5 questions heading into the Vikings’ 2019 training camp
By Chris Schad
How will the Vikings handle Mike Hughes’ recovery?
Speaking of Hughes, the Vikings will have a sense of deja vu when it comes to their 2018 first-round pick. One year after seeing Cook come back a little too early from a torn ACL, the Vikings will be looking to avoid the delayed return when it comes to the second-year cornerback.
The truth is, Viking fans (and even the team) might have been spoiled when Adrian Peterson came back from his ACL and dominated the league for an MVP season in 2012, but even he started out slow that year and took six weeks before he really started dominating. More recently, Cook was on schedule throughout the offseason program but suffered a hamstring injury shortly after the season began.
Minnesota would like to not see a similar scenario happen, so they may take it easy with Hughes. Part of their luxury may have been taken away with the suspension of Holton Hill, but the Vikings still have Xavier Rhodes, Trae Waynes and Mackensie Alexander in front of Hughes, so it’s not a necessity to get him back for Week 1 against the Atlanta Falcons.
With seventh-round pick Kris Boyd also in the mix, it’s pretty safe to say that we won’t see Hughes hit the field until he is ready.