Dalvin Cook looks ready to go for the Vikings in 2018

The knee injury appears to be an afterthought for Minnesota Vikings running back through the team’s first padded training camp practice.

Coming into last season, the Minnesota Vikings had some huge shoes to fill at running back. With Adrian Peterson departing after a tremendous decade with the team, all eyes were on free-agent pickup Latavius Murray and Dalvin Cook to keep the Vikings’ running game afloat.

As Murray recovered from offseason ankle surgery, Cook took the lead from the opening snap and started running through opposing defenses.

Through the first four games, Cook’s impact as a rookie may have only been rivaled by Kansas City’s Kareem Hunt as the Minnesota running back ran for 354 yards and two touchdowns while adding 11 receptions for 90 yards in 2017.

Despite his great start, Cook’s run as the centerpiece of the Vikings’ offense ended prematurely as a sharp juke in the second half of a Week 4 matchup against the Detroit Lions resulted in a torn ACL.

While Murray and the now departed Jerick McKinnon did a fine job carrying the load, having Cook for the entire season could have taken Minnesota’s offense from good to great.

As the Vikings entered training camp this year, Cook’s recovery from his injury was a key storyline. As Minnesota headed into its first full-squad practice last Saturday, that storyline may have already reached its conclusion as he ditched his knee brace and showed the explosiveness he flashed last fall.

Entering Monday’s full-padded workouts, Cook doubled down telling the Star Tribune’s Andrew Krammer that instead of fearing to get hit again, he’s anxious to start dishing them out.

Minnesota Vikings

"“I’m ready to deliver it. That’s what I’m ready to do. That’s my mind-set, man. I’m going to go out there and play and be me. I know my knee is fixed. I know I’m healed up. Put the time in, go out there and play.”"

Cook survived the first padded workout without incident and afterward admitted to the media that it was a milestone day in his recovery process.

“I was definitely anticipating it,” Cook said. “Getting back out here. Getting that lick in. Just getting back out here and getting back in pads, it’s just a good feeling. I did anticipate it and the day came and I feel great about today.”

The Vikings running back also commented that his hope is to get on the field in the first preseason game in Denver on August 11, but he wasn’t sure if the coaching staff would take a more cautious approach.

Either way, it appears that Dalvin Cook is back and that return should add a jolt to the Vikings’ backfield in 2018.