Nov nine, 2017

  • Todd ArcherESPN Staff Writer

    Shut

    • Covered NFL since 1997, Cowboys since 2003
    • Previously covered Bengals and Dolphins
    • Lives in Dallas expanse with his wife and two children

FRISCO, Texas -- The emergency injunction request by the NFL Players Clan on behalf of Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott was denied by the second U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Thursday.

The ruling means Elliott'south vi-game intermission is back on, and he is currently ineligible to play Lord's day against the Atlanta Falcons.

The next hearing in Elliott'south example is set for Dec. 1. Pending unforeseen legal intervention, he will miss four games -- confronting the Falcons, Philadelphia Eagles, Los Angeles Chargers and Washington Redskins -- before getting another court date.

The second Circuit Court had stipulated that the NFLPA's appeal of Thursday'southward ruling would be heard on an expedited basis.

Elliott volition be placed on the suspended list for the second time in as many weeks. Last week he was granted a temporary authoritative stay from the 2nd Circuit after Judge Katherine Polk Failla denied his request for a preliminary injunction in the Southern District. The stay allowed him to play against the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs.

On Aug. xi, the NFL announced Elliott had been suspended six games for violating the personal conduct policy. The league said it found persuasive evidence that he committed domestic violence against a former girlfriend on multiple occasions in July 2022 in Columbus, Ohio.

That prepare off legal maneuvering that has kept Elliott on the field for the offset eight games of the flavour. Elliott won a preliminary injunction at a district court in Sherman, Texas, in September, simply the 5th U.South. Excursion Court of Appeals ruled that court never should have heard Elliott's case. Polk Failla heard the example in the Southern Commune last week and denied the request.

Without another successful entreatment, Elliott would exist out until Dec. 24 against the Seattle Seahawks. His absence would exist a blow to the Cowboys, who have won iii straight and seen Elliott gain at to the lowest degree 93 yards in the past four games while scoring five rushing touchdowns. Elliott is second in the NFL in rushing with 783 yards in eight games and is tied for the league atomic number 82 with 7 rushing touchdowns.

In his absenteeism, the Cowboys will go with Alfred Morris, Rod Smith and Darren McFadden in the backfield.

Elliott, who was not charged by Columbus authorities, has maintained his innocence.

"This is bigger than a pause," Elliott said last week. "It's bigger than football game. It'due south them trying to make me something I'one thousand non. I'm not an abuser. That'due south not who I am. This is my name, and this is my reputation. That's something that I have to live with beyond football, and then every solar day is worth fighting for."

Elliott missed Th's practice to be in the courtroom with the hope being his attendance would make a difference. As he did concluding week, he sabbatum expressionless for the elapsing of the 30-minute hearing, fifty-fifty when the line of questioning began touching on the details of some of the accusations against him.

The questions from the judges didn't seem to favor either side. In that location were many questions virtually Article 46 of the commonage bargaining agreement, the issue of Lisa Friel's and Kia Roberts' testimonies and why the NFL and then desperately needs to go on the break in place during the appeal.

Although the league won the battle, the appeals judges took a few shots at the NFL for its handling of the suspension. Excursion Judge Dennis Jacobs told Paul Clement, the NFL's lawyer, that he found it odd that the issue was "such a frantic emergency that it can't wait some other couple months."

"This is not just about Elliott and the Cowboys," Cloudless responded, noting that 100 players across the league had been suspended for a total of 500 games over the by 2 seasons.

"Unfortunately, subject is a fact of life in the NFL," the lawyer added. "They all have an involvement in seeing the same bones rules applied to them."

Clement said it was important that players non be able to "game the organization" past using the courts to filibuster suspensions until information technology is convenient for them or their teams.

The news of Elliott's deprival came moments later the Cowboys' locker room closed to the media.

Broad receiver Dez Bryant had been confident Elliott would continue to be eligible to play.

"All I know is I'll exist running out there besides Zeke on Sunday," Bryant said. "I know that. That'southward what I feel. That'south what I believe. That's what I'grand going to stay with."

As the Cowboys were preparing for afternoon meetings, give-and-take broke that Elliott had lost his request. Per league rules, suspended players cannot have contact with the team'southward coaches. He can have contact with the squad's medical staff.

If Elliott does not receive another temporary administrative stay, the side by side fourth dimension he can be at The Star will exist Dec. 18.

ESPN's Dan Graziano and The Associated Press contributed to this report.