Dallas Cowboys running back Dalvin Cook appears in line to make his season debut against the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday night in Santa Clara, Calif. Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy noted the four-time Pro Bowl selection is now up to speed after the latter signed with the team's practice squad on Aug. 28.
"Dalvin is ready," McCarthy said on Friday. "I really like the work that he's putting in. I think he's clearly crossed over the threshold of the communication and the understanding (of the offense).
" Dallas (3-3) certainly could use the boost, as it ranks last in the NFL in rushing yards per game (77.2). While Cook could be on the field Sunday for the Cowboys, the team ruled out star edge rusher Micah Parsons (ankle) and cornerback DaRon Bland (foot) for the game against the 49ers (3-4).
Parsons has missed the past two games while Bland has yet to play this season. Cook, 29, has rushed for 6,207 yards and 47 touchdowns in 88 NFL games (73 starts) over seven seasons since being a second-round draft pick by the Minnesota Vikings in 2017. He also has 236 receptions for 1,872 yards and five scores.
Cook enjoyed four consecutive 1,000-yard seasons on the ground for the Vikings from 2019-22 before shoulder surgery derailed him. He established career highs of 1,557 rushing yards and 16 scores on the ground in just 14 games (all starts) in 2020. Minnesota released him in June 2023, and Cook had a disappointing 15-game run for the New York Jets last season.
He rushed for just 214 yards.
