McAdoo downplays uncertain status of Cowboys’ Elliott
EAST RUTHERFORD » With a verdict expected midweek on Ezekiel Elliott’s appeal of his six-game suspension, the Giants will soon know one way or another whether they’ll be facing last season’s leading rusher Sunday night in Dallas.
But as far as head coach Ben McAdoo is concerned, the Giants’ defense will dictate how many rushing yards the Cowboys accumulate in the season opener with a consistent game plan — regardless of whether their star running back is the ball carrier.
“All backs run the same when there’s nowhere to run,” McAdoo said Monday. “Our goal is to do our job and be prepared to stop the run. If he’s playing, then great. If he’s not, then that’s great. We’re going to play whoever suits up for them.”
The NFL announced Elliott’s suspension back on Aug. 11 for violating the league’s personal conduct policy following a yearlong investigation into domestic violence allegations by his ex-girlfriend, and an appeals hearing took place last week.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported Friday that the NFL Players Association filed a temporary restraining order in Texas, calling for the courts to block any suspension upheld by NFL arbitrator Harold Henderson. The lawsuit is designed to challenge the appeals process, so there’s a chance the legal war lingers beyond this week and Elliott is at least eligible for the opener.
Elliott, 22, led the NFL with 1,631 rushing yards last season as a rookie out of Ohio State. But the Cowboys also feature two capable veteran backs backing him up in Alfred Morris and Darren McFadden, who have a combined five 1,000-yard campaign in 14 seasons.
“I’m hoping that his appeal goes through,” strong safety Landon Collins said. “He’s a great player, an exciting player and I love to play against the best players. If not, we’re going to see him in the second game (against Dallas on Dec. 10), and we’ll keep working on whoever they’ve got.” participated in practice. Marshall, now in his 12th season, is set to make his Giants debut.
“I’ll be out there,” Marshall said. “I feel good other than that hit I had in Cleveland. The body feels amazing. This is probably the only camp that I’ve had where I really didn’t have anything. So that’s kind of encouraging being 33 and trying to be aware of where I’m at. My body — I try to keep track and try to be mindful of that so I know how to treat it, but I feel amazing.”
Defensive tackle Jay Bromley (knee) and cornerback Eli Apple (ankle) also returned to practice in limited roles, McAdoo said. Linebacker Keenan Robinson remains in the concussion protocol, while cornerback Michael Hunter is preparing again after recovering from his own concussion.