Former Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott has reportedly narrowed the list of teams he is interested in playing for in 2023 to three.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Philadelphia Eagles, New York Jets and Cincinnati Bengals are the three clubs that are catching his attention.
Schefter adds that Elliott, 27, would like to make his decision by the end of next week.
When he signs the bottom of a new contract, he’ll likely wear a number other than the No. 21 he’s been associated with for seven seasons in Dallas.
“I wish I had my #15 back,” Elliott tweeted Thursday, referring to the jersey he wore during his years at Ohio State.
In Philadelphia, he would join an already betting backfield that Rashaad Penny, Boston Scott, Kenneth Gainwell and Trey Sermon.
For his part, the starting Eagles in recent campaigns, Miles Sanders, left for Carolina via the autonomy market.
In New York, Elliott would compete with Breece Hall, who will return after a torn ligament suffered last year, as well as Ty Johnson, Michael Carter and Zonovan Knight.
Eventually, in Cincinnati, Elliott would add his name to those of Joe Mixon, Chris Evans and Trayveon Williams, while Samaje Perine took charge of Denver.
On March 15, the Cowboys announced that they were releasing Elliott from his deal, which was to pay him $16.7 million.
In 2019, he signed a six-year contract worth $ 90 million, 50 of which was guaranteed to him.
However, his statistics have declined worryingly for three seasons, surpassing the 1,000 yard plateau only once (1,002, in 2021).
Elliott posted his worst rushing haul of 2022 at 876 yards. He remained, however, head coach Mike McCarthy’s preferred option for runs at the goal gate, and situations requiring quarterback protection.
In the final four games of the season, Elliott posted an anemic 2.7 yards per carry. He’s only had 17 carries of 10 or more yards in 2022.