Earlier this week, the Dallas Cowboys brought in Dalvin Cook for a tryout to see if the former Minnesota Vikings running back could help them during the upcoming 2024 season.
Well, on Wednesday, NFL Media's Tom Pelissero revealed that the Cowboys and Cook have reportedly agreed to a contract. Pelissero also added that Cook will begin his tenure with Dallas on the team's practice squad.
Four-time Pro Bowl RB Dalvin Cook is signing with the #Cowboys, per his agency LAA.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) August 28, 2024
Cook was waiting for the right opportunity and always felt it was Dallas. A marquee addition in Big D. pic.twitter.com/wzGfMJ4hwJ
Former Minnesota Vikings RB Dalvin Cook signs with Dallas Cowboys, reunites with Mike Zimmer
While Cook has never suited up for the Cowboys in his NFL career, he's joining a locker room with plenty of familiar faces.
A number of notable former members of the Vikings from the running back's time in Minnesota are currently with Dallas, including Cowboys defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer, linebacker Eric Kendricks, and defensive tackle Linval Joseph.
Reuniting with Zimmer was likely an easy decision for Cook, as the best years of his NFL career came when the current Dallas defensive coordinator was his head coach in Minnesota. Zimmer probably isn't going to have any input on what the Cowboys do on offense, but he's someone who is familiar with what brings the best out of Cook out on the field.
With Dallas this season, the former Vikings running back will be looking to prove that his struggles in 2023 as a member of the New York Jets and Baltimore Ravens are behind him. Zimmer and the Cowboys are hoping to get a version of Cook that is closer to the player who rushed for over 1,100 yards in each of his final four seasons with Minnesota.
It will be interesting to see how Dallas actually decides to use the former Vikings second-round pick this year, as he's joining a Cowboys running back group that already includes Ezekiel Elliott, Rico Dowdle, and Deuce Vaughn.
No one should be expecting Cook to be an every-down running back for Dallas like he was during his time with the Vikings, at least not initially. More than likely, he will be part of a committee in the Cowboys' offensive backfield this season, and the team will utilize him as much as they feel necessary.