The Ezekiel Elliott suspension explained in a 2-minute read

Why isn’t the Cowboys’ star running back on the field? We’ve got a quick breakdown for you.

The Cowboys welcome the Eagles to AT&T Stadium on Sunday Night Football, but running back Ezekiel Elliott won’t be on the field. If you haven’t kept up with all of the twists and turns of Elliott’s six-game suspension, we’ve put together a thorough overview of the situation and a complete timeline of events.

But for those of you just want the basics, we’ve got you covered, too.

Elliott was investigated. The NFL spent over a year investigating domestic violence allegations raised by Elliott’s former girlfriend in Columbus, Ohio. She filed police reports and went to the Columbus City Attorney’s office to pursue charges in July 2016. Elliott was never charged with a crime.

Elliott was suspended. The NFL’s disciplinary process does not carry the same burden of proof as the legal system. The league’s investigation determined that Elliott was violent toward the woman on three separate occasions.

In August of this year, Roger Goodell issued a six-game suspension to Elliott. That’s the baseline number of games for a first-time domestic violence offender.

Elliott appealed to the NFL, but the suspension was upheld. Goodell appointed an arbitrator, Harold Henderson, to hear Elliott’s appeal. Henderson upheld the suspension, despite issues raised by Elliott’s side that the NFL’s lead investigator, Kia Roberts, recommended that he should not be suspended based on her interviews with Elliott’s accuser.

Meanwhile, the NFL Players Association was moving forward outside of the league’s jurisdiction.

Elliott’s suspension was put on hold for the first time. The NFLPA filed a lawsuit against the NFL, but it was not about whether Elliott was guilty or not of committing domestic violence. Rather, the union alleged the NFL’s disciplinary process was fundamentally unfair. The union asked for a preliminary injunction to keep Elliott on the field. In the U.S. District Court of Eastern Texas, Judge Amos Mazzant granted the injunction in early September. Elliott was allowed to play.

Elliott’s suspension was back on for the second time. The NFL appealed to the 5th Circuit Court, where a panel of three judges overturned the district court’s ruling in a split decision due to lack of jurisdiction. They also ordered the U.S. District Court of Eastern Texas to dismiss the case. Elliott’s suspension was in effect again after the Cowboys’ bye in Week 6.

Elliott’s suspension was put on hold for the second time. The NFLPA re-filed in the New York Southern District Court. Katherine Polk Failla, the judge who was supposed to hear the case, was on vacation. The court gave Elliott a temporary administrative stay, which allowed him to play until the judge returned and could issue a ruling.

Elliott’s suspension was back on for the third time. When she returned, Judge Failla ruled against Elliott. The court also applied a 24-hour emergency stay to Failla’s decision to give the NFLPA time to file an emergency appeal. That appeal was denied, too. Elliott’s suspension was on again starting in Week 9.

Elliott’s suspension was put on hold for the third time. The NFLPA appealed to the 2nd Circuit Court. A panel of judges issued an emergency stay while they considered the appeal. That kept Elliott on the field in Week 9.

Elliott’s suspension was back on for the final time. The NFLPA’s motion for an injunction to delay Elliott’s suspension further was denied. His six-game suspension officially began in Week 10.

However, oral arguments for his next appeal to the 2nd Circuit Court was set for Dec. 1, four games into his suspension.

It finally ended. Elliott dropped his appeal entirely, while the NFLPA withdrew its lawsuit. Elliott will serve his entire-six game suspension, and he’ll be eligible to return to the field in Week 16 against the Seahawks.