Kansas City Chiefs: Expect Ezekiel Elliott to play this weekend

News came down late Monday night that Ezekiel Elliott’s suspension would go into effect. However, Kansas City Chiefs fans should still expect him to play this weekend.

If there has been one consistent problem for the Kansas City Chiefs this year, it is the failure of the run defense to stop anyone. That may come into play once again this week against the Cowboys. Even though star running back Ezekiel Elliott had his suspension upheld in court, it seems likely he’ll play this weekend.

Just two years into his career, Ezekiel Elliott is regarded by many as one of the best running backs in the NFL. The Chiefs just struggled against CJ Anderson despite being in a fairly inept Denver offense. These two factors do not bode well for Kansas City this weekend.

Many KC fans were breathing a sigh of relief when the ruling was released on Ezekiel Elliott’s suspension. This was being regarded by many as his final chance to have the suspension overruled. However, that is not actually the case at all. In fact, things may even be turning in Elliott’s favor in the matter.

To summarize: Ezekiel Elliott is facing suspension in 24 hours, but this is not over yet. Is it ever?
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) October 31, 2017

Not His Last Course Of Action

First and foremost, Ezekiel Elliott actually still had a couple of legal options for delaying his suspension again. The first of these options is to file an appeal in the Second Circuit, which his legal team has already done. Elliott is believed to have very little chance in this court as they hold the ruling in Tom Brady’s suspension as precedent. However, it would still buy him time.

The second course of action for Ezekiel Elliott would be to file for a rehearing en banc with the 5th Circuit. Technically, that option has expired, but petitions have been honored for past-date rehearings before. Elliott’s case is certainly high-profile enough to be considered for that.

Neither of these options would guarantee Ezekiel Elliott could play this weekend, but his legal team would certainly seek an emergency stay that would likely be honored. So if either option is pursued, you can expect Elliott on the field this weekend.

There is also another matter that has emerged. It turns out that Judge Katherine Polk Fallia, who presided over Ezekiel Elliott’s most recent hearing, is married to a lawyer whose lawfirm represented the NFL in the 2011 Collective Bargaining Agreement negotiations. While that may not have affected her ruling, Elliott’s legal team could argue that she should have recused herself.

That certainly muddies the water at the very least.

The Bigger Problem Is In House

Whether Ezekiel Elliott plays this weekend or not though, the Kansas City Chiefs have a much bigger problem. The Chiefs run defense has taken a major step backwards this year, and is now a liability. KC specifically made additions in the form of defensive tackle Bennie Logan and linebacker Reggie Ragland to address this.