Cowboys Sign Unexciting Aging Star Right after Cutdown Day
By Jovan Alford
The Dallas Cowboys made sweeping changes to their roster on Tuesday before the 4 pm ET deadline. Some of those changes came at the running back position, where Dallas had multiple players competing for one or two spots.
The Cowboys ultimately kept three running backs on the 53-man roster (Ezekiel Elliott, Rico Dowdle, and Deuce Vaughn), while cutting the other four running backs they carried with them throughout training camp and preseason (Malik Davis, Snoop Conner, Royce Freeman, and Nathaniel Peat).
Dallas doesn’t have the most exciting backfield in the NFL, but they have three guys who know the playbook and their roles. On Wednesday, the Cowboys made a perplexing addition to their backfield, which won’t excite the fanbase as it is another example of the team not taking the RB position seriously.
According to Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network, Dallas is signing veteran free agent running back Dalvin Cook. Cook reportedly worked out for the Cowboys on Tuesday and will be reunited with former Minnesota Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer.
Four-time Pro Bowl RB Dalvin Cook is signing with the #Cowboys, per his agency LAA.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) August 28, 2024
Cook was waiting for the right opportunity and always felt it was Dallas. A marquee addition in Big D. pic.twitter.com/wzGfMJ4hwJ
On Tuesday night, Cowboys writer Clarence Hill Jr. reported that the Cowboys said Cook was in good shape, but only interested in possibly signing the veteran running back to the practice squad.
A Cowboys source said RB Dalvin Cook was in good shape but they are only interested in possibly signing him to practice squad at this point. Cook may have another visit with Colts. He has some decisions to make.
— Clarence Hill Jr (@clarencehilljr) August 28, 2024
However, it appears that there was a change of heart on Cook’s side. Pelissero also reports that the four-time Pro Bowler will ramp up initially on the practice squad and familiarize himself with the system before being activated.
After not participating in camp and the preseason, Dalvin Cook will ramp up initially on the practice squad and familiarize himself with the system before being activated. He’s been training nonstop and should be ready to roll sooner than later. https://t.co/taTs008vPb
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) August 28, 2024
The last time we saw Cook on the field was with the New York Jets last season and he looked like a shell of himself. The 29-year-old running back had a career-worst 214 rushing yards on 67 carries in 15 games. He also had 15 receptions (20 targets) for 78 yards.
The veteran running back was eventually released by the Jets in January and then signed with the Baltimore Ravens for the playoffs. However, Cook only produced 23 rushing yards on eight carries.
That said, it will be interesting to see how fast Cook can get up to speed without no preseason or training camp. Meanwhile, players such as Dowdle and Vaughn will have a few weeks to show what they can do before the potential debut of Cook.
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