Elliott finds inspiration in meeting ailing fan
Ezekiel Elliott calls it the reason he plays.
Providing inspiration for a young cancer patient from Massachusetts since his rookie season three seasons ago has stayed with the Dallas Cowboys running back. Elliott became that inspiration after receiving a social media message from Jake Silver’s sister Halle in 2016. She hoped to enlist the former Ohio State player for some encouraging words to her then 16-year-old brother battling cancer.
Elliott replied and provided that inspiration by phone and by wearing a plastic cancer awareness bracelet that reads “Silver Strong” on his wrist during every game since.
“I’ve had communication with his family over the past few years and it’s been rough for him, so I just wanted to be able to do everything I can to help make things easier for him and help Broncos linebacker Todd Davis gets a pat from safety Justin Simmons after scoring on an interception return against the Cardinals on Thursday in Glendale, Ariz. out,” Elliott said.
Elliott still wears the bracelet, including during Sunday’s 40-7 win against Jacksonville. And for the first time, Elliott was able to inspire Silver and his family in person. Elliott invited Silver to the game and visited with him at a hotel on Monday.
“You never really realize the effect you’ve had on people. Just the most touching thing,” Elliott said. “His mom was telling me about how he was having a really rough day going through his chemo, really intense chemo, and he was just
not in it, wasn’t feeling good. I think we started texting that day and his mood just flipped 180. That easily, his day was made better and that’s special.
"That’s very special to me and you know I’m blessed to be able to even have that effect on people.”
With their secondary depleted by injuries, the Cincinnati Bengals signed cornerback KeiVarae Russell off the practice squad for a game Sunday in Kansas City.
Russell was the Chiefs' third-round pick in 2016. He's played in 13 games for Cincinnati over the past two seasons. The Bengals needed another cornerback with Darqueze Dennard out with a shoulder injury suffered during a 28-21 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Safety Shawn Williams also suffered a concussion during the game. He was cleared on Thursday and had a limited practice.
The Bengals waived receiver Auden Tate to open a roster spot.
The NFL suspended Dallas Cowboys receiver Terrance Williams for three games without pay for violating the league's substance-abuse policy.
The suspension stems from Williams’ arrest in May by Frisco, Texas, police for misdemeanor public intoxication.
A suspension for that offense is usually one or two games. But Williams got three games because the NFL believes he escaped a more serious change of driving while intoxicated after fleeing the scene after hitting a light pole in his car.
BRONCOS 45, CARDINALS 10: Todd Davis and Chris Harris Jr. each returned interceptions for touchdowns in the first half and Denver (3-4) crushed host Arizona (1-6). Emmanuel Sanders passed to Courtland Sutton for 28-yard touchdown and caught a 64-yard TD pass from Case Keenum in the first half as the Broncos raced to a 35-3 halftime lead. Keenum hit 14 of 21 passes for 161 yards and the score. Sanders caught six passes for 102 yards. Cardinals rookie Josh Rosen threw three interceptions and was sacked six times.