Ezekiel Elliott’s six-game suspension from the NFL is back on, and he should have to actually start serving it this time.
The former Ohio State running back's latest motion for an injunction was denied by the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Thursday. The NFL is now able to enforce his suspension immediately and plans to do so, meaning that Elliott is set to be suspended for the Dallas Cowboys’ next six games, beginning Sunday when the Cowboys play the Atlanta Falcons.
That said, the U.S. Circuit Court did grant Elliott's motion for his appeal of the NFL's suspension to be heard on an expedited basis, which makes it possible that he could have a ruling in his favor before serving the full length of the six-game suspension.
Ezekiel Elliott's suspension is back on--for now. U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit sides with NFL & denies Elliott an injunction pending appeal. But Elliott's appeal will be heard on expedited basis, so he might have another ruling before the 6 suspension games ends. pic.twitter.com/BatpwnC9vN
— Michael McCann (@McCannSportsLaw) November 9, 2017
According to NFL Media's Tom Pelissero, that appeal has been scheduled for Dec. 1, which means Elliott is slated to miss at least the Cowboys' next four games.
Argument in Ezekiel Elliott's expedited appeal in 2nd Circuit scheduled for Dec. 1. #Cowboys have four games before then.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) November 9, 2017
Should Elliott serve the suspension without interruption, he would be eligible to return to the Cowboys for their final two games of this year’s regular season, following the Cowboys’ Week 15 game against the Oakland Raiders.
Elliott was originally suspended by the NFL in August after a year-long investigation by the league that determined he committed multiple acts of domestic violence against his former girlfriend in July 2016.
Elliott, who played for Ohio State from 2013-15, rushed for 783 yards and seven touchdowns and had 19 catches for 210 yards and two touchdowns in the Cowboys’ first eight games this season. He was the No. 4 overall pick in the 2016 NFL draft.
