Dalvin Cook is set to make his season debut on Sunday night.
According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, the Cowboys plan to promote the veteran running back from the practice squad, and Dianna Russini of The Athletic confirms that Cook will indeed play tomorrow night against the 49ers.
The former Pro Bowl RB has been on the Cowboys’ practice squad since August.
However, with the team coming off their bye week, there was growing optimism that Cook would make his Dallas debut in Week 8.
That now appears to be the case, and Cook could have an opportunity to contribute right away to an underwhelming backfield.
The Cowboys have rushed for a league-low 463 yards this season. The front office didn’t do much to replace starter Tony Pollard, who departed for the Titans in free agency.
The team did reunite with Ezekiel Elliott, but the veteran has had an inconsistent role, averaging only three yards per carry. Rico Dowdle leads the team with 59 rush attempts for 246 yards, but the 26-year-old has yet to find the end zone.
Of course, Cook isn’t expected to be an immediate savior for the RB corps. While he’s not far removed from a season with over 1,400 yards from scrimmage, he showed signs of decline in 2023.
Cook averaged a career-low 3.2 yards per carry in 15 games with the Jets before the two sides mutually parted ways. He then joined the Ravens and made his debut in the Divisional Round, where he gained 23 yards on eight carries.
NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reports that Cook has been “tearing it up in practice.”
While it may be unrealistic to expect Cook to return to his Vikings-level production, the Cowboys would certainly benefit from even a modest improvement over his disappointing 2023 season.
