The Dallas Cowboys need an upgrade at the running back position and have signed veteran Dalvin Cook in response to that need. It’s a move that tells us more about the sad state of affairs facing Dallas’ offense than anything else.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported Wednesday that Cook is signing a contract to join the Cowboys, per his agency.

Todd Archer of ESPN shared more on this transaction, noting that Cook will begin his tenure in Dallas on the team’s practice squad:

Cook isn’t a spring chicken, or even something close to that. He’s a 29-year-old running back with tons of wear and tear on his body.

He is also coming off a career-worst campaign. As a member of the New York Jets in 2023, Cooks managed just 292 all-purpose yards on 82 touches, a paltry average of 3.56 yards per touch.

That campaign, of course, was his first following a shoulder injury that required surgery in February of 2023. Prior to that, Cook had strung together four consecutive 1,000-plus-yard seasons and scored 43 rushing touchdowns in that time.

The Cowboys clearly hope they get the guy who had a penchant for ripping off long runs, rather than the player who struggled to hit the hole in 2023. But given the way Cook’s body looks these days, that appears to be nothing more than wishful thinking.

The reason Cook is getting a chance, though, is that the Cowboys are currently relying on a 29-year-old Ezekiel Elliott to carry the load. He’s a power back nowadays and lacks the burst necessary to hold defenses truly accountable on the edge.

And the team’s depth behind Elliott is sparse. Rico Dowdle and Deuce Vaughn have a combined 119 career carries between them. And neither has done enough to truly earn the trust of the coaching staff.

Thus, Cook has been signed. It’s a move that reeks of desperation, as fans are likely going to find out.