Mike Reiss, ESPN Personnel Editor
PITTSBURGH — When the New England Patriots signed veteran working again Ezekiel Elliott to a one-year, $3 million commitment in August, it used to be to safeguard the group used to be in excellent palms if one thing took place to lead working again Rhamondre Stevenson.
Elliott has delivered, along with his 11-yard catch-and-run landing at the Patriots’ opening pressure in opposition to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Thursday the fresh instance.
In playground of the injured Stevenson, who’s out with a proper high-ankle sprain, Elliott performed all 8 snaps at the opening 75-yard landing pressure, and quarterback Bailey Zappe discovered him large unmistakable at the proper facet and Elliott went in fresh for the rating.
FEED ZEKE! The @Patriots pluck an early govern in Pittsburgh. #NEvsPIT on High Video
Additionally to be had on #NFLPlus https://t.co/0GJemAElFj pic.twitter.com/az6pNxbQd5— NFL (@NFL) December 8, 2023
It marked Elliott’s first receiving landing in his endmost 30 video games performed. His endmost receiving landing got here in Presen 16 of the 2021 season vs. Washington.
The Patriots had long gone 13 directly video games with no landing on their opening offensive ownership, which attach the Carolina Panthers for the 3rd longest energetic streak within the NFL next the Giants (20 directly) and Jets (18 directly).
Moreover, the Patriots become the primary group to attain on their opening pressure next being close out the day prior for the reason that 2021 Jacksonville Jaguars.
Elliott entered the night time having performed 38% of the offensive snaps, totaling 112 carries for 429 yards and two touchdowns, year including 24 receptions for 154 yards.
Elliott has had luck in Pittsburgh within the week. In his rookie 12 months with the Cowboys in 2016, he scored 3 touchdowns in a 35-30 win — totaling 21 carries for 114 yards (2 TDs) and two receptions for 95 yards (1 TD).
