Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones denied the idea that the team is thinking with its heart instead of its head when it comes to running back Ezekiel Elliott.

During his weekly appearance on 105.3 The Fan (via The Athletic’s Jon Machota), Jones stated that the Cowboys “are not living in the past with Zeke.”

Cowboys fans must feel a sense of déjà vu watching the offense this season.

Despite eight appearances, Elliott has rushed for 171 yards and two touchdowns, and his 3.2 yards per carry is on pace to be a career low. While he’s not Dallas’ primary ball carrier, he’s taking touches away from a more productive running back in Rico Dowdle.

This came after he was suspended in Week 9 for disciplinary reasons.

From the moment Elliott returned to the Cowboys, it felt like the team was letting feelings get in the way of doing what was best. He had declining returns in his first stint with the team, and his 2023 campaign with the New England Patriots was largely forgettable.

The idea behind signing the 29-year-old was that he could at least be a good complement to Dowdle and still be somewhat productive in a limited role. That’s just not happening, and the longer it persists, the harder Jones finds it to argue that Zeke’s reputation doesn’t depend on his reputation.