Elliott may play against Big Blue

Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott’s hearing on the appeal of his sixgame suspension stemming from a domestic violence case ended Thursday after 2 ¹/2 days, though according to one NFL investigator, the suspension should have never happened in the first place.

Kia Roberts, an NFL investigator on the case, recommended no suspension for Elliott and testified so this week, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported Thursday night.

Before the punishment was handed down, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones had repeatedly said he believed Elliott would face no suspension, based on Roberts’ recommendation and an assurance from a top NFL executive, according to the Star-Telegram. The paper also reported that Roberts’ recommendation never made it into the NFL’s final report and that she was barred from the meeting where a six-game suspension was decided upon.

According to the labor agreement, arbitrator Harold Henderson must rule on the NFL’s punishment “as soon as practicable.” The Cowboys must cut their roster to 53 players by Saturday, and putting Elliott on the restricted list would give them an extra spot.

According to NBC Sports, if a ruling is not made by 4 p.m. Tuesday, Elliott will be eligible to play in Week 1 against the Giants. Henderson has 25 hours of hearing time to review as he crafts a ruling that is likely going to be challenged in federal court.

But Henderson is expected to have a ruling before then.

The NFL’s 2016 rushing leader was suspended after the league concluded that he used physical force last summer in Ohio against his girlfriend at the time. Prosecutors didn’t pursue the case, citing conflicting evidence. Elliott has denied the allegations.