Former Ohio State running back Ezekiel Elliott, the No. 4 pick in the 2016 NFL Draft, unofficially debuted for the Dallas Cowboys Friday during the first practice of rookie minicamp.
Though still unsigned (but carrying an injury compensation agreement), Elliott waited minutes before giving his coaches the first shock of their career—and not the good kind.
Elliott slipped while cutting during a zigzag drill and gave the Cowboy staff flashbacks to Dante Fowler, the former Florida defensive end and No. 3 overall pick of the 2015 NFL Draft, who tore his ACL during the first practice of the Jacksonville Jaguars' rookie minicamp.
.@EzekielElliott in the silver and blue for the first time. pic.twitter.com/fj55ivIIYT
— Dallas Cowboys (@dallascowboys) May 6, 2016
“We don’t need that,” Dallas running backs coach Gary Brown said to ESPN. “That’s why I told him to slow down a little bit.”
Though Elliott tapped the breaks, Dallas offensive coordinator Scott Linehan raved about Elliott afterwards. He emailed information to Elliott earlier in the week, and Linehan noted the rookie devoured it, which speaks to his preparation and background. Elliott showed quickness with his feed and a smooth ability to catch balls out of the backfield.
Although cuts in preseason zigzag drills will forever remain perilous, perhaps it's time to start lining up money to bet on Ezekiel Elliott's Rookie of the Year candidacy, which Pro Football Focus says is inevitable.
Former Arkansas RB Darren McFadden and former Florida Atlantic RB Alfred Morris are also competing for the starting position.
