BREAKING: Patriots Signing Cowboys Ex RB Ezekiel Elliott

Desperate for help in the running game, the New England Patriots are signing former two-time rushing champion and Dallas Cowboy Ezekiel Elliott.

The New England Patriots missed out on DeAndre Hopkins, but they are instead helping energize their struggling offense by signing former Dallas Cowboys two-time NFL rushing champion Ezekiel Elliott to a contract.

According to multiple media reports, the Patriots will sign Elliott to a one-year deal worth up to $6 million. Elliott visited Foxboro two weeks ago, and discussions heated up over the weekend after the Patriots' running game was non-existent in a preseason loss to the Houston Texans.

New England has also been linked to free-agent running backs Dalvin Cook, Jonathan Taylor, Darrell Henderson and Leonard Fournette. Hours after the Pats' Zeke signing, the New York Jets signed Cook.

The Pats have Rhamondre Stevenson as their No. 1 back, but need extra punch in the wake of the preseason opener in which Kevin Harris, Pierre Strong and J.J. Taylor failed to produce any production. New England's backs rushed 20 times for only 44 yards. Elliott will likely vault into the role of Stevenson's backup and could be used as a short-yardage specialist.

During his seven-career with the Cowboys he was also considered an above-average blocker on blitz pick-ups.

Elliott, who just turned 28, was pushed out of Dallas by the emergence of Pro Bowl back Tony Pollard. The Cowboys gauged him to have lost a step, despite last season rushing for 876 yards and 12 touchdowns.

Elliott will make a quick homecoming, as the Patriots travel to Arlington to play the Cowboys in Week 4 at AT&T Stadium.

In New England Elliott will reportedly wear No. 15, his number from his college days at Ohio State.

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