The Dallas Cowboys could turn to a four-time Pro Bowl running back to fix their run game.
On Wednesday, ESPN’s Dan Graziano reported on the situation involving Dalvin Cook, who signed with the Cowboys in late August. The Cowboys added Cook to the practice squad, where he’s spent the first two weeks of the season getting up to speed.
However, Graziano says the Cowboys could turn to Cook sooner rather than later to fix their struggling run game.
“The Cowboys’ run game is a problem and they know they need to get more out of it,” Graziano wrote. “They like the way Dalvin Cook has looked since they signed him to the practice squad, and they haven’t ruled out the possibility of activating him to the roster if they don’t get more production out of the Ezekiel Elliott/Rico Dowdle tandem at some point. That move doesn’t sound likely to happen this week, but if they struggle to run the ball against the Ravens on Sunday, don’t be surprised if Cook ends up getting a look.”
CLEVELAND, OHIO – SEPTEMBER 8: Ezekiel Elliott #15 of the Dallas Cowboys warms up before the game against the Cleveland Browns at Huntington Bank Field on September 8, 2024 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Cowboys defeated the Browns 33-17. Elliott has struggled to start the 2024 season.
Lauren Leigh Bacho/Getty Images
The Cowboys have rushed for just 170 yards through two games, which ranks 25th in the NFL. Their 3.7 yards per carry also ranks 25th in the league.
The Cowboys have one rushing touchdown on the season, and the team’s longest rush of the year was 12 yards. That’s tied for last place in the NFL, and the rush came from wide receiver CeeDee Lamb.
Eight different players have recorded a rush attempt for the Cowboys this season. Rico Dowdle and Ezekiel Elliott are tied for the lead with 56 rushing yards each. Dowdle has done it on 15 carries while Elliott has done it on 16.
The Cowboys clearly need to provide a spark to their run game, and Cook could be the answer. He spoke about his desire to help the Cowboys heading into the season.
“Obviously I feel like this is a great opportunity for me to come in and help a great organization to win football games,” Cook said in late August. “And as I look around and I look at the running back room, it’s a bunch of guys that I can go in there and run the football with.”
Cook said he was excited about working with a room full of talented backs.
“My years in Minnesota it was Dalvin, Dalvin, Dalvin, just give him the ball,” Cook said. “Now, just a little adjustment, help everybody, be productive, and that’s just my mindset. I’m going to be ready to go. Being around Zeke, I can obviously learn a lot from him. He’s older than me. Just soaking up the game, still. Learning from the young guys, too. Just being a part of this group, I feel like we’re going to push each other.”
For now, Cook remains on the practice squad, but it sounds like he could make an impact in Dallas sooner rather than later.
