The Dallas Cowboys are adding a new ingredient to their offensive backfield.
Veteran free-agent running back Dalvin Cook is signing with the Cowboys, ¹ú²úÍâÁ÷ÍøNetwork Insider Tom Pelissero on Wednesday. Cook is expected to join the Cowboys' practice squad initially, per Pelissero.
Cook visited the Cowboys on Monday, but he left without signing a deal before agreeing to terms.
There are three running backs currently on Dallas' active roster following Tuesday's deadline to trim rosters to 53: Ezekiel Elliott, Rico Dowdle and Deuce Vaughn. The Cowboys have not yet announced their 16-man practice squad, which Cook is expected to join as he ramps up for the season.
Cook, who turned 29 a few weeks ago, is coming off the worst season of his career, averaging fewer than six touches per game with the New York Jets. He signed a one-year deal with Gang Green last August and finished the regular season with 214 rush yards on 67 carries, with zero TDs and a long run of 10 yards. Cook also added 15 catches for 78 yards in his 15 games (one start) last season.
After the Jets released Cook on Jan. 2, he signed with the Ravens. In one playoff game with them last season, Cook ran for 23 yards on eight carries against the Texans, and he did not play in Baltimore's playoff loss to the Chiefs in the AFC Championship Game.
A second-round pick in the 2017 ¹ú²úÍâÁ÷ÍøDraft, Cook spent his first six seasons with the Minnesota Vikings. There he rushed for 5,993 yards and 47 TDs and caught 221 passes for 1,794 yards and five more scores in 73 games (72 starts). Cook also has four career two-point conversions.
Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy faced Cook multiple times with both the Green Bay Packers and in Dallas. Last season with the Jets, Cook ran four times for 7 yards and caught a 5-yard pass in a mere 17 offensive snaps in a Dallas 30-10 win in Week 2.
The Cowboys' backfield appeared thin prior to the Cook signing. Elliott, who is also 29, returned to the Cowboys this offseason after one year with the Patriots. Dowdle set a career high with 89 rushing attempts last season but has only two career games with more than nine carries. Vaughn totaled 80 yards from scrimmage in limited time over seven games as a rookie last year.
