BALTIMORE — The last time Dalvin Cook was on an NFL field for a game was Christmas Eve when his Jets were playing out the string against the Commanders.
Nearly four weeks later, Cook will be in a game with much higher stakes on Saturday.
The Ravens signed Cook to their active roster this week, and he is expected to play against the Texans in their AFC Divisional playoff game.
“Dalvin will be in there,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh said this week. “I think it’s going to be a great opportunity for him and for us. We’ll be looking forward to seeing how he does. It’s new. We haven’t seen him out there. Just like you guys haven’t seen him, we haven’t seen him. We’ve seen him in practice. He looks good, and he’s going to be out there like everybody else trying to do whatever he can do to help us win the game.”
Cook likely will have a package of plays in the game plan for him as the Ravens try to make it to the AFC Championship Game.
A playoff run would be quite a cap on a strange season for Cook.
The Vikings released Cook last spring and he had a hard time finding a team.
The Jets signed him in August to a one-year, $7 million deal.
But Cook barely played for the Jets.
He ended up with 67 rushes for 214 yards and 15 catches for 78 yards.
Cook did not score a touchdown as a Jet.
His longest run was 14 yards.
His best rushing game was 35 yards.
The Jets waived him on Jan. 2 and the Ravens signed him to their practice squad before putting him on the active roster this week.
“[It’s] just a fresh breath of air, to be honest,” Cook said this week. “[It’s] a new start, clean slate. [I’m] not looking back; [I’m] looking forward. For me, it’s just to go out there and showcase my talent again, just to go out there and put my talent on display and just show the world I’m still him. I’m still that guy, man. I’m just looking for an opportunity, and I got one. I have to take advantage of it.”
It is unclear how big of a role that Cook will have Saturday.
The Ravens have Gus Edwards and Justice Hill in front of Cook at running back.
Cook, who is No. 31, said he will be happy with whatever role he has.
“I’m not specifically looking forward to a [having] role or anything,” Cook said. “They call 31’s number, I’m going to be out there. I’m gone. (laughter) I’m going to be on the field. I’m ready to make a play, but for me though, honestly, Gus [Edwards and] Justice [Hill], they put the work in all year.
“You have to credit those guys, so whatever my role is, whatever they call upon me [to do], they’ll get a thousand percent out of Dalvin.”
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