Tyron Smith’s return could boost Ezekiel Elliott, Dallas Cowboys’ sputtering run game
What happened to the Dallas Cowboys’ running game?
In three of their past four games the Cowboys have rushed for 82 or fewer yards. They lost two of those three games and they’re averaging 73.3 yards in their three losses in 2021. In their seven wins, the Cowboys have averaged nearly 160 yards a game.
Offensive tackle Tyron Smith, who missed the past two games with an ankle injury, including Sunday’s 19-9 loss to the Chiefs, is expected to return Thursday when the Cowboys (7-3) host the Las Vegas Raiders at 3:30 p.m. at AT&T Stadium.
Ezekiel Elliott, who had a season-low 32 yards on a season-low nine carries, insists his nagging, month-long knee injury isn’t slowing him down. He practiced fully on Wednesday, along with with Smith. Elliott said he feels good.
“I just think we have to run it better,” said Elliott who last rushed for 100 or more yards Oct. 10 against the Giants. “Maybe the past couple of weeks we haven’t run it that well; I just think we have to kind of lock back in and get it going.”
Elliott tried to downplay missing Smith, but there’s no denying the absence of a future Hall of Fame left tackle, no matter how well or not Terence Steele has played in Smith’s place.
“We just have to execute better in the run game. I think it’s that simple,” he said. “I can’t say enough good stuff about [Smith], his work ethic, how hard he goes. So, yeah, it will be good to have him back this Thursday.”
This story was originally published November 24, 2021 at 6:00 AM.
