Elliott drops appeal, suspension sticks

Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott is ending his legal fight with five games remaining on a 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.” Elliott had a hearing set in a federal appeals court on Dec. 1, four games into the suspension.

Wednesday was the 96th day since Commissioner Roger Goodell announced the suspension. Elliott served the first game in Dallas’ 27-7 loss to Atlanta last weekend. By accepting the sixgame ban, Elliott is eligible to return for the final two games of the regular season: Dec. 24 at home against Seattle and Dec. 31 at Philadelphia.

The defending NFC East champion Cowboys (5-4) are three games behind the division-leading Eagles (8-1), who visit Sunday night. A year after being the top seed in the NFC at 13-3, Dallas faces a difficult task staying in playoff contention until Elliott returns.

The 22-year-old Elliott was suspended by Goodell in August after the league concluded following a yearlong investigation that he had several physical confrontations in the summer of 2016 with Tiffany Thompson, his girlfriend at the time.

VIKINGS STICK WITH KEENUM » Case Keenum will start again at quarterback this week for Minnesota, a natural decision for coach Mike Zimmer with the Vikings on a five-game winning streak and Keenum coming off a career-high four-touchdown performance. Zimmer staved off the speculation for at least a few more days by announcing that Keenum would start Sunday against his former team the Los Angeles Rams.

“I just figured I might as well count on it,” said the affable Keenum, who has clearly grown weary of the situation.