When will Dalvin Cook take the field for a suffering Cowboys running game?

When veteran running back Dalvin Cook was signed to the Cowboys practice squad after training camp in late August, there was an expectation that his four Pro Bowl nods and wealth of experience would soon come into play if the Dallas running game suffered out of the gates.

Five weeks later, and the Cowboys are dead-last in the NFL in total rushing yards and have yet to see a running back take a carry longer than 10 yards in four games of action. However, Cook still remains on the practice squad without a game opportunity so far this season.

While the Cowboys remain confident that Cook will get his opportunity, the question begs as to when that will happen with zero consistency and very little production to take away from the trio of Rico Dowdle, Ezekiel Elliott and Deuce Vaughn. Through four games, the Cowboys have combined for 301 yards (32nd in NFL) on 85 attempts (31st in NFL).

“A No. 1 focal point for me is our run game needs more attempts,” head coach Mike McCarthy said after the team’s week three loss to Baltimore. “We need to get more attempts. We need to get in and out of concepts.”

While the team’s week four matchup against the Giants offered the offense more attempts in the run game – 23 carries, the most since the team’s week one win in Cleveland – only Rico Dowdle’s 11 carries for 46 yards offered any rhythm for the offense.

“I thought last week was our best day in that area,” McCarthy said on Thursday. “So it’s just something we not only need to build on, but we’ve got to be very consistent on it.”

Cook, who has kept his head down and provided scout team looks for the Cowboys in the early portion of the season, has gotten up to game speed and is ready to take the field when his number is called – whenever that may be.

“I’m not frustrated,” Cook said. “I’m thankful for the opportunity, to be honest. I’m around a bunch of great people. I’m just trying to get better and get my feet back under me. Just keep my head down and keep working…It’s been different. It’s been humbling. As far as football, I’m ready to go. I’m ready to play. My time will come.”

Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones ruled out an elevation from the practice squad for Cook for this Sunday’s game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, leaving just one game against the Detroit Lions as a final opportunity before the team’s bye week. Given deeper offensive evaluations during that week off, it may be realistic to see Cook’s time come soon after. For him, he will be ready when that time does come.

“I’m a ballplayer,” Cook said. “I’ve been playing football since I was four years old.”