Not long ago today, it was reported that the Dallas Cowboys had agreed to sign four-time Pro Bowl running back Dalvin Cook to their practice squad. The plan is to slowly get him assimilated to their offensive playbook before promoting him to their 53-man roster.
Cook is coming off of a 2023 season that saw him split time between the New York Jets and Baltimore Ravens. He rushed for 214 yards on 67 attempts and no touchdowns in 15 games. However, in 2022, he rushed 264 times for 1,173 yards and eight touchdowns while a member of the Minnesota Vikings. Cook also made the Pro Bowl that season.
The four-time Pro Bowler was limited last offseason due to his recovery from an injury, which led him to remain unsigned until after the regular season started. He had no such issues this offseason, but did not get an opportunity until he visited the Cowboys earlier this week.
As it turns out, they might just be the perfect fit for these three reasons.
1. The Dallas Cowboys Have Questionable Depth at Running Back
Earlier his offseason, the Cowboys lost running back Tony Pollard to the Tennessee Titans in free agency. Pollard had eclipsed 1,000 yards rushing yards in each of the past two seasons. Instead of landing a premier running back in free agency or finding a new one in the 2024 NFL Draft, Dallas decided to sign older veterans in hopes that they might recapture some of their former glory.
Most notably, these included the signings of Royce Freeman and Ezekiel Elliot. The latter, the third-leading rusher in Cowboys history, is coming off of a year with the New England Patriots in which he rushed 184 times for 642 yards and three touchdowns. The former rushed 77 times for 319 yards and two touchdowns for the Lo Angeles Rams last year.
Newman was among the players Dallas decided to cut when they trimmed their roster to 53 players. Only Rico Dowdle and Deuce Vaughn remained with Elliot on the roster.
Once he gets assimilated, Cook will provide proven depth to a team whose most glaring weakness on offense is at the running back position.
2. Dalvin Cook Has Familiarity with the Dallas Cowboys Coaching Staff
Cook, of course, is best-known for his days as a running back for the Vikings, with whom he played from 2017-2022. His head coach for the majority of his time in Minnesota was current Cowboys defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer.
Playing for the Vikings also pitted him against the Green Bay Packers twice a season. For two years, this meant he faced now-Cowboys coaches Mike McCarthy and Jeff Blasko, who is the running backs coach. Blasko was an offensive line coach in Green Bay under McCarthy.
Additionally, quarterbacks coach Scott Tolzein and assistant head coach Al Harris were players on the Packers.
While he may not have played for or with these coaches during that time, he will be familiar with their philosophies.
3. Dalvin Cook Will Not Be the Focus of the Dallas Cowboys Offense
The Cowboys, of course, recently came to an agreement on a massive contract with wide receiver CeeDee Lamb, who caught 135 passes last year. Additionally, they have Dak Prescott, who finished second in NFL MVP voting, as their starting quarterback.
Not to mention Dallas also has a Pro Bowl tight end in Jake Ferguson.
In other words, the Cowboys will be a pass-heavy team, like they have been for years. This will allow Cook to remain fresh and also help him make the most of the carries that he does get.
While it has yet to be seen if he can reach the 1,000-yard plateau again, there may be no better place for him to try than with the Cowboys.
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