Report: Cowboys' Elliott benched vs. Falcons due to frequently being late

Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott isn't traveling with the team for its road matchup against the Atlanta Falcons due to disciplinary reasons, ESPN's Todd Archer reports.

Elliott has been distracted this season, according to Jane Slater of NFL Network. He's consistently been late to team meetings and has missed three sessions this season, with Friday being the last straw, Slater adds.

It'll be the first time in Elliott's career that he's a healthy scratch in a non-season finale game, per Archer.

With Elliott out, the Cowboys will rely on Rico Dowdle and Dalvin Cook, who they elevated from the practice squad Saturday.

Elliott reunited with Dallas this offseason after spending the 2023 season with the New England Patriots. He's logged only 48 carries for 149 yards and two touchdowns through seven games (two starts) in 2024. Elliott is also averaging just 3.1 yards per carry.

The 29-year-old rushed for 40 yards in Week 1 but hasn't eclipsed that total in any game since.

Dowdle has emerged as the Cowboys' top rushing back, totaling 246 yards on 59 attempts. Cook made his Dallas debut last week against the San Francisco 49ers, though he only mustered 12 yards on six carries.

The Cowboys are off to a disappointing 3-4 start this season, with the offense regressing significantly. After leading the NFL in scoring last season, Dallas ranks 22nd with an average of 21.4 points per game.