Free-agent running back Dalvin Cook signed with the New York Jets in August with dreams of chasing a Super Bowl title. He appears to have a better chance at getting a ring with his new club.
After going unclaimed on waivers this week, Cook is now signing with the Baltimore Ravens, NFL Network Insider Tom Pelissero reported on Thursday.
On Friday afternoon, Baltimore officially announced the addition of Cook to the team’s practice squad.
Cook will not play in the Ravens’ Week 18 game on Saturday against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Instead, he’ll spend time on the practice squad preparing for Baltimore’s first playoff game on either Jan. 20 or 21. The Ravens earned the AFC’s top playoff seed, will receive a wild-card weekend bye and will host a game in the Divisional Round.
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The Jets and Cook agreed to mutually part ways earlier week, concluding a miserable season for the four-time Pro Bowl running back after he signed a lucrative one-year contract with the Jets.
Cook averaged 1,254 rush yards per year and totaled 43 rushing TDs the previous four seasons with the Minnesota Vikings, so it appeared the Jets were adding some late firepower to their offense at the time of the signing. But his late start and a poorly defined role, along with Aaron Rodgers‘ season-ending injury in Week 1, doomed the running back’s first season outside of Minnesota.
Cook played 15 games (starting one) with the Jets, during which he rushed 67 times for 214 yards, his longest run being 14 yards. He also made 15 receptions for 78 yards. However, Cook failed to score a touchdown with New York, despite having scored 52 touchdowns in his initial six seasons in the NFL.
The Ravens have suffered major injuries in the backfield for a second straight season, losing J.K. Dobbins after only one game in 2023 and rookie Keaton Mitchell to season-ending injuries. They currently feature Gus Edwards, Justice Hill and another former Pro Bowler back, Melvin Gordon, who scored his first touchdown of the season in Week 17’s win over the Dolphins after seeing spot duty earlier in the season.
