When the veteran running back Dalvin Cook signed to Cowboys practice squad After training camp in late August, his four Pro Bowl nods and wealth of experience were expected to soon come into play if Dallas’ running game suffered out of the gates.
Five weeks later, the Cowboys are last in the NFL in total rushing yards and have yet to see a running back rush for more than 10 yards in four games of action. However, Cook still remains on the practice squad without a game opportunity so far this season.
While the Cowboys remain confident Cook will get his opportunity, the question looms as to when that will happen with zero consistency and very little production to be had from the trio of Rico Dowdle, Ezekiel Elliott and Deuce Vaughn. In four games, the Cowboys have combined for 301 yards (32nd in NFL) on 85 attempts (31st in NFL).
“A No. 1 focal point for me is our running game needs more attempts,” head coach Mike McCarthy said after the team’s Week 3 loss to Baltimore. “We need to make more attempts. We have to move in and out of concepts.
While the team’s Week 4 game against the Giants gave the offense more attempts in the running game — 23 carries, the most since the team’s first win in Cleveland — only the 11 carries by Rico Dowdle for 46 yards provided rhythm to the offense.
“I thought last week was our best day in this area,” McCarthy said Thursday. “So that’s something that we not only have to build on, but we also have to be very consistent on it.”
Cook, who kept his head down and provided the scout team with research on the Cowboys early in the season, has gotten into the speed of the game and is ready to take the field when his number is called – at any time.
“I’m not frustrated,” Cook said. “I’m grateful for this opportunity, to be honest. I’m surrounded by a great group of people. I’m just trying to get better and get back on my feet. Just keep your head down and keep working… It’s different. It was a lesson in humility. As far as football goes, I’m ready to go. I’m ready to play. My time will come.
Owner and General Manager of the Cowboys Jerry Jones ruled out a practice squad elevation for Cook for Sunday’s game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, leaving just one game against the Detroit Lions as the last opportunity before the team’s bye week. Given the deeper offensive evaluations during this bye week, it may be realistic to see Cook’s time coming soon after. For him, he will be ready when the time comes.
“I’m a baseball player,” Cook said. “I’ve been playing football since I was four years old.”
