Dalvin Cook made his season debut on Sunday against the San Francisco 49ers, but it wasn’t his performance on the field that caught fans’ attention—it was his pregame ritual. The Cowboys running back was spotted on the sidelines sipping from a small bottle, and many fans immediately took to social media to speculate that the four-time Pro Bowler might have been taking a shot of alcohol.
The moment quickly went viral, with fans on X (formerly Twitter) sharing their reactions. “Dalvin Cook taking a mini shot of liquor. It’s over for you [mfs] tonight,” one fan joked, while another quipped, “Dalvin Cook sneaking in nips of Vodka before the game is HARD.”
Others expressed surprise, with one fan asking, “Did Dalvin Cook just take a pregame shot on national television???” A fourth chimed in, saying, “Unc needed some juice.”
Even NBC’s Sunday Night Football broadcast joined in on the fun, with play-by-play commentator Mike Tirico humorously remarking, “Dalvin’s getting ready for this one… I guess.”
In the game itself, Cook played a supporting role behind Ezekiel Elliott, logging six carries for a modest 12 yards and adding one reception for 10 yards.
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Despite trailing by 17 points in the fourth quarter, the Cowboys mounted a late comeback attempt with Dak Prescott connecting twice with CeeDee Lamb for touchdowns, trimming the 49ers’ lead to just six points.
However, with only 3:05 left on the clock, Dallas couldn’t complete the comeback, ultimately falling 30-24 and dropping to a 3-4 record on the season. The 49ers improved to 4-4.
Mail Sport reached out to the Cowboys for comment on the sideline incident, though no official response has been given.
While fans continue to debate what exactly was in Cook’s mysterious bottle, the incident added another memorable, albeit quirky, storyline to a hard-fought game for Dallas.
