Elliott suspension is upheld; Chiefs roll over Broncos

Ezekiel Elliott will begin serving his sixgame suspension for domestic violence following a 24-hour stay, a federal judge ruled Monday.

U.S. District Judge Katherine Polk Failla announced her decision to uphold the NFL’s six-game suspension over domestic violence allegations several hours after lawyers for the NFL Players Association and the NFL Management Council argued their positions on Elliott’s suspension again — mostly repeating their prior arguments.

“The NFLPA has failed to demonstrate a substantial question warranting the extraordinary remedy of injunctive relief or a balance of hardships that decidedly weighs in its favor,” Failla wrote in her ruling.

Elliott previously told ESPN he was “confident” he would be able to suit up for the Cowboys the rest of the season.

“We’re confident in our argument,” Elliott said. “We’re confident that I’ll be on the field for the rest of the year.”

CBS Sports reported before the ruling was announced that the NFLPA would not be petitioning the 5th circuit for a rehearing of the case regardless of Failla’s decision.

Elliott, however, still has the option of appealing his case to the Second Circuit and seek a stay so he can continue playing while the appeal process plays out. If Elliott does not seek an appeal, he will miss the Cowboys’ next six games, against the Chiefs, Falcons, Eagles, Chargers, Washington and the Giants. Elliott will be eligible to return to the Cowboys in Week 15 for a road game against the Raiders. The NFL suspended Elliott on Aug. 11 following allegations that he had abused his ex, Tiffany Thompson, in July 2016. Jeffrey Kessler, a lawyer for the Association, told Failla “it is fundamentally unfair” Elliott couldn’t question his accuser.

CHIEFS 29, BRONCOS 19: Harrison Butker kicked five field goals, Marcus Peters returned a fumble 45 yards for a touchdown and the host Kansas City Chiefs beat the turnover-prone Denver Broncos 29-19.

Alex Smith threw for 202 yards and a touchdown, most of it going to tight end Travis Kelce , who hauled in seven balls for 133 yards and the score.

The Chiefs (6-2) also intercepted Trevor Siemian three times and hopped on two fumbles to beat Denver (3-4) for the fourth straight time.

Siemian finished 19 of 36 for 198 yards and a touchdown, and has now thrown eight picks and only three TD passes in the past five games. The Broncos have lost all but one of them. —AP