Well, that didn’t take long, did it? The Cowboys have finally decided—after two months—to officially add former Vikings standout Dalvin Cook to their roster. On Saturday, they took the step, moving him up to the active roster.
Cook initially joined the Cowboys’ practice squad on August 28, with the idea he could quickly be promoted to the 53-man roster and bolster a struggling run game that looked thin from the start.
Despite time passing, no moves had been made on Cook. The Cowboys’ run game this season has performed as poorly as anticipated when Dallas chose not to sign major free agents or draft a running back in April. They also let two-time 1,000-yard rusher Tony Pollard leave in free agency.
The Cowboys’ running back lineup has been led by career backup Rico Dowdle and aging veteran Ezekiel Elliott.
Altogether, the Dallas rushing attack has managed only 463 yards and two touchdowns, both stats placing them last in the NFL.
Cowboys Counting on a Dalvin Cook Revival
BDallas is hopeful that Cook can revitalize his career with the Cowboys.
The 29-year-old is a four-time Pro Bowler who had four consecutive 1,100-yard seasons with the Vikings before joining the Jets last season. In Minnesota, questions arose about whether Cook still had his strength, and those doubts were substantiated.
Cook never found his place (67 carries, 214 yards) with the Jets behind starter Breece Hall and was eventually let go as the team phased him out late last season.
He briefly signed with the Ravens for last season’s playoffs but managed just 23 yards on eight carries in a single game.
Cook acknowledges he’s no longer the same player from his early career days, but the Cowboys are in dire need of help.
“In Minnesota, it was always Dalvin, Dalvin, Dalvin—feed him the ball. Now, I’m just adjusting,” Cook said via ESPN. “Contribute where I can and stay productive.
That’s my mindset. I’m ready, and being around Zeke, there’s a lot to learn. He’s older than me. I’m soaking in the game, still. Learning from younger guys, too. Being part of this group, I think we’ll push each other.”
