Almost two months after signing with the Dallas Cowboys’ practice squad, Dalvin Cook will make his season debut Sunday night against the San Francisco 49ers.
The 29-year-old running back was elevated to the main roster after seeing an uptick in first-team reps in practice. The Cowboys could use help from Cook as they currently are last in the NFL in rushing yards per game (77.2) and rushing touchdowns (2).
Rico Dowdle has picked up a team-high 246 yards on the ground, while Ezekiel Elliott has 115 rushing yards on the season.
“I think the biggest thing for us is we’re taking the full week. Dalvin is ready [to play],” said Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy on Friday. “I really like the work that he’s putting in. I think he’s clearly crossed over the threshold of the communication and the understanding [of the offense].”
Cook spent last season with the New York Jets and was released before their regular-season finale. He linked up with the Baltimore Ravens for the playoffs.
While in New York, Cook played 15 games and ran for 214 yards on 67 attempts with zero touchdowns. He carried the ball eight times for 23 yards in the Ravens’ divisional-round win over the Houston Texans. He didn’t play in Baltimore’s loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship.
Cook was one of the NFL’s most productive backs in his prime with the Minnesota Vikings. He made four straight Pro Bowls from 2019-22 while tallying 1,300-plus yards in each of those campaigns.
Following shoulder surgery in the 2023 offseason, the Vikings released Cook before the start of training camp. After signing with the Jets he took on a backup role as part of a committee.