Elliott's one-year, $2 million contract with the Cowboys includes $1.75 million guaranteed, and he can earn up to $1 million more via incentives, Todd Archer of ESPN.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

All of the incentives require Dallas making the playoffs, with the other parts entailing Elliott playing more than half the team's snaps ($500,000), scoring 10 touchdowns ($250,000) or reaching 1,100 yards from scrimmage ($250,000). He did all three of those things in 2021, and two of the three in his most recent season with the Cowboys (2022). A one-year sojourn to New England proved less productive, though Elliott handled some huge workloads late in the season after Rhamondre Stevenson suffered a high-ankle injury, averaging 14.8 carries and 5.2 catches over the Patriots' final six games. The Cowboys probably won't call on him that often, even with their other backfield options -- Rico Dowdle, Deuce Vaughn, Royce Freeman, Malik Davis and Snoop Conner -- being less than stellar. The Cowboys didn't draft a running back in April, and none of their veterans besides Elliott has ever run for more than 521 yards in a season.

Elliott agreed to terms Monday to a contract with the Cowboys, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

EDGE Analysis

Pending a physical, Elliott will attempt to reignite his career in Dallas, the team with which he spent the first seven years of his NFL career and earned two All-Pro nods. The Cowboys recently lost Tony Pollard to free agency and, to the surprise of most analysts, opted not to select a running back in the 2024 NFL Draft, giving Elliott an easy path to the No. 1 role in a backfield that also includes Rico Dowdle and Deuce Vaughn (ankle). It's unclear how much the former rushing champ has left in the tank entering his age-29 season, as across 17 games with the Patriots last season he carried 184 times for just 642 yards (3.5 YPC) plus three scores, while adding a 51-313-2 receiving line.

Elliott's agent is meeting with the Cowboys in Dallas on Wednesday, Josina Anderson of CBS Sports reports.

EDGE Analysis

This isn't the first time the two sides have been connected this offseason, as ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reported last month that there was mutual interest in a reunion. The Cowboys lost Tony Pollard to the Titans in free agency and only added end-of-roster types Royce Freeman and Snoop Conner to a depth chart that includes Rico Dowdle, Deuce Vaughn and Malik Davis. Elliott played in all 17 games for the Patriots last season, turning in a 184-642-3 rushing line while adding 51-313-2 as a receiver on 65 targets. Dallas will likely draft a running back this week.

Elliott and the Cowboys have mutual interest in possibly reuniting, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Elliott, who currently remains a free agent and turns 29 in July, played out the 2023 season with the Patriots and suited up for all 17 regular-season games. He rushed 184 times for 642 yards and three touchdowns, with a substantially higher workload during the final five games while Rhamondre Stevenson missed time with an ankle injury. He spent the first seven years with the Cowboys, who currently have only Rico Dowdle, Deuce Vaughn (ankle) and Malik Davis atop the depth chart, so a reunion could make real sense if Zeke is open to a relatively team-friendly deal.

Elliott rushed 13 times for 54 yards and caught five of seven targets for 27 yards in Sunday's 17-3 loss to the Jets.

EDGE Analysis

Elliott accounted for most of New England's rushing production and almost half of Bailey Zappe's 12 completions, as the low-octane Patriots offense was stifled by the stout Jets defense in snowy conditions. The 28-year-old running back showed he still has some tread left on his tires with 372 scrimmage yards and three touchdowns over the final five weeks after Rhamondre Stevenson's season-ending ankle injury. Elliott will be an unrestricted free agent after rushing for 642 yards and three touchdowns on 184 carries and catching 51 of 65 targets for 313 yards and two touchdowns this season with the Patriots.

Elliott carried the ball 14 times for 39 yards and a touchdown and caught one of two targets for six yards in Sunday's 27-21 loss to the Bills.

EDGE Analysis

For the third straight game, the veteran running back was held below 40 rushing yards and 3.0 yards per carry while starting in place of Rhamondre Stevenson (ankle), but Elliott did score his first rushing TD since Week 7, which also came against Buffalo. The trade-off was a lack of production through the air. Elliott had posted a 21-126-2 line on 25 targets as a receiver in those three games, but Sunday it was second-year back Kevin Harris who made a bigger impact as a pass-catcher. Stevenson won't return this season, so Elliott should again get solid touch volume in Week 18 against the Jets, a team he posted a season-high 80 rushing yards against in their first meeting back in September.

Elliott (illness) doesn't have an injury designation for Sunday's game against the Bills.

EDGE Analysis

Elliott didn't practice Thursday due to an illness but was removed from the injury report after returning to practice Friday. The veteran running back is set to lead New England's backfield for a fourth consecutive game Sunday in the absence of Rhamondre Stevenson (ankle), with Kevin Harris and JaMycal Hasty comprising the running back depth behind Elliott.

Elliott (illness) returned to practice Friday. Doug Kyed of the Boston Herald reports.

EDGE Analysis

Elliott missed practice Thursday due to an illness, but his return to the field a day later puts him in line to be available to lead the Patriots' backfield Sunday against the Bills. The team's upcoming injury report will clarify whether Elliott carries a designation into the weekend or is fully cleared for Week 17 action.

Elliott didn't practice Thursday due to an illness.

EDGE Analysis

Elliott practiced fully Wednesday, but his absence from Thursday's session makes his status worth tracking as Sunday's game against the Bills approaches. If Elliott is able to suit up this weekend, he'll continue to lead the New England backfield after the Patriots placed Rhamondre Stevenson (ankle) on injured reserve Wednesday.

Elliott's teammate Rhamondre Stevenson (ankle) was placed on injured reserve Wednesday.

EDGE Analysis

Elliott is coming off three straight games playing at least 83 percent of New England's snaps on offense, with averages of 15.0 carries for 40.0 yards and 7.0 catches for 42.0 yards in those contests. It hasn't been pretty in real life (2.7 YPC) but he's provided a huge boost for fantasy managers behind an onslaught of targets, including his first two receiving TDs of the year. Elliott figures to stay busy Week 17 at Buffalo and Week 18 against the Jets, though there's always some chance the Patriots give a younger guy like Kevin Harris or JaMycal Hasty more playing time at some point.