Chargers add RB depth for postseason with Ezekiel Elliott

LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Chargers signed running back Ezekiel Elliott to their practice squad on Tuesday.

The Dallas Cowboys released Elliott earlier this month, a move that Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones said was “out of respect and appreciation for Zeke and wanting to give him the opportunity to pursue any potential involvement in the playoffs.” The Cowboys drafted Elliott in 2016, and he is the team’s third-leading rusher of all time.

This season, in 15 games, Elliott, 29, had just 74 carries for 226 yards with an average of 3.1 yards per carry, all career lows. Dallas left Elliott inactive for the team’s Nov. 3 game against the Atlanta Falcons for missing meetings.

Chargers running back Gus Edwards has not played since the Chargers’ Week 16 win over the Denver Broncos. In that game, Edwards injured his ankle and then aggravated it in practice. Edwards was on injured reserve earlier this season due to a different ankle injury. The decision to sign Elliott likely means the Chargers are hopeful he can be insurance in case Edwards isn’t healthy for Saturday’s wild-card matchup against the Houston Texans. Elliott will have three days of practice in preparation for Saturday.

The move likely won’t change much for Los Angeles’ leading rusher, JK Dobbins, who has a career-high 1,058 yards from scrimmage this season. But running backs Kimani Vidal and Hassan Haskins could see their workload reduced.

The Chargers released wide receiver Laviska Shenault Jr. in a corresponding move on Tuesday.