Ezekiel Elliott suspension reinstated with NFLPA appeal pending

With a second judge, Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott has lost his case for an injunction against his suspension.

Barring a successful appeal with the 2nd Circuit Court, the Ezekiel Elliott suspension will be served as it was handed down by the NFL before the 2017 season began after Judge Katherine Polk Failla of the southern district court of New York dissolved the temporary restraining order against the suspension late Monday night.

It’s a victory for the NFL that won’t be celebrated for long, as the NFLPA will undoubtedly appeal Judge Failla’s ruling to the 2nd Circuit Court. That’s the same court that ultimately ruled in the league’s favor in the “Deflategate” case against Tom Brady, so Elliott’s prospects there are muddled at best. It was that exact case which Failla cited in her ruling.

In her decision, Failla disagreed with Judge Amos Mazzant, who presided over the case in the eastern district of Texas, on nearly all the pertinent matters pertaining to the case.

What this means for Cowboys fans and fantasy football owners who have held onto Elliott is that after a 24-hour hold period, that Failla placed on her ruling ends, Elliott’s suspension will begin. He will not be allowed at any team facilities and will begin to lose his game paychecks as well.

Barring a successful appeal or other legal action, Elliott will miss Dallas’ next six games, then be eligible to return for the December 17 game against the Oakland Raiders. That means the Cowboys will be without him for games against three divisional opponents, Philadelphia, the Giants and Washington.

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While the legal drama regarding Elliott is not yet completely over, it looks like the road to getting his suspension overturned by the courts is now facing 4th-and-long.