The talented young running back is apparently recovering really well from a torn ACL according to Minnesota Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer on Tuesday.
The 2017 season was such a cruel tease for Minnesota Vikings running back Dalvin Cook. Just three games into his rookie year, Cook had already rushed for 288 yards and was averaging 5.2 yards per touch.
His totals after three weeks put him on pace to finish 2017 with more than 1,500 rushing yards. That amount would have easily set a new single-season Vikings team-record for yards gained on the ground by a rookie, eclipsing Adrian Peterson’s 1,341 rushing yards in 2007.
Unfortunately for Cook, his rookie year came to a close midway through his fourth career NFL start in Week 4 when Minnesota took on the Detroit Lions. On a carry in the third quarter, the Vikings running back went to go juke a defender and instead it resulted in him tearing his ACL and being lost for the remainder of the year.
Fast forward to now and it sounds like Cook will already be back practicing with him teammates during Minnesota’s OTAs this spring. At least according to Mike Zimmer on Tuesday when he spoke at the NFL’s annual Owners Meetings.
This is a great sign for Cook and the Vikings. The young back expected to be Minnesota’s starter for 2018 and Zimmer’s comments on Tuesday are a good indication of that actually happening.
Even if Cook is not able to do a ton during Minnesota’s OTAs this year, just working out on the field with his teammates again will give the kid a nice boost of confidence.
Next: Which 2018 free-agents will the Vikings re-sign?
There shouldn’t be too much concern about Cook losing a step in 2018 because of his injury either. With him still being so young (22) and the impressive medical technology available today, Cook may actually return to the field even better than he was last season.