DALLAS — The NFL suspended Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott for six games Friday, concluding after a yearlong investigation that the league’s leading rusher injured his former girlfriend in three incidents last summer.
According to the letter Elliott received informing him of the suspension, the NFL believed he used “physical force” three times in a span of five days in a Columbus, Ohio, apartment last July resulting in injuries to Tiffany Thompson’s face, neck, shoulders, arms, hands, wrists, hips and knees. She was his girlfriend at the time.
Prosecutors in Columbus decided nearly a year ago not to pursue the case in the city where Elliott starred for Ohio State. In announcing the suspension under the NFL’s personal conduct policy, the league said its investigation was based on photographs, text messages and other electronic evidence. Commissioner Roger Goodell made his decision based on the findings and in consultation with four advisers, including Hall of Fame player Ken Houston.
Elliott, 22, has three days to appeal the ruling, which his legal team said he would do while blasting the decision.
DOLPHINS: Quarterback Ryan Tannehill will undergo surgery to repair the torn ACL in his left knee and miss the entire season.
Tannehill, who missed the final four games of last season with two sprained ligaments in his knee, reinjured it a week into training camp Aug. 3. The Dolphins consulted with specialists before the team and Tannehill decided surgery was best.
• Promising rookie linebacker Raekwon McMillan will miss the entire season with a torn ACL in his right knee.
BILLS: Receiver Sammy Watkins and cornerback Ronald Darby were dealt in separate trades.
Watkins was traded to the Los Angeles Rams and Darby was sent to Philadelphia. Buffalo acquired receiver Jordan Matthews from Philadelphia and cornerback E.J. Gaines from the Rams.
BRONCOS: A person with knowledge of the diagnosis said nose tackle Billy Winn will miss the entire 2017 season with a serious right knee injury.
The person, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Winn tore ligaments in his right knee Thursday night, including the anterior cruciate ligament.
PANTHERS: Quarterback Cam Newton threw passes to receivers during an individual period early in practice, according to the Charlotte Observer, but continued to be held out of team drills.
Newton had shoulder surgery in March for a partially torn rotator cuff and had not thrown in practice other than light warmup tosses since July 30.
• Defensive tackle Vernon Butler sprained his left knee during the preseason game against Houston.
PACKERS: Green Bay submitted videos to the NFL of hits by Philadelphia players that knocked out Malachi Dupre and Damarious Randall on separate plays Thursday night.
JAGUARS: Jacksonville cut left tackle Branden Albert.
RAVENS: Quarterback Joe Flacco will soon return to practice but won’t play in a game before Baltimore opens the regular season Sept. 10 at Cincinnati.
FRIDAY’S GAME
STEELERS 20, GIANTS 12: Rookie quarterback Josh Dobbs threw a 28-yard touchdown pass and Chris Boswell kicked a 37-yard field goal in the third quarter to give Pittsburgh the lead for good in a preseason opener at East Rutherford, New Jersey.
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