Former Dallas Cowboys RB Ezekiel Elliott eyeing Eagles, Jets, Bengals, sources say

PHILADELPHIA– Former Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott has narrowed his options for where he is set to play in 2023 to the Philadelphia Eagles, New York Jets and Cincinnati Bengals, sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

Elliott, 27, wants to make his decision on where to sign by the end of next week, the sources told Schefter.

If he plays with a new team, it will likely be a different number than the No. 21 he has worn for the Cowboys for the past seven seasons. On Thursday, Elliott tweeted, “I want my number 15 back,” referring to the number he wore in Ohio state.

With the Eagles, Elliott would join a backfield led by newly signed Rashaad Penny and includes Boston Scott, Kenneth Gainwell and Trey Sermon. Miles Sanders, the Eagles’ leading rusher last season, left the team on free-hand to sign with the Carolina Panthers.

In New York, Elliott would join a depth chart led by Breece Hall, who is returning from an ACL tear she sustained last season. The Jets also agreed to re-sign Ty Johnson on Thursday to a one-year deal, a source told Schefter, and have Zonovan Knight and Michael Carter on the list.

If Elliott were to join the Bengals, he would join a roster led by Joe Mixon and which includes Chris Evans and Trayveon Williams. Samaje Perine left free agency to sign with the Denver Broncos.

Elliott, who was scheduled to count $16.7 million toward the Cowboys’ salary cap, was fired from the team on March 15.

In 2019, Elliott signed a six-year, $90 million extension that included $50 million in guaranteed money, but his numbers have declined in the last three seasons, surpassing 1,000 yards (with 1,002) just once — in Year 2021 when the league expanded a 17-game schedule.

Injuries have slowed Elliott down for the past two years. Playing through a partially torn posterior cruciate ligament in 2021, he didn’t miss a game. He missed just two games in 2022 with a hyperextended right knee but wore a brace for most of the season.

Although Elliott continued to be the starter, the Cowboys relied more on Tony Pollard last season. Pollard rushed for 1,007 yards, scored 12 touchdowns, and earned his first Pro Bowl call. The Cowboys placed their $10.091 million franchise tag on Pollard last month. A source told ESPN’s Todd Archer that Pollard signed the tender on Thursday. Pollard and the Cowboys have until July 17 to work out a long-term deal.

Elliott had a career-low 876 rushing yards in 2022, but he notched 12 touchdowns and remained a top short yardage back and pass protector. But in the last four games of the regular season, he averaged just 2.7 yards per carry, and he only had 17 carries of 10 yards or more that season.