Cowboys invite Dalvin Cook to visit Niners in attempt to boost NFL’s worst rushing attack

FRISCO, Texas – The Dallas Cowboys signed running back Dalvin Cook from the practice squad and added an option for the NFL’s worst rushing attack in a prime-time matchup with rival San Francisco.

Cook signed with the Cowboys late in the preseason but was inactive for six games. Dallas’ running backs by committee are led by Rico Dowdle and Ezekiel Elliott, the Cowboys’ former two-time rushing champion who returned to his original team this offseason.

A season-ending knee injury to John Stephens during practice this past week opened the door for Cook to leave the practice squad.

Dallas placed Stephens on injured reserve on Saturday, creating a spot on the 53-man roster for Amani Oruwariye. The cornerback had been removed from the practice squad the maximum three times in Dallas’ previous three games.

Dallas (3-3) has put together a decent run game just once, in the second half of a win at Pittsburgh. The Cowboys are averaging just 77 yards rushing per game in Sunday night’s game against the 49ers (3-4).

Dowdle has 246 yards on 59 carries, while Elliott averages just 3 yards per carry (38 carries for 115 yards) but has the only touchdown rushing for a running back.

Cook, who made four consecutive Pro Bowls at Minnesota, signed with the New York Jets last year after the Vikings released him. Cook played sparingly in New York before being released at the end of the season. He played in one of two playoff games for Baltimore last season.

After signing with the Cowboys, Cook said he wasn’t interested in a repeat of his enigmatic stint in New York. Earlier this season, he said he was pleased with the way the Dallas coaching staff communicated with him.

“I like people to be honest with me,” Cook said recently. ‘They have been honest with me. They communicated.”

Cook has 6,207 yards in seven seasons, but has also been a receiving threat with 1,872 career yards. The 29-year-old had 1,918 scrimmage yards in 2020, 1,557 of which were rushing.