The latest shoe has dropped in the war between the NFL and Ezekiel Elliott.

The NFLPA wasn't content to wait until they heard the appeal verdict from arbiter Harold Henderson before they took their case to federal court in Texas, alleging a "league-orchestrated conspiracy" against the Dallas Cowboys' running back and asking for a temporary restraining order to prevent the league from rendering any punishment until the case is heard by a judge.

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It was a move that stoked retaliation from the NFL, who filed a motion to dismiss the NFLPA's motion based on it being premature -- considering Henderson hadn't yet delivered his ruling. After advising the NFLPA a decision would arrive by close of business on Tuesday, it never came.

Despite this potential legal maneuvering by the league and Henderson, the federal judge sided with the NFLPA.

BREAKING: Ezekiel Elliott wins injunction from Texas court. NFL barred from imposing suspension for duration of lawsuit (likely all season). — Daniel Wallach (@WALLACHLEGAL) September 8, 2017

This is big news for Elliott as it now guarantees he'll not only take the field against the New York Giants on Sept. 10, something the league reportedly conceded to in the federal hearing on Tuesday anyway, but it puts him in prime position to continue playing beyond that point until the case is wholly resolved.

**Catch up on every twist and turn of the Ezekiel Elliott case in this full write-up.**

The off-the-field war with the NFL is just getting started as the two prepare to go full-bore with Elliott fighting for his very name, while the league digs its heels in deeper to justify it's punishment. This could drag on for the entirety of the 2017 season, much to the chagrin of commissioner Roger Goodell, but Elliott has already shown he's willing to go the distance and a federal court judge just helped him strike his first counterpunch.

The NFL will now likely file its own appeal, hoping to get an overturn on the judge's verdict.

Oh, the irony.

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