**Ezekiel Elliott Benched for Disciplinary Reasons Ahead of Falcons Game**

Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott will not be participating in Sunday's matchup against the Atlanta Falcons due to disciplinary issues, per ESPN’s Todd Archer. The details behind Elliott's benching remain undisclosed.

Elliott did not accompany the team to Atlanta for their Week 9 game. In his place, running back Dalvin Cook, who was elevated from the Cowboys' practice squad last week, will join the main roster for the second consecutive week. Cook will share running duties with Rico Dowdle, who was absent from last week's game due to an illness.

This season, the 29-year-old Elliott has accumulated 149 rushing yards and scored two touchdowns over seven games. Notably, this is the first time in his nine-year NFL career that Elliott will be a healthy scratch outside of a season finale.

The Cowboys' rushing offense has struggled significantly this season, ranking last in the NFL with 519 total rushing yards and tying for the fewest rushing touchdowns with just three. Elliott, in his eighth season with the Cowboys, had returned to Dallas after spending the 2023 season with the New England Patriots.