The Los Angeles Chargers are signing running back Ezekiel Elliott to their practice squad, according to multiple reports.
Elliott, 29, was released by the Dallas Cowboys on New Year’s Eve so the nine-year veteran had an opportunity to latch on with a playoff team. That team appears to be the Chargers, who play at Houston in the wild-card round on Saturday.
The Chargers’ depth chart at running back has been tested by injuries throughout the season. While J.K. Dobbins returned last month after missing four games with a knee sprain, No. 2 back Gus Edwards is dealing with an ankle injury that has sidelined him for the past two games.
Dobbins led the team with 905 rushing yards during the regular season, followed by Edwards with 365 and then quarterback Justin Herbert with 306. The next-leading running back was Kimani Vidal with just 155 yards.
Dallas released Elliott with one game remaining in the regular season. He ranks third in Cowboys history with 8,488 career rushing yards, behind only Tony Dorsett (12,036) and the NFL all-time leading rusher in Emmitt Smith, who had 17,162 of his 18,355 yards in a Dallas uniform.
Elliott rushed for just 226 yards and three touchdowns on 74 carries for Dallas this season while also catching 12 passes for 69 yards. He gained at least 979 yards in each of his first six seasons before his yardage began to spiral downward.
Elliott had 876 rushing yards in 2022 before the Cowboys released him following the season. He played for the New England Patriots in 2023 and rushed for 642 yards and three touchdowns.
This season, Elliott returned to Dallas. He rushed for 40 yards in the season-opening victory against the Cleveland Browns but reached 30 just twice more before being released.
–Field Level Media
