Jets’ Dalvin Cook and Carl Lawson both looking for more opportunities amidst trade rumors

Dalvin Cook and Carl Lawson have both been the subject of trade rumors, with the deadline approaching on Oct. 31.

Although the Jets could move both players before next Tuesday at 4 p.m. ET, Cook and Lawson find themselves in similar situations.

“That’s something I can’t control, my name floating around trade rumors,” Cook said.

“If you watch my career, I get better and better as the game goes. More touches, feeling the defense out. The more touches I get, the better that I get as the game goes on.

“I’m still kind of adjusting to that. But with the carries that I get, I try to do what I can. Still try to be explosive. I try to do what the team needs to be done.”

When Cook signed with the Jets, the team didn’t promise him a certain amount of carries. The expectation was Cook would complement Breece Hall to form one of the most explosive running back tandems in the NFL. However, that hasn’t happened.

Hall has been better than expected, coming off an ACL injury that sidelined him seven games into his rookie season in 2022. In six games, Hall has rushed for 426 yards (ninth in the NFL) and two touchdowns. He is also averaging 6.5 yards per carry, which is first among qualifying running backs.

Meanwhile, Cook also has been a shell of himself since joining the Jets. After offseason shoulder surgery in February. The Vikings released Cook in June. He didn’t sign his one-year, $7 million contract with the Jets until Aug. 16.

Cook also didn’t practice with the Jets until the final week of training camp in late August following the birth of his first child.

The time off hurt Cook as he is in the midst of the worst season of his career. He has registered 109 yards on 39 attempts with zero touchdowns. Cook also is averaging 2.8 yards per carry as he has been reduced to a backup role with the Jets.

Before this season, Cook registered four consecutive 1,000-yard seasons with the Vikings from 2019-22.

Cook told reporters he wouldn’t request a trade. However, he would need to sit down with his agent, Jets general manager Joe Douglas and figure out the best situation for him and the team.

“Obviously, it been a different situation for me to be in,” Cook said. “Coming from where I come from, being productive in the league and not getting as many touches. You just adjust and you still sharpen your iron and that’s what I do every day.

“I still sharpen my iron every day and I prepare the same way as I’ve prepared any other year. It’s still the same for me, game day is just a little different.

“Every day, I go out there and bust my a–, I do the things I need to do to be ready when my number is called to go out there and perform.”

In 2021, the Jets signed Lawson to a three-year, $45 million contract. He was supposed to be one of the leaders of a young defense looking to improve, but injuries have gotten in the way.

Lawson suffered an Achilles tear in a joint practice with the Packers in Green Bay and never played a game during the 2021 season. He did return the next year and played all 17 games. In 2022, Lawson recorded seven sacks, the second-highest of any season of his career (8.5).

After speculation he could be traded or released during the offseason, Lawson, 28, surprised some by accepting a $6 million pay from his base salary to have a chance to play with Aaron Rodgers and possibly win a Super Bowl with the Jets. However, Lawson has rarely seen the field this season after suffering a back injury during training camp.

Then, once he was ready for game action, Jermaine Johnson, who the Jets selected in the first round of the 2022 draft, replaced Lawson as a starter. Lawson has just three tackles in 73 snaps in four games this season. Just like Cook, Lawson says he just wants to be able to play more and produce on the field.

“A lot of things go into it and I don’t want to get into those types of things,” Lawson said. “I do believe I’m capable of a lot of different things and able to produce at a very, very high level.

“Unlike most athletes coming off an injury, I know how to get back to being more explosive, I know how to get my body to recover from anything. As I age, I’m not one of those people who’s going to drop off, I’m actually going to get better as I’ve done it my whole career.

“It was unfortunate that I had the injury in camp, but I know what type of person I am, I know what type of player I am and I know my arrow is always trending up no matter what the situation is.”

Because of his limited role, Lawson has also seen his name floated around amongst trade circles. He told reporters on Thursday that he hasn’t thought about potentially being traded.

“I definitely want to play and contribute because I know I can,” Lawson said. “I’ve proven it, I always want to contribute. Right now, I’m with the Jets, I definitely want to play more and I want to do what I did last year and then some.

“I always wanted to help the Jets win, I always wanted to be the best version of myself for the team. But at the end of the day, I do want to be a football player, I do want to produce and I do want to help because I’m a football player, not a cheerleader.

“In my time here so far, I always try to be the best that I can and treat people with utmost respect. Smile, try to be a good teammate, try to produce the most I possibly can.”