Ravens mix up running back room ahead of playoffs

The Ravens are two days away from their first postseason game, which means there's still time to make sure they have the best 53-man roster possible. That's why they made a running back swap on Thursday.

Baltimore signed RB Dalvin Cook to its active roster and waived RB Melvin Gordon as a corresponding move, per NFL Network's Tom Pelissero.

The decision to move on from Gordon makes sense after the two-time Pro Bowler had just 18 yards and a fumble on seven carries in the Ravens' regular season finale loss to the Steelers.

Gordon has had a fumbling problem throughout his nine-year NFL career, totaling 27. Turning the ball over in any game, nonetheless a playoff game, is detrimental to a team's chances of winning.

Baltimore saw that against Pittsburgh and is smart to not be taking any chances now in the most important part of the season.

As for Cook, he is expected to play against Houston on Saturday. He'll join running backs Gus Edwards and Justice Hill, who have combined for 1,197 yards and 16 touchdowns on the ground, in the rotation.

However, Cook is bringing something to the team the other two backs don't have and that's fresh legs. He carried the ball just 67 times for 214 yards with the Jets this season.

What Cook's exact role will be remains to be seen, but whoever is carrying the ball this weekend won't have an easy time doing so. 

The Texans are allowing the sixth-fewest rushing yards per game (96.6) in the league. Lamar Jackson was the Ravens' leading rusher with just 38 yards when the two teams faced each other in Week 1.

Having a successful running attack has proven to be a difference-maker in the postseason. Cook must do his best to give Baltimore one this time around or it could lose its third straight playoff game come Saturday.