Moving on from Tony Pollard, the Cowboys exited training camp with an interesting running back situation. A post-prime Ezekiel Elliott is back, but the team will consider another veteran back who has been on the radar previously.
Dalvin Cook is heading to Dallas for a meeting tonight, NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero tweets. Cook did not look especially good with the Jets and did not see much action with the Ravens, halting his momentum after a strong run in Minnesota. He will try to catch on with a Cowboys team that has big backfield questions to answer.
A March report indicated Cook joined Elliott in having interest in joining the team. The Cowboys had also come up as an interested party late in the season. The long-rumored Elliott return did come to pass, and he now leads what looks like a post-Pollard committee. Dallas also rosters Rico Dowdle, Royce Freeman and 2023 sixth-round pick Deuce Vaughn. The team has not set its final roster yet, and Cook resurfacing four months after expressing interest is notable — even on the heels of by far his worst season.
Stepping in as a Jets bridge while Breece Hall finished his ACL rehab, Cook totaled 214 yards on 67 carries. That 3.2-yard average marked Cook’s only time under 4.4 in a season as a pro. He came into the 2023 season riding the NFL’s only active string of four 1,100-yard rushing seasons, but at 29, the 2017 second-round pick is hovering on the league’s fringes.
Cook did undergo shoulder surgery to address a years-long issue last winter. Unless he can show form that proves last season was an outlier, the Florida State alum is moving toward retirement. He exited 2023 with 1,585 career touches. The Cowboys already employ the back with the most active touches, as Elliott has logged 2,421 in his eight-year career. Among backs currently on rosters, only five have accumulated more touches than Cook.
The seven-year vet sought a Jets trade before being cut last year, as Hall returned to form quickly. It would be difficult for Cook to land in a better situation, as the Cowboys have made three straight playoff berths and made minimal investments at running back this offseason.
How did Cook fall off so fast?
That’s just how it is with backs. A lot of them, like Shaun Alexander, as an example, lose it all at once.
Shaunhad a foot injury and never was the same.
It happens to all the greats. Adrian Peterson. Todd gurley.
I’d say Peterson was a bit of a recent outlier in terms of his longevity. Going to be interesting to see how Derrick Henry holds up post Titans.
Yup
Wear and tear dude was hurt every year even with production.
Yup
Not sure I have ever seen a guy look valuable – and then look worthless – in such a short period of time (without a devastating injury).
In his defense, Jets offense was horrific without Aaron Rodgers. Combine that with wear and tear, natural aging, and living for several years as a millionaire, and that’s what happens.
Cook is cooked