Dalvin Cook Seeks Redemption with Cowboys After Jets Stint
Dalvin Cook’s stint with the New York Jets in 2022 was, frankly, a far cry from the brilliance NFL fans had grown accustomed to. Last season, the dynamic running back managed only 214 yards on 67 carries, failing to score a single touchdown. For a player of Cook’s caliber, this was simply an aberration. Cook himself shrugs it off and is eager to remind everyone of the force he was with the Minnesota Vikings in 2022.
“I got it,” Cook asserted via ESPN’s Todd Archer. “It’s right here.”
Prolific Viking Years
Cook, now 29, boasts an impressive resume, marked by four consecutive 1,000-yard seasons and four Pro Bowl appearances during his final seasons with the Vikings. From 2019-2022, he averaged a remarkable 4.7 yards per carry, clocking in at 86.6 yards per game, with a dazzling 46 total touchdowns. Those were the days when Cook ran with the fury of a bull seeing red.
The Jets Chapter
After undergoing shoulder surgery in the 2023 offseason, Cook was picked up by the Jets to support Breece Hall and play alongside Aaron Rodgers. However, fate had other plans. Rodgers suffered a devastating Achilles injury on the fourth play of the season opener, leaving the Jets scrambling.
“I don’t really want to speak on the situation, but when Aaron went down on play four, everything was just a little bit different,” Cook confessed. “There wasn’t any emergency plan… Aaron went down play four, and it was just kind of like, ‘What [do] we do?’ That’s just what it was.”
A Brief Stint in Baltimore
A turn of events later saw the Jets cutting Cook on January 2. He then signed with the Ravens and participated in their divisional round game against the Texans. Despite his enthusiasm and readiness, Cook only managed 23 yards on eight rushes.
“When I got to Baltimore, I was ready to go. I was ready to get the ball however many times they needed me to,” Cook said. “Unfortunately, I didn’t get it that much.”
New Beginnings with the Cowboys
Cook now finds himself in a crowded running backs’ room with the Dallas Cowboys, alongside names like Ezekiel Elliott, Rico Dowdle, Deuce Vaughn, Malik Davis, and fullback Hunter Luepke. The team plans to adopt a running back by committee approach this season, meaning Cook’s workhorse days might be behind him.
Yet, the veteran back remains unfazed and resolute about his place in the game.
“My résumé speaks for itself to be honest,” Cook stated. “But I just had a son [Dalvin Jr.]. He turned 1 a week ago. I have everything to prove to him, to be honest. I owe the world to him. Every day I put on my pads, every day I wake up, that’s my why.”
NFL fans and Cowboys supporters alike have reason to be excited about what Cook might bring to the table. As any seasoned football aficionado will tell you, the gridiron is a place for second chances and spectacular comebacks. Buckle up, Cowboys Nation. The Dalvin Cook show might just be heating up.
