Everyone’s favorite running back, Dalvin Cook, is progressing and could be elevated from the Cowboys practice squad.
Rico Dowdle remains the starter with Deuce Vaughn and Ezekiel Elliott as the backups. But Cook’s improvement in practices the last few weeks is deemed a positive.
“Dalvin is ready,” Mike McCarthy said. “I really like the work he’s putting in. I think he’s clearly crossed over the threshold of communication and the understanding and most important, I think the nonverbal, the visual communication, which is the final point. I think he’s definitely in position to do that.”
With Cook moving forward in practices, it doesn’t mean he’ll get activated. The Cowboys can’t afford to have two running backs, in this case Elliott and Cook, on the game-day roster and not play special teams. If Cook is to play, it appears Elliott might be inactive.
Dowdle can return kicks in case of an injury.
The Cowboys are last in the NFL in rushing yards (463) and yards per game (77.2), so any boost they can get would be welcomed.
“The biggest thing is when you’re working with different running backs, with Rico and Zeke and so forth just getting it in sync, timed up with the run blocking,” McCarthy said. “I thought the communication was much better up front, the execution, the padded work is always a huge barometer for me and we’ve actually added more run game opportunities to our padded work and I thought it was beneficial.”
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