The Minnesota Vikings running back has been participating in the team’s OTAs this year as he continues to rehab from a torn ACL.
It was a devastating blow for Minnesota Vikings running back Dalvin Cook when he went down with a torn ACL last year just four games into the season.
Cook got off to a great start in 2017, which made his injury even worse. No Vikings rookie running back has ever rushed for more yards in the first three games of their NFL career than the amount that Cook racked up last season (288).
But injuries are part of the game and this is just some early adversity for the running back to overcome in his young career. Luckily for Minnesota, Cook seems to be progressing very well in his rehab process.
Despite tearing his ACL less than seven months ago, the running back is already back on the practice field and has been participating in the Vikings’ recent OTAs.
From these clips, it looks like Cook should be back to the player he was during those first three games last season. It’s possible he could be even better.
Minnesota head athletic trainer Eric Sugarman spoke to local reporters on Tuesday and said that the running back has been at the team facilities every day since his injury last October. Sugarman also added that the plan is for Cook to be pretty much back to normal by the time Vikings training camp begins in a few months.
At the same time, the running back isn’t trying to rush back onto the field if he’s not ready. When asked on Tuesday if he hopes to suit up for Minnesota’s first preseason game this year against the Denver Broncos, Cook responded by saying he’s, “going to take this thing day by day and just keep moving forward.”
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Based on his rehab progress so far though, it shouldn’t surprise anyone if the running back actually is in the lineup for the Vikings’ first preseason matchup in Denver.