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Ezekiel Elliott played bulk of 2021 season with torn ligament in knee, Cowboys coach reveals
By Andrew Olson
Published:
Ezekiel Elliott played the bulk of the 2021 NFL season with a notable knee injury. The former Ohio State standout tore his PCL in Week 4 of the season, Dallas Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy told reporters Wednesday.
Mike McCarthy said Ezekiel Elliott played with a torn PCL since the Carolina game in Week 4. McCarthy expects Elliott to be completely healthy and ready to go for the start of next season
— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) January 19, 2022
Week 4 happened to be Elliott’s most productive of the season. Against the Carolina Panthers, Elliott rushed 20 times for 143 yards and a touchdown. Despite the injury, Elliott had his heaviest workload the next time out, carrying the ball 21 times for 110 yards and a TD in Dallas’ 44-20 win over the New York Giants in Week 5.
After the 21-carry Week 5 performance, Elliott did not reach triple-digit production the rest of the season. From Weeks 6-18, as well as this past weekend’s playoff game, Elliott’s highest rushing total was 87 yards on 18 carries against the Philadelphia Eagles in the regular-season finale.
Counting his 31 rushing yards in the Super Wild Card Weekend game, Elliott finished the 2021 campaign with 1,002 yards and 10 TDs on 237 carries. We’ll see how a hopefully healthy Zeke fares in 2022.
A former Florida beat reporter, Andrew writes for the Saturday Tradition News Desk.