With star running back Ezekiel Elliott's Dallas Cowboys career reaching an ignominious end, he can thank the San Francisco 49ers for adding insult to injury.
And, in all likelihood, injury to insult.
The Fort Worth Star-Telegram first reported on Wednesday that the Cowboys will cut Elliott, ending the two-time All-Pro's seven-season stint in Dallas. Once the release formally came to fruition on Wednesday afternoon, Elliott's last memory of the Cowboys was likely painful one.
Literally.
Elliott lined up at center on a last-ditch, ill-advised trick play at the end of the 49ers' playoff win over the Cowboys nearly two months ago. Soon-to-be former Niners linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair — he reportedly agreed to a contract with the Tennessee Titans — flattened Elliott, leaving Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott with little time to pull a rabbit out of his hat.
The Cowboys needed 76 yards to score and, potentially, tie the game against the 49ers. Dallas' season instead ended 68 yards shy of the end zone.
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The final play that sends the @49ers to the NFC Championship! #NFLPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/Du5KruFQ3q
— NFL (@NFL) January 23, 2023
Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy — and subsequently fired offensive coordinator Kellen Moore — faced sharp criticism for Dallas' season once again ending with a strange play call against the 49ers, but neither of them were steamrolled by a linebacker.
Elliott had plenty of highlights in his Cowboys career, including three seasons with at least 1,777 yards from scrimmage and one with more than 2,000. He even rushed more for yards per game — 142.5 — against the 49ers in the regular season than any other team.
Of course, he also rushed for just 28.5 yards per game in two playoff losses against the Niners, with the Cowboys' Super Bowl drought now edging closer to 30 years as a result.
It's unclear where Elliott will sign, but the 49ers don't seem like a likely destination, considering they already have Christian McCaffrey and Elijah Mitchell in their backfield. Plus, they're already set at center — where Elliott memorably moonlighted — after reportedly agreeing to a new four-year contract with incumbent center Jake Brendel.
