HALL ROUTS INDIANA

Cowboys RB Ezekiel Elliott has dropped his appeal with five games remaining on his six-game suspension over alleged domestic violence.

Elliott’s agents said Wednesday the decision by last year’s NFL rushing leader “is in no way an admission of wrongdoing.” They said Elliott’s decision came from “a practical assessment of the current legal landscape.”

Elliott served the first game in Dallas’ 27-7 loss to Atlanta last weekend. By accepting the six games, Elliott is eligible to return for the final two games: Dec. 24 at home against Seattle and Dec. 31 at Philadelphia.

Elliott was suspended in August after the league concluded following a year-long investigation that he had several physical confrontations in the summer of 2016 with Tiffany Thompson, his girlfriend at the time. Prosecutors in Ohio didn’t pursue the case. Elliott denied the allegations under oath during his NFL appeal.

l Rather than continue watching a pedestrian offense muddle through a third consecutive game, Bills coach Sean McDermott sent his team a jolt by making an abrupt change at quarterback. Tyrod Taylor was benched and rookie fifth-round pick Nathan Peterman will make his first career start on Sunday, when Buffalo (5-4) plays at the Los Angeles Chargers (3-6). Dermott acknowledged taking a “calculated risk” in making the switch at a time when the Bills have a winning record. They sit sixth in the AFC, and control their own playoff destiny.

Desi Rodriguez scored 23 points to lead No. 22 Seton Hall to a convincing 84-68 home victory over Indiana in the Gavitt Tip Off Games at the Prudential Center.… Rich Williams had 21 points and Zavier Turner added 16, including a jumper in overtime that gave host Manhattan the lead for good, and the Jaspers beat St. Francis (Brooklyn),