Free agent running back Dalvin Cook is be headed to the Dallas Cowboys practice squad.
The Cowboys believe the four-time Pro Bowler has enough tread left on his tires to help the club ground-and-pound down the stretch.
Cook, a Florida State product, is a few years removed from his gory days with the Minnesota Vikings and then later, the New York Jets.
If and when he is activated, he’ll comprise a well accoladed coterie of older running backs by joining with Ezekiel Elliott.
The former bell cow back is a low risk, high reward signing.
ESPN has the story on the signing:
The Dallas Cowboys will sign veteran running back Dalvin Cook, his agency told ESPN.
Cook, who visited with Dallas on Tuesday, will join the Cowboys’ practice squad, sources told ESPN. The Cowboys’ 53-man roster already includes running backs Ezekiel Elliott, Rico Dowdle and Deuce Vaughn and fullback Hunter Luepke.
Cook’s workout Tuesday went well, and multiple sources told ESPN that he looked to be in good shape.
As a member of the practice squad, Cook would be eligible to be called up to the gameday roster for Dallas’ Sept. 8 opener against the Browns. Players are allowed three elevations from the practice squad to the 46-man game-day roster, but they would need to be added to the 53-man roster after that to continue to be active.
Cook, 29, spent last season with the Jets and Ravens. In 15 games with the Jets, he rushed for 214 yards on just 3.2 yards per carry. He joined the Ravens in January and rushed for 23 yards on eight carries in their divisional round victory against the Texans, but he did not play in the AFC Championship Game against the Chiefs.
The Cowboys are set to go with a committee approach at running back with Elliott returning after a one-year stint with the Patriots.
Cook’s 5,238 rushing yards over the past five seasons are the fourth-most in the NFL over that stretch, ahead of Elliott and behind only Derrick Henry, Josh Jacobs and Nick Chubb.