Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott’s emergency motion for an injunction was denied by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit in New York, according to multiple media outlets.
Elliott will not play against the Falcons and must start serving his six-game suspension in light of this ruling.
The Falcons (4-4) are set to face Cowboys (5-3) at 4:25 p.m. Sunday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Elliott will remain suspended until an appellate court hears his case on an expedited basis.
Elliott attended the hearing in New York, which started at 2 p.m.
The NFL suspended him for six games Aug. 11, but court rulings have allowed Elliot to keep playing. He has rushed for 793 yards and seven touchdowns to help the Cowboys.
The Falcons were preparing as if Elliott would play. But the Cowboys will have to turn to Alfred Morris, Rod Smith or Darren McFadden.
“I don’t think the scheme would change because the style of what they do is pretty clear,” Falcons coach Dan Quinn said. “Alfred and if it would be McFadden are certainly backs that have proven themselves in our league. I would say right now they feature one back, and I would imagine if he was out they wouldn’t just feature one like they do now. Maybe that would change, but as far as the style of how they run it, I think that would stay consistent.”
