Cowboys Ezekiel Elliott alternative might be a retired all-time nice
The Cowboys have but to safe an acceptable Ezekiel Elliott alternative. May this future Corridor-of-Famer again be within the combine?
He was born and raised in Texas, he’s impressed Jerry Jones, and he’s not performed taking part in within the NFL simply but. Former Minnesota Vikings working again Adrian Peterson looks like a sneaky under-the-radar pick-up for the Dallas Cowboys within the wake of Ezekiel Elliott’s launch, although every thing is rumour at this level.
On one hand, the Cowboys could be insane so as to add a 38-year-old again to the working again room in 2023, particularly one who hasn’t seen significant minutes since pre-COVID. Peterson dabbled on the Titans and Seahawks in 2021, posting 38 carries for not even 100 yards that yr.
Who’s to say he could make a dent within the floor recreation at this time?
In line with Peterson himself, he’s not fairly completed within the NFL and doesn’t really feel prepared to hold up his cleats simply but.
Peterson told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram:
“Mentally, I haven’t formally hung it up. We’ll see what occurs. My mindset is, if God’s keen possibly a possibility presents itself and possibly it occurs this season.”
There’s a great probability groups will likely be desperately sifting via free agent working backs to seek out veteran stopgaps this offseason within the occasion {that a} second- or third-string again will get injured in coaching camp or preseason.
Are Cowboys concerned with Adrian Peterson as an Ezekiel Elliott alternative?
Peterson belongs within the retired-for-now pool however might discover his means on an NFL roster given the best circumstances. Cowboys proprietor Jerry Jones spoke extremely of him again in 2014 when Peterson was nearing the tip of his Vikings tenure and looking out for a brand new staff.
Dallas have their clear No. 1 working again in Tony Pollard and still have Malik Davis, rookie Deuce Vaughn, and ex-Chiefs Ronald Jones on the depth chart. In the event that they’re nonetheless not pleased with their short-yardage again choices, Peterson, in concept, might be an possibility.
Not a very good possibility, given his age and lack of latest taking part in expertise. Simply an possibility.
15 years in the past, Peterson was one of many hottest ball-carriers within the league, stacking up consecutive 1,000-yard seasons like flapjacks and profitable each award that he might have probably gained, save for a Tremendous Bowl.
He even had that ridiculous 2,097 speeding yard season in his MVP yr in 2012 when he averaged 131.1 yards per recreation. Groups just like the Cowboys wouldn’t have a lot to lose by taking an opportunity on a legendary veteran like Peterson, but they wouldn’t have all that a lot to achieve, both.
Peterson performs one of the vital brutal positions in soccer and after two years of sitting out of the league, there’s no telling how his physique will react even when Dallas provides him a comparatively mild workload.
As a lot as the longer term Corridor-of-Famer and Vikings legend desires to dip his toes again within the NFL, he missed his window for becoming a member of the Cowboys an extended, very long time in the past.