Mike McCarthy addresses Cowboys' potential interest in RB Dalvin Cook

Ahead of Week 18, the New York Jets made the decision to release running back Dalvin Cook. That meant that a four time Pro Bowler who came into the season as one of the best running backs in the NFL is back on the market.

Naturally, the Dallas Cowboys are among the teams that could be interested in adding him ahead of the playoffs. That’s a possibility that head coach Mike McCarthy recently addressed.

“Those are questions you are always visiting with and so forth,” Mike McCarthy said. “Obviously I have a tremendous amount of respect for him, played a number of games against (him) when Dalvin was in Minnesota. I have great respect for him.”

Over the offseason, Minnesota decided to move on from Dalvin Cook, largely as a financial decision. He then signed with the New York Jets, back when Aaron Rodgers was healthy. Instead, the Jets suffered yet another disappointing season before cutting Cook.

One of the teams that did seem interested in Cook coming into 2023 was Dallas. Now, he seems like a low-risk, high-reward addition for the playoffs.

This season, Dalvin Cook took a major step back statistically. He’s only carried the ball 67 times in 15 games with one start. He has 214 yards and hasn’t scored a touchdown this season. This comes a year after he started 17 games and carried the ball 264 times for 1,173 and eight touchdowns.

If the Cowboys could possibly have given a clue about their intentions with Dalvin Cook, it may have come on Wednesday when Dallas placed running back Deuce Vaughn on injured reserve. That means that there is a roster spot open in Dallas.

Dallas Cowboys hosting former starter La’el Collins for workout ahead of Week 18

Dalvin Cook isn’t the only free agent who the Dallas Cowboys are considering right now. Dallas also recently hosted former starting offensive lineman  La’el Collins for a workout. That came on Tuesday, ahead of the team’s Week 18 game against the Washington Commanders. Shortly after, he was added to the practice squad.

Collins was released from the Cincinnati Bengals’ Physically Unable to Perform list in September. That made him a free agent who was able to sign with another team and there is familiarity between him and Dallas that was appealing to both sides.

In the wake of injuries to Tyron Smith and Tyler Smith in recent weeks, Dallas needs to add depth to the offensive line and add it quickly if making a deep run into the playoffs is going to be in the cards.