Cowboys and running back Ezekiel Elliott reuniting after agreeing to deal, AP source says

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Cowboys and running back Ezekiel Elliott reuniting after agreeing to deal, AP source says

2024-04-29 20:45 Last Updated At：04-30 07:50

DALLAS (AP) — The Dallas Cowboys are reuniting with running back Ezekiel Elliott after agreeing to terms on a contract with the former two-time rushing champion, a person with knowledge of the deal said Monday.

Elliott returns to the Cowboys a year after they let him go in a cost-cutting move. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the agreement was pending a physical.

The Cowboys acknowledged during the draft last weekend that they had recently met with Elliott and his representatives.

Dallas didn't draft a running back after moving from its starter each of the past two seasons, and owner and general manager Jerry Jones said he thought Elliott was still a starting-caliber back.

Elliott rejoins a team that includes Rico Dowdle, Elliott’s teammate from 2020-22, and second-year players Deuce Vaughn and Hunter Luepke. Dallas also added journeyman Royce Freeman this offseason.

Elliott, who will turn 29 just as the Cowboys report for training camp in California in July, spent last season as the backup to Rhamondre Stevenson in New England but started the last five games when Stephenson was injured.

Elliott won rushing titles in two of his first three seasons with the Cowboys and is the third-leading rusher in franchise history with 8,262 yards. He trails two Pro Football Hall of Famers — all-time NFL rushing leader Emmitt Smith and Tony Dorsett.

Tony Pollard, a fourth-round pick by Dallas in 2019, replaced Elliott last season but didn't have an impact to match his $10.1 million salary playing on the franchise tag. Pollard signed with Tennessee in free agency.

In 2016, Elliott teamed with quarterback Dak Prescott to create a dynamic rookie pairing that led the Cowboys on an 11-game winning streak and the top seed in the NFC playoffs.

Prescott then edged out Elliott for NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year honors after the Cowboys lost to Aaron Rodgers and Green Bay.

Elliott never matched the 1,631 yards rushing from his rookie season. His second year was marred by a two-month court fight with the NFL over a six-game suspension involving domestic violence allegations. Elliott served the suspension nine games into the season after losing an appeal.

The 2016 All-Pro still led the NFL in yards rushing per game in his second season, then won his other rushing title with 1,434 yards in 2018.

Elliott missed the offseason and training camp in 2019 in a contract holdout, finally joining the Cowboys during the week before the season opener after signing a $90 million, six-year extension.

While Elliott scored 22 touchdowns combined over the final two seasons of his first Dallas stint, he surpassed 1,000 yards just once in three years after signing the expensive extension.

Elliott rushed for 642 yards and three touchdowns in what ended up being coach Bill Belichick's final season with the Patriots in 2023. Elliott visited the Cowboys in Week 4, gaining just 16 yards in New England's 38-3 loss.

While they won 12 games for the third consecutive season in 2023, the Cowboys missed Elliott's powerful running style in short-yardage situations.

Dallas is in flux with its offensive line, having to replace two starters. Three of Dallas' eight draft picks last weekend were offensive linemen. Elliott's return, however, would bolster the club's pass protection.

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/NFL

Yastrzemski homers and Webb pitches the Giants past the Dodgers 4-1

2024-05-16 13:20 Last Updated At：13:31

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Logan Webb pitched six scoreless innings and Mike Yastrzemski hit a two-run homer as the San Francisco Giants beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 4-1 on Wednesday night to avoid a three-game sweep.

Webb (4-4) limited Los Angeles to three hits, striking out five and walking three to help the Giants snap a six-game losing streak against their longtime rivals.

“I think we were kind of embarrassed about how we played the first two games,” Webb said. “I felt that. We all felt that. I just wanted to go out there and give it all I could. Luckily, it turned out the way it did.”

The right-hander got some help from his defense in the fourth when center fielder Luis Matos leaped and reached over the wall to rob Teoscar Hernández of a home run.

“I didn’t think he was going to catch it off the bat,” Giants manager Bob Melvin said. “Sometimes it’s tough to predict the wind here and whether a ball’s going to carry or not. That’s just got to be a perfect route, you throw your hand up at the end and hope it goes in your glove.”

Yastrzemski took Los Angeles starter Elieser Hernández deep to right in the third for his fourth home run of the season.

Heliot Ramos added an RBI double in the sixth to make it 3-0.

Hernández (0-1) permitted three runs and four hits in six innings, striking out three and walking one in his Dodgers debut. The right-hander had his contract selected from Triple-A Oklahoma City earlier Wednesday.

“Elieser threw the ball really well,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “Yaz put a really good swing on a ball that was up and in with two strikes. Certainly the difference in the game.”

Max Muncy drove in the Dodgers’ run on a sacrifice fly in the eighth.

Matos responded with an RBI single in the bottom half.

Camilo Doval allowed two runners to reach in the ninth but retired Freddie Freeman on a groundball to second for his seventh save.

The Dodgers left 11 runners on base.

“I thought tonight was a much-needed win," Webb said. ”Hopefully, this just gets us going."

Los Angeles extended a franchise record by allowing four runs or fewer in 22 straight games, winning 17 of them.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Dodgers: OF Jason Heyward (lower back tightness) continued his rehab assignment with Triple-A Oklahoma City and could return in the next couple of days, according to Roberts. ... RHP Evan Phillips (strained right hamstring) felt good after throwing off a mound. Roberts said Phillips will throw off a mound again in two or three days.

Giants: DH Jorge Soler (strained right shoulder) began a rehab assignment with Triple-A Sacramento. Melvin said there's a chance Soler could come off the injured list as soon as Friday. ... RHP Keaton Winn had an MRI after exiting Tuesday’s start with a right forearm strain. “Initial reports are encouraging,” Melvin said, calling the injury “pretty mild.”

ROSTER MOVES

The Dodgers selected Elieser Hernández and recalled RHP Eduardo Salazar from Triple-A Oklahoma City. Los Angeles optioned RHP Gus Varland to the minor league affiliate and designated RHP Nabil Crismatt for assignment.

The Giants signed catcher Curt Casali to a one-year contract. Casali batted ninth and went 1 for 2 with a walk. San Francisco optioned catcher Jakson Reetz to Triple-A Sacramento and transferred catcher Tom Murphy (sprained left knee) to the 60-day injured list.

UP NEXT

Dodgers: RHP Tyler Glasnow (6-1, 2.53 ERA) seeks his fourth straight win when he opens a four-game home series against the Reds on Thursday night. Cincinnati had not announced a starter.

Giants: LHP Kyle Harrison (3-1, 3.42 ERA) is scheduled to start Friday night when San Francisco opens a three-game home series against the Rockies. Colorado counters with RHP Ryan Feltner (1-3, 5.20).

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB