The Dallas Cowboys' offense was nothing to write home about in Week 1. Dak Prescott only managed 179 yards through the air and CeeDee Lamb's impact tailed of in the second half. Even Jake Ferguson was hardly heard from before he left with a knee injury.
Of course, ups and downs against an elite Browns defense were expected. Most importantly, the lopsided score allowed Mike McCarthy to call a conservative final two quarters. With the defense dominating, all the offense had to do was not allow Cleveland back into the game.
Better days are ahead for Prescott, Lamb and the Cowboys' passing game, but the confidence doesn't extend to the rushing attack. While Ezekiel Elliott exceeded expectations in his first game back in Dallas, the RB-by-committee approach as a collective was disappointing.
Elliott, Rico Dowdle and Deuce Vaughn (who only saw one carry) combined to average 3.7 yards per attempt. Yes, the Browns have a stout run defense, but fans are right to ponder when McCarthy's patience will run out.
With a four-time Pro Bowler in Dalvin Cook on the practice squad, the Cowboys have an enticing fallback option waiting in the wings. However, McCarthy's latest comments hint that Cook might be waiting a while for his turn.
It doesn't sound like Dalvin Cook will play for the Cowboys anytime soon
“I’m glad he’s here,” McCarthy said of Cook. “Impressive. Phenomenal feet. I’ve had a chance to watch him a lot. He looks really good. He really fits into the room very well. If you look at his time frame and how much time he’s been here, I think the biggest thing is hopefully we can get a full week’s work this week and next week. That’s only going to help the guys that got here late.”
It's no surprise that Cook wasn't active for the Cowboys' Week 1 win. He only signed with the team in late August. Not only did he have to learn McCarthy's offense, but his conditioning probably wasn't where it needed to be after he spent the entirety of the offseason training on his own.
If you look around the league, most players who latched on with a team after preseason did not feature in the opener. Look no further than old friend Noah Brown, who was a healthy scratch in Week 1 after he joined the Commanders after being cut by the Texans
It's unclear if Cook will get promoted for Sunday's clash against the Saints, but McCarthy's comments read as if the 29-year-old needs more practice time. The Cowboys can activate a practice squad player three times before they need to sign him to the 53-man roster. At this juncture, it seems like Cook will struggle to break that threshold.
A four-time 1,000-yard runner, Cook joined the Cowboys because he saw an opportunity for playing time in a shorthanded backfield. He may yet be proven right if the group continues to struggle, but it doesn't sound like McCarthy plans to use Cook anytime soon.
