Dalvin Cook says he's 'frustrated' with role in Jets, trade rumors 'might be a good thing'
Dalvin Cook is not cooking like he used to.
The four-time Pro Bowl running back averaged 17.6 carries per game in his six seasons with the Minnesota Vikings before joining the New York Jets in the offseason. On his new team, he's averaging 6.5 carries a game with a career-low average of 2.8 yards per carry. His teammate, second-year back Breece Hall, is ninth in the league with 426 yards on the season.
When speaking to the media on Thursday, Cook said of his new role, "of course it's frustrating and it's something that I've been adapting to."
"I'm an honest person, man. I work, I wanna play," he said. "That's just anybody. Yeah, it's frustrating because it's new for me. I come from getting the ball 20 times a game or however many times, I come from that."
With Tuesday's NFL trade deadline looming, Cook said he intends to speak with his agent Zac Hiller and Jets general manager Joe Douglas about his role on the team.
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"Something I can't control that my name being floated around in trade rumors. Might be a good thing, might be a bad thing, you never know," he said.
"For me, I let the business side handle the business side. For me, I just, I be ready. Every day, I go out there, I bust my (expletive), I do the things I need to do to be ready when my number called to go out there and perform."
The Jets offense was upended this year after four-time MVP Aaron Rodgers tore his Achilles in New York's opening offensive drive of the season. Behind Zach Wilson, the Jets are last in the league with 1,097 passing yards and only a slot better with four touchdowns through the air. They've added on 705 rushing yards and only three ground scores.
When Cook signed with the Jets as a free agent in August, Hall was finishing recovery from a torn ACL. The former Iowa State star has gotten the start in all six games this season.
In his recent conversation, Cook said he joined the team looking forward to combining talents.
"I didn't come in here thinking, alright, Breece gonna be out for a while, I'm gonna get the carries. Then when he gets back, they're gonna kinda ease him in. Nah, that wasn't my mindset," he said. "My mindset was, come in, be the best version of me and I know who I am as a player and putting us two together with his talent, I think it would be something special."