It was another game and another loss for the Dallas Cowboys in Week 9. America’s Team suffered its third straight defeat in the form of a 27-21 loss to the Atlanta Falcons, forcing Cowboys fans to wonder if there’s anything Jerry Jones can do to end the second half of the season on a positive note.
One Dallas player who was noticeably absent from the latest loss was Ezekiel Elliott. The veteran running back was a healthy scratch for the first time in his NFL career due to a horrific start to the campaign and now the fanbase is left wondering if Elliott’s time with the franchise is nearing its end.
While some fans would be sad to say goodbye to Elliott (again), he’s been a central cause of the Cowboys’ rushing struggles. Fortunately, the perfect replacement for him just became available.
“Free agent RB Boston Scott is fully healthy and ready to return after partially tearing his meniscus before the season,” NFL insider Jordan Schultz reported on Monday. “The former Philadelphia Eagle has spent the last two months rehabbing and is prepared to join a team soon.”
Sources: Free agent RB Boston Scott is fully healthy and ready to return after partially tearing his meniscus before the season. The former Philadelphia Eagle has spent the last two months rehabbing and is prepared to join a team soon. pic.twitter.com/dXrzdfRUsb
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) November 4, 2024
Cowboys fans are more than familiar with Scott. The former Louisiana Tech runner joined the Eagles as a free agent in 2018 before playing all 75 of his career games in a Philadelphia jersey. He left the City of Brotherly Love this offseason, though, signing with the LA Rams back in April.
Scott’s stay in Hollywood didn’t last long, though. He was released by the Rams ahead of August’s 53-man roster deadline and went on to join the Pittsburgh Steelers’ practice squad, which lasted two weeks before he was released with an injury settlement.
Even though the 29-year-old has yet to play a game this season, it isn’t hard to see how Scott could provide a boost to the Cowboys’ ground game. The former 2018 sixth-rounder has racked up over 1,800 scrimmage yards and 17 touchdowns throughout his career and even averaged 4.3 rushing yards on 20 carries last season.
Meanwhile, Elliott continues to find himself on thinner ice the longer the season goes. The former three-time Pro Bowl RB only has 149 yards and two TDs on 48 carries since returning to Dallas, resulting in a career-worst 21.3 rushing yards per game. The lackluster showing has led to Rico Dowdle taking over as the team’s RB1 while even Dalvin Cook is beginning to see more touches.
If the Cowboys have any interest in Scott, they may want to act fast. Schultz also reported that the New Orleans Saints have a workout planned with the experienced RB, meaning more teams could quickly follow suit — especially with the trade deadline on Tuesday.
In the meantime, the Cowboys will focus on avoiding a fourth consecutive defeat when they host the Eagles on Sunday. Mike McCarthy & Co. could use all the help they can get as FanDuel Sportsbook is currently listing the Cowboys as 6.5-point underdogs against their NFC East Rivals.
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