Ezekiel Elliott's Emergency Motion to Stay Suspension Denied

The United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit has denied the NFLPA's motion on behalf of Ezekiel Elliott's for an injunction to stay his six-game suspension for domestic violence charges. As a result, Elliott's suspension is likely to resume beginning this week.

The NFLPA and Elliott have been battling the NFL in court over the suspension and most recently, the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York denied a request for a preliminary injunction to stay the suspension, pending the court case. Today, a three-judge panel ruled that the NFLPA's motion for an injunction was denied for failing to meet the required standard for such relief.

While the NFL ruled in August that there was "substantial and persuasive evidence" that Elliott "engaged in physical violence against" his ex-girlfriend Tiffany Thompson, Elliott, the NFLPA, and Cowboys owner Jerry Jones claim the Commissioner overstepped his bounds since no charges were ever filed. Unfortunately, the CBA, voluntarily entered into by the NFLPA, explicitly grants Roger Goodell the power to punish players in this fashion.

Today's decision also puts the appeal on a faster track, and the court clerk was directed to mark the case as expedited and place it on the next available calendar. It's unclear when exactly that would be, but according to Sports Illustrated legal expert, Michael McCann, there's a chance there is a ruling before the six game suspension is over:

UPDATE

(11/15, 5:53pm)

After going back and forth over several appeals, Ezekiel Elliott has decided to drop his most recent appeal, and serve his full six-game suspension, per NFL Insider Ian Rapoport:

By Rapoport's estimation, this means that this legal battle is finally being put to bed:

Elliott will officially return on Christmas Eve, when the Cowboys face the Seahawks in Dallas.