Free agent NFL running back Dalvin Cook signed with the Dallas Cowboys on August 28 and will settle in on the team's practice squad "for now," according to the Associated Press.
After spending his first six seasons with the Minnesota Vikings, Cook was rostered by two teams last season: The New York Jets and Baltimore Ravens.
Now, he'll have a chance to compete for snaps among a Cowboys running back group (once again) led by Ezekiel Elliott, who has already racked up 2,525 career touches in eight seasons.
Around the time the signing was announced on Wednesday, Cook took to social media with a cryptic X post that has some fans speculating.
The 29-year-old simply posted the number "four" in emoji style. The name on his profile also displays as "Dalvin '4' Cook."
4️⃣
— Dalvin “4️⃣” Cook (@dalvincook) August 28, 2024
Fans immediately made the connection to starting quarterback Dak Prescott, who has worn the No. 4 jersey for his entire Cowboys career dating back to 2016.
Cook wore the No. 4 throughout his prolific three-year run at Florida State University, where he scored 40 total touchdowns across his final two collegiate seasons.
The former second-round pick also changed from No. 33 back to No. 4 during his final season in Minnesota in 2022.
Dak: https://t.co/sQFB8QKLPu pic.twitter.com/3LFBlgEgJK
— MartinTalkCowboys (@DAK_4_MVP) August 28, 2024
However, Cook's cryptic post could represent quite a few things, including but not limited to:
• His preferred jersey number
• The Cowboys being his fourth NFL team
• His four Pro Bowl selections
Or perhaps, most interestingly, a plea to the Cowboys to get Prescott's new contract done.
Without a new deal, Prescott, 31, is set to become an unrestricted free agent following the 2024 NFL season.
Despite signing a four-year, $160 million extension in March 2021, the Cowboys star signal-caller is now tied with Daniel Jones and Matthew Stafford for the 14th-highest average annual salary ($40 million) among all quarterbacks.
If clock is ticking if Dallas plans to make a deal before its Week 1 opener against the Cleveland Browns on September 8.
