RB Cook to Sign with Ravens

The ‘Sunshine State’ connection is real.

Free agent half back and four-time Pro Bowler Dalvin Cook, 28 years-of-age, joined the Baltimore Ravens practice squad Thursday according to NFL Network Insider Tom Pelissero. He is expected to sign with the team after passing through waivers in the coming week, which could bolster the Ravens’ already elite backfield going into their postseason run.

The Ravens, 13-3 on the season, and who have locked up first place in the AFC and secured a first-round bye in the playoffs, can take a good look over the next fourteen days prior to Baltimore’s division round matchup on January 20 or 21.

The New York Jets and Cook agreed to sever ties, putting an end to a turbulent season for the running back after he inked a fat one-year deal with the Jets. It was a one-year, $7 million contract, including $5.8 million in guarantees.

Cook averaged a cool 1,254 rushing yards per year and totaled 43 rushing scores the previous four seasons with the Minnesota Vikings, so it appeared the Jets were adding some fuel to their offense alongside Breece Hall and Garrett Wilson, at the time of the signing in August. But his late arrival and a poorly constructed role, along with Aaron Rodgers’ season-ending injury in Week 1 against the Buffalo Bills, destroyed the running back’s first season outside of the Twin Cities.

In 15 games (one start) with the Jets, Cook received only 67 carries for 214 yards with a long run of 14 yards. There is little to nothing you can do with that limited opportunity to display your talent. He also caught 15 balls for 78 yards. Cook fell to register a touchdown with New York after finding the end zone 52 times in his first six NFL seasons.

The Ravens have absorbed a significant blow in their backfield for a second consecutive season due to injuries, losing JK Dobbins after a single game in 2023 due to an Achilles injury and rookie Keaton Mitchell to a season-ending knee injury in Week 15. They currently feature in their stable of running backs Gus Edwards, their No. 1 back, scoring 13 touchdowns, but has struggled to manufacture chunk plays, Justice Hill and another former Pro Bowler back, Melvin Gordon, who scored his initial touchdown of the season in Week 17’s blowout victory over the Dolphins after seeing spot duty earlier in the year. He has averaged 40.6 yards per game rushing and 3.6 yards per carry over his past seven games.

Signal caller Lamar Jackson tops the Ravens with 821 rushing yards and has paced Baltimore in rushing six games this season.

Baltimore has had only one running back run for over 80 yards in a game so far this season (Mitchell had 138 in Week 9).

Cook’s playing time had been diminishing gradually for weeks, and it all came to a head last Thursday night when he was dressed but did not see any action. it hit rock bottom last Thursday night in Cleveland, in the Jets 37-20 loss to the Cleveland Browns. That was the first time that had happened in his career.