Cowboys face life without Elliott

Oct 17, 2017 - 3:35 AM FRISCO, Texas -- The Dallas Cowboys return from the bye trying to settle things down and get back on track after a disappointing start and a week of drama.

The team is below .500 with a 2-3 record.

Owner Jerry Jones didn't help moral in the locker room by becoming the first owner in the NFL to declare he would discipline players who protested during the national anthem.

They had two team meetings and Jones met with the players to discuss the matter. They seem to be back on the same page.

And then on the field, the Cowboys said goodbye to two opening-day starters. Cornerback Nolan Carroll was cut and nose tackle Stephen Paea retired, although he was officially placed on Injured Reserve.

And then the Cowboys got the news they have been dreading all along as running back Ezekiel Elliott has been officially put on the suspended list after the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans lifted an injunction that had blocked the suspension.

Elliott will miss the next six games, unless a legal Hail Mary comes through.

So, the Cowboys will have to move forward with a committee of running backs, including Alfred Morris, Rod Smith and Darren McFadden.

The Cowboys will have to rely on quarterback Dak Prescott, who has been very good through the first five games.

Prescott had arguably the best rookie season by a quarterback in league history a year ago. He threw for 3,667 yards with 23 touchdowns and four interceptions. This season, he is on pace for 35 touchdown passes and more than 3,800 passing yards, along with 400 rushing yards and six touchdowns on the ground.

Said head coach Jason Garrett: "He's playing really well. He's really doing everything we ask him to do. He makes so many plays within the scheme, throwing the ball to the right guy on a consistent basis. And then when things break down, making great plays with his feet and his arm out of the pocket."

The Cowboys need the defense to improve if they hope to tread water with Elliott out and stay in the playoff chase.

The Cowboys have scored more than 30 points in the past two games. That would have been enough to win 15 of their 16 regular-season games last year. The defense has to be able to shut down teams when given double-digit leads, and create takeaways. Getting All-Pro linebacker Sean Lee back after missing two games with a hamstring injury should help the defense get its edge back.

Rookie cornerback Jourdan Lewis has flashed promise early on and will continue to get more and more playing time. The Cowboys liked what they've seen from him enough to release Carroll. Lewis' play will give the Cowboys flexibility to give rookie cornerback Chidobe Awuzie more time at safety, a position that hasn't been as effective as expected early on with veterans Byron Jones and Jeff Heath.

Look for Awuzie to get more time in place of Heath.

--Running back Ezekiel Elliott is not giving up in his fight with the NFL over his six-game suspension for violating the league's personal conduct policy.

The NFL Players Association filed a motion for a temporary restraining order (TRO) with the Southern District Court of New York that could put the suspension back on hold. The motion requests a ruling by 3 p.m. Tuesday, but the hearing has not yet been put on the docket.

The move came on the heels of last Thursday's decision by the Fifth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals to grant the NFL a stay of the preliminary injunction blocking his six-game suspension and ordering that his case against the league be dismissed.

Elliott filed a petition with the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals asking for a rehearing.

But the Fifth Circuit has slowed the request so Elliott and his lawyers were forced to file for the TRO in a court that has historically been more favorable to the NFL.

NOTES: DE DeMarcus Lawrence leads the league with 8.5 sacks through five games and is on pace for 27. The NFL record is 22.5. The 8.5 sacks are already a career high. Lawrence is on pace to be the Cowboys' first double-digit sack player since Jason Hatcher had 11 in 2013. ... P Chris Jones might be the MVP of the first half on defense. Jones has had 12 of his 20 punts downed inside the 20. ... LB Sean Lee is expected to be ready to go against the San Francisco 49ers after missing the past two games with a strained hamstring. ... LB NaVorro Bowman was set to visit the Cowboys on Tuesday after being cut by the 49ers. But he signed with the Raiders on Monday. It speaks to an admission by the Cowboys that their linebacker play has been subpar. ... RB Alfred Morris will get to start in place of a suspended Ezekiel Elliott. He has been the primary backup through the first five games. But this will be committee approach, with Rod Smith handling third downs and Darren McFadden spelling Morris.



REPORT CARD AFTER FIVE GAMES

--PASSING OFFENSE: C -- Quarterback Dak Prescott has been great with 1,192 passing yards and 11 touchdowns to just four interceptions. But the line has not been as good in pass protection and his receivers have been a disappointment. Dez Bryant has 21 catches for 264 yards and no 100-yard receiving games. Cole Beasley, the leading receiver of a year ago, has 15 receptions for 109 yards and has not been the third-down converter of a year ago.

--RUSHING OFFENSE: D -- The Cowboys went from having the league's top running back of a year ago to floundering with the same player in Ezekiel Elliott, who is averaging just 3.7 yards per carry and has just 393 yards through five games. Some blame goes to Elliott, who has had his mind in the legal situation, as well a poor play up front from a line that is no longer the best unit in the NFL.

--PASS DEFENSE: D -- DeMarcus Lawrence has 8.5 sacks, yet the Cowboys still don't get to the quarterback with any consistency or effectiveness. He needs help. The safety play has been an abomination with Jeff Heath and Byron Jones. The Cowboys have had a revolving door at cornerback because of injuries with Chidobe Awuzie, Orlando Scandrick, Jourdan Lewis and Nolan Carroll missing games due to injuries. Carroll, the top free-agent signee and opening-day starter, has been cut.

--RUSH DEFENSE: F -- The Cowboys are giving up 128 yards per game on the ground and a robust 4.6 yards a carry. They have allowed three 100-yard rushers after not allowing one all last season. They have missed linebacker Sean Lee, who missed the last two games with a hamstring injury. But the line play up front has not done its job in stopping the run, and middle linebacker Jaylon Smith has been overmatched and exposed after being forced into action because of an injury to Anthony Hitchens. Subpar play at safety from Jeff Heath and Byron Jones has only compounded the problem.

--SPECIAL TEAMS: B -- Kicker Dan Bailey has made 7 of 7 field goals. He is automatic. Punter Chris Jones has downed 12 of 20 punts inside the 20. He is also averaging 43.7 yards per attempt. Kick returner Ryan Switzer has been average at best with poor decisions on kickoff returns and a fumbled punt.

--COACHING: D -- The Cowboys are 2-3. They were embarrassed in Denver when they weren't ready to play. They have blown two double-digit leads, and for the first time in history they lost two games after scoring 30 or more points. Rod Marinelli's defense is on pace for 10 takeaways after setting its sights on 40 at the start of the season. The Cowboys have had no takeaways the past three games, including two losses. The defense has gone 213 plays since last getting a takeaway (a Jourdan Lewis interception in Week 2 at Denver).