Report: Elliott's status remains ambiguous with NFL, NFLPA disagreeing on ruling

Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott is reportedly eligible to play for now, although his status remains ambiguous amid an increasingly complex legal battle.

Both the NFL and NFLPA have differing interpretations of a ruling made by the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, which reportedly lifted an injunction that blocked Elliott's six-game suspension.

The NFLPA believes that U.S. District Court Judge Amos L. Mazzant will not lift an injunction until the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals rules on Elliott's petition for rehearing, which the NFLPA intended to submit Friday. Mazzant previously ruled to block Elliott's suspension ahead of the season.

The NFL, however, announced Thursday that the injunction had been lifted on Elliott's six-game sanction, and that his suspension would be applied immediately. The league also is under the impression that the case will be decided on a ruling from the Fifth Circuit, where the court will determine whether to dismiss the case entirely, at the behest of the NFLPA.

Here is the order in question, as transcribed by Pro Football Talk:

On October 12, 2017, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals issued an opinion on the National Football League and National Football League Management Council’s appeal of the Court’s preliminary injunction in the above-styled cause of action. The Fifth Circuit vacated the Court’s preliminary injunction and remanded the case with instructions to dismiss the case. On October 13, 2017, the mandate issued forthwith. The National Football League Players Association, on its own behalf and on behalf of Ezekiel Elliott ('NFLPA') filed a motion to recall the mandate. The NFLPA indicated that it intends to file a petition for rehearing and would suffer prejudice if the mandate is not recalled. The Court defers dismissing the case pursuant to the mandate until the Fifth Circuit decides the NFLPA’s motion for recall, unless otherwise instructed.

The Cowboys are on their bye week.

The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals is expected to clarify their ruling by Tuesday at the latest, Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio reports.

Elliott's lawyers are seeking an en banc (full court) hearing, which entails an expansion of the three-judge panel. The panel previously ruled 2-1 in favor of the NFL, citing a lack of jurisdiction from the district court.