The free-agent signings of running backs Dalvin Cook (New York Jets) and Ezekiel Elliott (New England Patriots) instantly make the Dallas Cowboys' early-season schedule more difficult.
While the Dallas Cowboys practiced in Oxnard Monday afternoon, there was a run on their regular-season schedule.
Good thing they drafted behemoth Mazi Smith for the middle of the line, because a run defense that ranked 22nd in the NFL last season will be severely tested early in 2023. After a flurry of free-agent transactions, in Week 2 against the New York Jets the Cowboys will now face Dalvin Cook. And in Week 4 they'll welcome former teammate Ezekiel Elliott back to AT&T Stadium as a member of the New England Patriots.
With the Minnesota Vikings, Cook was sixth in the league last season with 1,173 rushing yards. As a Cowboy, Elliott tied for the NFL's third-most rushing touchdowns with 12.
Given that Breece Hall is off the PUP List in New York and Rhamondre Stevenson is entrenched as the No. 1 back in Foxboro, neither Cook nor Elliott will likely be the feature back when their teams visit Arlington. But given their recent performance and tread left on their talented tires - both just turned 28 - the Cowboys' difficulty winning both games undoubtedly increased in the span of a couple hours.
With Elliott's return, there will be the team's emotional preparation (especially best friend Dak Prescott). And with both backs, there will now be tweaked game-planning by defensive coordinator Dan Quinn.
Cook joins a group of talented Jets' offensive weapons that includes, of course, quarterback Aaron Rodgers and receivers Garrett Wilson, Allen Lazard and Mecole Hardman. For the Pats, Elliott - by any metric the third-best running back in Cowboys' history - will likely be Bill Belichick's short-yardage sledgehammer for an offense that was the NFL's worst in the Red Zone last season.
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