Dalvin Cook joining Ravens after going unclaimed on waivers،
OWINGS MILLS, Md. – The Ravens signed running back Dalvin Cook to their practice squad on Thursday, according to a source, which could provide a boost to Baltimore's backfield heading into the playoffs.
Cook, 28, was not claimed on waivers Thursday after being released by the New York Jets on Tuesday. Cook's agency had told ESPN's Adam Schefter that Cook would sign with the Ravens after he went unclaimed on waivers Thursday.
The Ravens (13-3), the AFC's No. 1 seed who earned a first-round bye in the playoffs, can evaluate the four-time Pro Bowl running back over the next two weeks before the Baltimore's divisional round game on January 20. or 21.
Baltimore has the NFL's No. 1 rushing attack, but its backfield has taken a hit due to injuries. The Ravens lost guard JK Dobbins to a season-ending Achilles injury in the season opener, then saw explosive rookie Keaton Mitchell suffer a season-ending knee injury in the course of week 15.
Gus Edwards, Baltimore's current No. 1 back, has scored 13 touchdowns, but he has struggled to produce big plays. He averaged 40.6 yards per game rushing and 3.6 yards per carry over his last seven games.
The Ravens' other running backs on their 53-man roster are Justice Hill and Melvin Gordon, a nine-year veteran who has 19 carries for 63 yards (3.3-yard average) in limited action.
Quarterback Lamar Jackson leads the Ravens with 821 rushing yards and has led Baltimore in six rushing games this season. Baltimore has only had one running back throw for more than 80 yards in a game this season (Mitchell had 138 in Week 9).
Cook's Jets exit was mutually agreed upon, a source told ESPN's Rich Cimini. He also restructured his contract to waive remaining guarantees, a source told Schefter.
Cook's playing time had been declining for weeks, and he hit rock bottom last 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 career first.
In the 15 games he played for the Jets, 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.
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.
In seven seasons, including six with the Vikings, he totaled 6,207 yards and 47 touchdowns on the ground.
