Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott has been ruled inactive for Sunday’s game against the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J.
Elliott was given a well-deserved day off with the NFC East champion Cowboys (9-6) locked in as the No. 4 seed for the upcoming playoffs.
The 23-year-old Elliott (1,434 rushing yards) should finish as the league’s leading rusher for the second time in three years, barring a mammoth performance from Saquon Barkley. The Giants’ rookie (1,198) trails Los Angeles Rams star Todd Gurley (1,251), who will sit out on Sunday with a knee injury.
Elliott also leads the Cowboys with 77 receptions, which is a franchise record for running backs.
Rod Smith and Darius Jackson are expected to handle the rushing duties for Dallas. Smith has rushed 32 times for 92 yards this season while Jackson does not have a carry.
Right guard Zack Martin (knee) and left tackle Tyron Smith (neck) were also listed as inactive for the tilt versus the Giants (5-10).
Tyrone Crawford (neck) was ruled out on Friday, while fellow defensive lineman David Irving, quarterback Mike White and linebacker Chris Covington were listed as inactive.
Dallas finished last season with a victory on the road over the Philadelphia Eagles, who had already clinched the division and went on to win the Super Bowl.
Should the Cowboys lose, they would finish with a 9-7 record, the same as last season.
