Of all the players to complain about their role ahead of next week’s trade deadline, Dalvin Cook is probably one you’d least expect.
Having signed with the New York Jets not even a month before the season, the four-time Pro Bowler is clearly getting his legs underneath him. His head coach, Robert Saleh, even recently said that the 28-year-old Cook was “heating up,” but apparently that wasn’t enough to dissuade his frustration.
Cook put his role, or lack thereof, on blast. Speaking with reporters Thursday, Cook said that it’s hard for him to get going when he’s only getting a few carries, according to The Athletic’s Zack Rosenblatt. Cook added that he’s shown in his career that he gets better the more carries he gets.
On the season, Cook has 39 carries for 109 yards, which averages out to 2.8 yards per attempt.
Cook said that his YPC (yards per carry) is down because of the lack of handoffs. Well, he’s likely not going to unseat Breece Hall atop of New York’s depth chart, and he clearly hasn’t shown enough to warrant more carries. If anyone wants to complain about their role, third-year running back Michael Carter would have a case, and he’s struggled with drops throughout the first six games of the 2023 season.
According to Rosenblatt, Cook was clearly frustrated with his lack of a role. He told reporters that isn’t what he expected when he signed with the Jets (just over two months ago). When asked about the idea of getting traded, Cook said that those are conversations he can have with his agent and general manager Joe Douglas. But, he’s not necessarily asking for a trade or to be traded.
Dalvin Cook is saying that’s hard for him to get going when he’s only getting a few carries and that he’s shown in his career that he gets better the more carries he gets. Said his YPC average is down bc he’s not getting a lot of carries.
About the idea of getting traded, said…
— Zack Rosenblatt (@ZackBlatt) October 26, 2023
It remains to be seen, especially after the bye, if Cook changes his tune. But right now, the Jets don’t seem too inclined to give him a bigger role. And why should they?
Cook was granted the opportunity to take a lead role in New York’s backfield early on in the season, as Hall was on a pitch count following his return from a season-ending ACL injury. Cook has largely failed to take advantage of his role, whether it’s been established or not, and has seen his touches diminish. Fair or not, he’s lost a step and it’s why the Minnesota Vikings weren’t exactly upset to see him out the door.
[NY Post]
