Jets waive RB Dalvin Cook ahead of season finale vs. Patriots
NEW YORK — Dalvin Cook’s time with the Jets has ended with one game remaining in the 2023 season.
According to his agency, LAA Sports, Cook and the Jets have agreed to part ways. The move will allow Cook to sign with a contending team ahead of the playoffs.
ESPN also reports that Cook has agreed to restructure his deal, forfeiting any remaining guaranteed money on his contract.
After six seasons in Minnesota, Cook was released by the Vikings in June, a month before the start of training camp. During his time with the Vikings, Cook rushed for 5,993 yards and 47 touchdowns and was named to the Pro Bowl four times.
The Jets hosted Cook on a visit on July 30 before signing him to a one-year deal worth $7 million, including $5.8 million guaranteed.
Gang Green signed Cook because Breece Hall was coming off a season-ending ACL injury that ended his stellar rookie campaign. The team was also going all in trying to contend for a Super Bowl with the addition of superstar quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
The hope was Cook and Hall would form arguably the best running back tandem in the NFL. However, that never came to fruition. In 15 games, Cook posted the worst numbers of his career. He rushed for 214 yards on 67 attempts (3.2 yards per carry).
It also doesn’t help that Rodgers tore his Achilles in Week 1. The Jets are 6-10, and their offense has been one of the worst in the league without Rodgers.
Cook saw his role reduced as the season went on. After starting the season opener against the Bills, Cook moved to being used in third-down situations after the Jets took Hall off a pitch count.
That led to Cook being frustrated and telling reporters ahead of the Oct. 31 NFL trade deadline that he would speak to his agent and Jets general manager Joe Douglas about the possibility of a trade.
After he remained on the team, Cook continued to see his snaps decrease. During the Jets’ last three games against the Dolphins, Commanders and Browns, Cook played a total of 15 snaps as rookie Israel Abanikanda has been used more in the offense.
“I’m ready to play ball,” Cook told the Daily News in December. “It is what it is.”
During the Jets’ 37-20 loss to the Browns, Cook did not play at all. Jets coach Robert Saleh commended the veteran on how he is handling the reduced role.
“I know this has been a hard season for him,” Saleh said. “It’s been a hard season for all of us. I appreciate the heck out of his professionalism and the way he goes about his business and who he is around the building. The support he gives his teammates, the support he gives the running back room.
“The way he’s been working with Izzy, knowing that he is going to get more reps, but it’s hard, I could only imagine. I haven’t played professional football, but being around it, you know when a player is hurting and I know he’s hurting, but his story is not over. He still has plenty of juice in his legs, but he’s been great.”
The Jets season will face the Patriots on the road on Sunday in their final game of the season.
