FRISCO — After a disappointing 2-3 start, the Dallas Cowboys future this season just became a lot bleaker.
The 5th Circuit Court of Appeals lifted an injunction and ruled against Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott on Thursday per national NFL insider Ian Rapoport, moving to reinstate his six-game suspension because of domestic violence allegations.
5th circuit court of appeals rules against #Cowboys RB Zeke Elliott & for the NFL. Elliott’s suspension is reinstated, per @RMFifthCircuit
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 12, 2017
The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans vacated Elliott’s preliminary injunction and the Eastern District of Texas dismissed the case. The three-judge panel voted 2-1 to back the NFL’s argument and the suspension will likely start after the bye.
Elliott was suspended in August by Commissioner Roger Goodell after the league concluded following a yearlong investigation that he had several physical confrontations in the summer of 2016 with Tiffany Thompson, his girlfriend at the time. Prosecutors in Columbus, Ohio, decided not to pursue the case in the city where Elliott starred for Ohio State, citing conflicting evidence.
A federal judge in Texas blocked the suspension last month, agreeing with the NFL players’ union attorneys that the investigation of the violent allegations appeal was unfair to Elliott. The NFL countered that they followed the procedures detailed in the league’s labor deal, filing a motion to reinforce the original suspension ruling.
The sophomore star will likely appeal the decision and argue against the NFL’s punishment over domestic violence allegations. Elliott and the NFLPA will file for an injunction in Southern District of New York in order to keep playing.
The Cowboys currently have former Oakland Raider Darren McFadden, former Washington Redskin Alfred Morris, and former Ohio State Buckeye and three-year pro Rod Smith sitting behind Elliott on the depth chart.
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