he's only had one 1,000-yard season in which his production declined in the last four seasons, barely his 1,002 yards.
“He's a real guy. He's honest,” Prescott said. “He can have fun when he's having fun, but when he gets serious and focused, there's no one better than him. That's something every young player should emulate and do his job on the field. That’s the way to proceed.”
Elliott also knows Dallas' history of postseason disappointment, having made the playoffs with the Cowboys four times without making it past the divisional round.
The biggest shock of the Prescott era came last season with Elliott's absence. The NFC East champions lost 48-32 to Green Bay in the wild-card game at home, becoming the first team in NFL history to win 12 games in three consecutive seasons without advancing to the conference championship game.
“I've got some unfinished business,” Elliott said. “I'm here to chase the ring.”
Editor's note: The Associated Press contributed to this article.
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