Prepare dinner eyes return to type with Cowboys: 'I acquired it'

FRISCO, Texas — In 2022, Dalvin Cook ran for 1,173 yards and eight touchdowns for the Minnesota Vikings and was named to the Professional Bowl for the fourth straight season. Final yr with the New York Jets, he ran for 214 yards on 67 carries with no touchdowns.

The most recent member of the Dallas Cowboys‘ apply squad believes he’s extra the previous than the latter.

“I acquired it,” Prepare dinner stated after his first apply with the Cowboys. “It is proper right here.”

Prepare dinner wouldn’t label his yr with the Jets as a disappointment. He signed throughout coaching camp after spending a part of the offseason recovering from shoulder surgical procedure. He believes a big portion of his numbers falling needed to do with the identical motive why the Jets struggled as an entire: the torn Achilles suffered by quarterback Aaron Rodgers.

“I do not actually need to communicate on the scenario, however when Aaron went down on play 4, the whole lot was just a bit bit completely different,” Prepare dinner stated. “There wasn’t any emergency plan. … Aaron went down play 4, and it was simply sort of like, ‘What [do] we do?’ That is simply what it was.”

Prepare dinner joined the Baltimore Ravens‘ apply squad after his launch from the Jets and was added to the 53-man roster for the playoffs. He had eight carries for 23 yards within the divisional spherical towards the Houston Texans.

“Once I acquired to Baltimore I used to be able to go, I used to be able to get the ball nonetheless many occasions they wanted me to,” Prepare dinner stated. “Sadly, I did not get it that a lot.”

The Cowboys thought-about signing Prepare dinner earlier within the offseason however a deal did not get done until after the final cuts. Prepare dinner visited with the membership this week and formally signed Thursday.

“Personally, I am a fan,” stated coach Mike McCarthy, who performed towards Prepare dinner as the top coach of the Cowboys and Green Bay Packers. “I’ve seen him run down the sidelines from the other aspect of the sphere too many occasions. Only a hell of a participant.”

The Cowboys have Ezekiel Elliott, Rico Dowdle, Deuce Vaughn and Hunter Luepke on the 53-man roster and plan to go together with a operating again by committee method.

“My years in Minnesota it was Dalvin, Dalvin, Dalvin, give him the ball. Now, just a bit adjustment,” Prepare dinner stated. “Assist all people and be productive. That is simply my mindset. I’ll be able to go, being round Zeke, I can clearly study quite a bit from him. He is older than me. Simply absorbing the sport, nonetheless. Studying from the younger guys, too. Simply being part of this group, I really feel like we’ll push one another.”

On the apply squad, the Cowboys can elevate Prepare dinner thrice to the gameday roster earlier than they would wish add him to the 53-man roster. At 29, Prepare dinner does not really feel like he has something to show.

“My résumé speaks for itself to be trustworthy,” he stated. “However I simply had a son (Dalvin Jr.). He turned 1 per week in the past. I’ve the whole lot to show to him, to be trustworthy. I owe the world to him. Daily I placed on my pads, every single day I get up, that is my why.”