A key player made a poor decision: “I wish I had never played for the Chiefs again

The Kansas City Chiefs and Baltimore Ravens could use a lifeline at the running back position for the postseason. Dalvin Cook’s name has popped up as a possible late-season acquisition for a playoff-bound team.

The Chiefs have had several injuries in the backfield recently. Isiah Pacheco and Clyde Edwards-Helaire are questionable to play the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 17. The Chiefs need a stable running back for the postseason, as their passing game is pathetic this season, as their receivers lead the NFL in drops.

The Ravens have had terrible luck keeping their running backs off injured reserve. J.K. Dobbins was ruled out for the season after Week 1 due to an Achilles injury. They lost Keaton Mitchell in December due to a knee injury.

Could Cook join one of these AFC contenders in January?

Mike Florio with NBC Sports wrote about Cook’s neglect in the Jets offense. A healthy Cook received no touches in the Jets loss to the Cleveland Browns Thursday night. Florio questioned if the Jets might cut Cook before Week 18 so a playoff team could pick up his salary:“He has previously said he doesn’t want to be released. With one game left, however, why not ask to be cut? If he passes through waivers, he can join any playoff team, at any time. Even if he doesn’t sign with someone right away, he can wait to see whether a starter gets injured for a team that advances.

The Jets don’t have to do it. But if they don’t plan on using him much or at all in a meaningless Week 18 game at New England, they should just set him free.”

Cook said he didn’t want to be released from the Jets in early December because his family had settled into New Jersey. Those comments came a month and a half after Cook lobbied for the Jets to trade him to a team that would give him more carries.

How much settling into New Jersey happened in six weeks? Cook, who will test free agency in March, will have to uproot his family again if he takes another NFL job. Should the Jets cut him, Cook could keep his family in New Jersey while he plays temporarily for a playoff team.