Could this be the last dance for a Pro Bowl-level running back?
Dalvin Cook has landed in his new home as the veteran running back is signing a deal to join ‘America’s Team’, the Dallas Cowboys’ practice squad, according to ESPN’s senior NFL insider Adam Schefter.
The 29-year-old Cook had a cup of coffee in the 2023 season with the New York Jets and Baltimore Ravens after playing the first six seasons of his NFL career in the ‘Twin Cities’ with the Minnesota Vikings.
As a member of the practice squad, Cook would be eligible to be promoted to the gameday roster for Dallas’ September 8 opener against Deshaun Watson and the Cleveland Browns, which will also be Tom Brady’s debut in the broadcast booth. Players are allowed three elevations from the practice squad to the 46-man game-day roster, but they would need to be added to the 53-man roster after that period to remain active and contribute.
In 15 games last season with the Jets, Cook fell asleep at the wheel, running for 214 yards on 67 attempts with zero touchdowns.
Cook was one of the NFL’s most bruising and productive backs in his prime with the Vikings. He was selected to four straight Pro Bowls from 2019-2022 while tallying 1,300-plus yards in each of those campaigns.
Cook had to undergo shoulder surgery in the 2023 offseason, and the Vikings released him before the start of training camp. After signing with the Jets, he took on a backup role as part of a committee.
Embed from Getty ImagesThe Jets released Cook prior to their Week 18 season finale, and he signed with the Baltimore Ravens for their playoff run. He carried the rock eight times for 23 yards in Baltimore’s divisional-round win over the up-and-coming Houston Texans. He did not see the field at all in Baltimore’s 17-10 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship. He was a free agent throughout the offseason.
A second-round draft pick of the Vikings in 2017 out of Florida State University, Cook is the third-leading rusher in Minnesota franchise history. As stated earlier, he had four consecutive 1,000-yard rushing seasons from 2019 to 2022 with the Vikings. His best season came in 2020, when he ran like the wind for 1,557 yards with 16 touchdowns. He is not a one trick pony, also having 236 career receptions for 1,872 yards and five touchdowns.
Cook will have familiar faces around him on the Cowboys, with linebacker Eric Kendricks and defensive tackle Linval Joseph also having played for the Vikings.
Cook will join the Cowboys’ 53-man roster that already includes running backs Ezekiel Elliott, Rico Dowdle and Deuce Vaughn and fullback Hunter Luepke.
Cook met with the organization Monday night ahead of Tuesday’s roster cutdown day. He reportedly had a visit scheduled with the Indianapolis Colts later this week, but that can now be canceled.
