Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott will have to serve his six-game suspension after all.
A federal appeals court has reportedly overturned a district court's decision in the Ezekiel Elliott case today, meaning the 22-year old stud running back's six-game suspension has been reinstated.
According to NFL.com,
"The 5th Circuit ruled 2-1 in favor of the NFL that the district court did not have subject matter jurisdiction in Elliott case after hearing oral arguments from the league and NFL Players Association lawyers earlier this month. It vacates the preliminary injunction and directs an order to the lower court to dismiss the case."
In the wake of today's ruling, the NFLPA is expected to re-file the case with the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York and could seek a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction which would allow Elliott to keep playing, according to Gabe Feldman, director of the Tulane Sports Law Program (H/T NFL).
Although Elliott was never charged in the domestic violence case, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell suspended him for six games following a year-long investigation into the accusations made by his former girlfriend, Tiffany Thompson. The league determined that he violated the NFL's conduct policy, which warranted a mandatory six-game suspension.
The Dallas Cowboys have a bye this weekend, so Elliott's suspension would begin with the team's Week 7 matchup against the 49ers in San Francisco. Zeke would be eligible to return for the Cowboys' Thursday night game against the Washington Redskins in Week 13.
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