Will Dalvin Cook play for the Cowboys vs Giants on Thursday?

This offseason, the Dallas Cowboys let running back Tony Pollard go to the Tennessee Titans. That left them without a clear RB1, as neither Rico Dowdle, Deuce Vaughn, nor Malik Davis really stood out. So the Cowboys passed on Derrick Henry, who then joined the Baltimore Ravens, came into Cowboys territory, and stomped all over them to the tune of 151 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns in Week 3, and instead signed their former running back Ezekiel Elliott, who put up three carries for...six yards.

Dalvin Cook’s role with the Cowboys

Elliott joined Dowdle, Vaughn, and fullback Hunter Luepke as part of a running back by committee approach that Dallas planned to use. Just after they finalized the 53-man roster ahead of the season, the Cowboys signed running back Dalvin Cook to the practice squad. Cook spent the regular season last year with the New York Jets and joined the Ravens in the postseason, playing with them during their Divisional Round win over the Houston Texans.

As the Cowboys’ run game has been absolutely abhorrent so far this season - last week, the RBs combined for just 16 carries for 51 yards and one touchdown - many fans have called on them to elevate Cook from the practice squad and give him a shot on the field.

Unfortunately, that’s not happening. At least not this week. Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said during his appearance Shan & RJ on Audacy’s 105.3 The Fan this week that Dalvin Cook will not play on Thursday when the Cowboys face the New York Giants.

Jones attributes this to the short turnaround as this is a Thursday night game, giving them just three days’ rest, but he and coach Mike McCarhy have also expressed their confidence in their running back group. You have to wonder why. Then again, it’s better not to ask too many questions about why the Cowboys do what they do.