Prior to the start of this season, many thought the New York Jets had assembled a superteam, and it wasn’t only because they traded for future Hall of Fame quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
They also signed running Dalvin Cook, who had made the Pro Bowl and had run for over 1,100 yards in each of the last four seasons, giving them a very star-studded cast on both sides of the football.
Not only did Rodgers suffer a season-ending Achilles injury on their first offensive series of the season, but Cook has been a huge disappointment, leading to them releasing Cook on Tuesday.
While on a phone interview with YES Network, head coach Robert Saleh spoke on why Cook was released and said it didn’t work out.
“Just an opportunity for him to get out there and finish the season strong. He’s got a lot of juice left in his legs. Like I said, it just didn’t work out,” Saleh said.
Robert Saleh tells @RealMichaelKay, @DonLagreca, and @Rosenbergradio why the Jets released Dalvin Cook ahead of the final game of the season.@TMKSESPN x @TMKSonYES
WATCH FULL INTERVIEW: https://t.co/59nBSWUlp7 pic.twitter.com/7geItX2uu4
— YES Network (@YESNetwork) January 2, 2024
In 15 games this season, Cook has mustered only 214 rushing yards while averaging 3.2 yards per carry, which is well below his career numbers prior to this season.
He didn’t even play a single snap on Thursday when New York lost to the Cleveland Browns 37-20.
Last year, as a member of the Minnesota Vikings, he registered 4.4 yards per carry while running for 1,173 yards and eight touchdowns.
At age 28, one would think Cook can still be productive, and Saleh noted that he should still have “a lot of juice left in his legs.”
He had said prior to the start of the season that he and Breece Hall would be the NFL’s best duo of running backs, but Cook hasn’t held up his end of the bargain.
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