It wasn’t his fault, but the event still shook the Dallas Cowboys nation to its core. Ezekiel Elliott was held out of practice Tuesday and Wednesday after suffering a head injury in a minor car crash over the weekend.
Not news for the faint of heart.
Elliott was still at practice and the move is entirely precautionary. He did solo workouts off to the side according to the NFL Network. Elliott apparently was a passenger in a car that suffered a rear-end collision late Sunday. Elliott informed the Cowboys about the accident the following day.
Cowboys said Ezekiel Elliott suffered a hit to the head and he is being evaluated.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) May 24, 2017
The good news is, according to head coach Jason Garrett, the head injury isn’t serious at all. Elliott could use the time off anyway. He’s a workhorse back and it’s not like he’s not already an expert at his role in the Dallas defense.
Elliott carried the ball a league-leading 322 times for a league-leading 1,631 yards a game, scoring 15 touchdowns. He caught 32 passes for 363 yards and one touchdown. The Cowboys picked Elliot with the No. 4 overall selection in the 2016 NFL Draft.
Elliott wasn’t the only key Cowboy not practicing. Quarterback Dak Prescott’s favorite passing target, wide receiver Cole Beasley, was held out of work with a hamstring injury.
Last year Beasley caught 75 passes for 833 yards and five touchdowns.
Myles Garrett already hurt
At this point Cleveland Browns fans, you should probably take it personally. Top overall 2017 NFL Draft pick Myles Garrett, defensive end out of Texas A&M, is already sitting out of practice with an “undisclosed” injury.
According to the Akron Beaton Journal, the injury isn’t serious, but it has to be a head scratcher for a team and fanbase used to this kind of misfortune. Garrett is supposed to be a can’t miss prospect, but if he can’t get on the field, what good does that do?
Myles Garrett sitting out with undisclosed injury: https://t.co/BLda7wBmuq pic.twitter.com/FsOARbIvHX
— NFL (@NFL) May 24, 2017
Garrett was in good spirits, reportedly, joking and smiling with teammatees on the sideline. The team is probably just being careful with their prized possession in organized team activities. Still, between this and Elliott, two groups of fans should probably lie down for a while with the lights off.
Joe Thomas, Kenny Britt and Garrett’s first round-mate Jabril Peppers were all held out of practice as well. And, of course, wide receiver Corey Coleman got slightly injured and had to leave the field after making a catch.
If all that makes you feel horrible, Cleveland fanatic, fear not. It gets worse. The team announced Tuesday they had hired former Indianapolis Colts general manager Ryan Grigson as its new senior personnel executive. Grigson had just been run out of Indianapolis this season for running the Colts into the ground.
“Ryan brings valuable experience to our personnel group,” Cleveland GM Sashi Brown said in a statement. “He was raised as a road-scout and has been evaluating talent in this league for almost 20 years. We place a premium on that experience and on his passion for football. Ryan has much to offer to any personnel department and we are pleased that he chose to join our staff.”
The Browns should know exactly what they’re getting in Grigson. He’s the guy they tricked into trading a first round pick for Trent Richardson just a few weeks ago.
I think former Colts punter Pat McAfee expresses all our sentiments succinctly.
Hahahahahahahaha https://t.co/JNaIGRwb1K
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) May 24, 2017
Other NFL News
The Carolina Panthers continue to keep middle linebacker Luke Kuechly off the field. This time it was due to lower back tightness. The Panthers were also without wide receiver Devin Funchess who was nursing a sore ankle.
Los Angeles Chargers rookie wideout Mike Williams has yet to work with the team during OTS with a lower back injury of his own.
The New England Patriots signed former Cleveland Browns wide receiver Andrew Hawkins to a one-year deal Tuesday. Last season Hawkins caught 33 passes for 324 yards and three touchdowns.
The Buffalo Bills have cut Cyrus Kouandjio, a 2014 second round pick who started five games last season. A month ago Kouandjio was found naked and alone in a field needing medical attention in Elma, New York. The Bills signed tight end Wes Saxton and wide receiver Rod Streeter.
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