LOS ANGELES -- The Los Angeles Chargers signed running back Ezekiel Elliott to their practice squad Tuesday.
The Dallas Cowboys waived Elliott earlier this month, a move that Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones said was "out of respect and appreciation for Zeke and wanting to provide him with an opportunity to pursue any potential playoff participation possible." The Cowboys drafted Elliott in 2016, and he is the team's No. 3 all-time leading rusher.
This season in 15 games, the 29-year-old Elliott had just 74 carries for 226 yards with a 3.1 yards-per-carry average, all career lows. Dallas made Elliott inactive for the team's Nov. 3 game against the Atlanta Falcons for missing meetings.
Chargers running back Gus Edwards hasn't played since the Chargers' Week 16 win over the Denver Broncos. In that game, Edwards injured his ankle and then aggravated it at practice. Edwards was on injured reserve earlier this season because of a different ankle injury. The move to sign Elliott probably means the Chargers are hopeful he can be insurance in case Edwards isn't healthy for Saturday's wild-card matchup against the Houston Texans. Elliott will have three days of practice in preparation for Saturday.
The move probably won't change much for L.A.'s lead running back, J.K. Dobbins, who has a career-high 1,058 yards from scrimmage this season. But running backs Kimani Vidal and Hassan Haskins could see their workloads reduced.
The Chargers released wide receiver Laviska Shenault Jr. in a corresponding move Tuesday.
