Jets waiving RB Dalvin Cook with one game remaining،
FLORHAM PARK, NJ — Dalvin Cook's disappointing season with the New York Jets came to a premature end Tuesday, as the four-time Pro Bowl running back was waived with one game remaining, according to his agency.
The move was mutually agreed upon, according to a source, and will allow Cook to join a playoff team. He also restructured his contract to waive remaining guarantees, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter.
Cook's playing time had been declining for weeks, and he hit rock bottom Thursday night in Cleveland, where he suited up but didn't play a single play in the Jets' 37-20 loss to the Browns – a first in his career.
The next day, coach Robert Saleh praised Cook for his professionalism during a “difficult season”, adding: “You know when a player is suffering, and I know he is suffering. But his story is not over .”
Cook, 28, will be subject to a 24-hour waiver period.
In the 15 games he played in, Cook only carried the ball 67 times for 214 yards, an average of 3.2 yards, which was 1.4 yards below his career mark. He played just 202 snaps on offense, his lowest total since his injury-shortened rookie year with the Minnesota Vikings in 2017.
“For any guy who has produced in this league, it’s frustrating,” Cook told ESPN on Dec. 3. “You want to be productive.” He also said he did not regret his decision to sign with the Jets and was not interested in requesting his release.
Cook's free agent signing was one of the biggest stories of the summer, with the Jets finally landing him on August 14. It was a one-year contract worth $7 million, including $5.8 million in guarantees. He said he chose the Jets because of the opportunity to play with quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who ended up suffering a torn Achilles in the fourth game of the season.
Before Rodgers' injury, Cook was seen as the final piece of a potential Super Bowl puzzle. He predicted that he and Breece Hall would be the best running back tandem in the league. The plan was for Cook to receive the bulk of the carries early in the season, allowing Hall to hit the ground running while recovering from ACL surgery in 2022.
The plan changed quickly, as Hall proved to be ahead of schedule. Cook rushed 13 times in Week 1, then didn't reach double figures for the rest of the season. He played just five snaps in the Week 16 win over the Washington Commanders, then no snaps against the Browns.
In recent weeks, the Jets (6-10), eliminated from the playoffs, began using rookie Israel Abanikanda as Hall's backup, leaving Cook without a role despite his accomplished resume. In seven seasons, including six with the Vikings, he totaled 6,207 yards and 47 touchdowns on the ground. In his Dec. 3 interview, Cook spoke about his time with the Jets in the past tense.
“I was just hoping to be in the right situation for me,” he said. “…I want an opportunity. I feel good. My body is ready to roll. I was just hoping for a good opportunity.”
