Dalvin Cook's Cowboys Future Hinges on Week 8

The Dallas Cowboys went into their Week 7 bye on a sour note, losing 47-9 to the Detroit Lions at home. 

The Cowboys struggled on both sides of the ball in the ugly loss, including the backfield, which has been a major issue since the start of the season. Dallas only had 53 rushing yards as Rico Dowdle led the team with 25 yards on five carries.

For the season, the Cowboys’ rushing attack is ranked dead-last in the NFL with 77.2 yards per game. With their struggles in the backfield, the Cowboys should explore the RB market before next month’s trade deadline.

However, it doesn’t seem that will be the case as owner Jerry Jones and the rest of Dallas’ brass are set in their ways. Nonetheless, this is a prime opportunity for veteran running back Dalvin Cook to make his long-awaited Cowboys’ debut in Week 8 against the San Francisco 49ers.

Dallas has opted against promoting Cook from the practice squad this season, despite getting little to no production from second-year running back Deuce Vaughn and veteran Ezekiel Elliott.

At the same time, with the Cowboys not playing in Week 7, it should’ve afforded Cook more time to get up-to-speed with the playbook and give them a much-needed boost. Dallas will be facing a San Francisco defense that has allowed 112.9 rushing yards per game (12th-fewest in the league) and 4.4 yards per carry.

If the former Minnesota Vikings star can’t get on the field in Week 8, the Cowboys are better off letting Cook pursue other opportunities. The last thing we heard about Cook was Jones saying that the team is “judiciously managing snaps" of veterans after the Cowboys’ Week 5 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers.

That statement sounded crazy at the time because Cook has been on the practice squad since the season started, so it couldn’t apply to him. If the Cowboys want to give themselves a shot at being a competent offense, they must see at least what the former Pro Bowl running back can do.

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