Is re-signing Dalvin Cook a possibility for the Vikings?

Thanks to Kirk Cousins, the Minnesota Vikings re-signing running back Dalvin Cook this year is now something people believe could actually happen.

To begin his press conference with the local media on Wednesday, Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins took some time to say how much enjoyed having running back Dalvin Cook as a teammate.

Cousins said he's "excited to see where [Cook] goes" this offseason, and then he ended on a bit of an odd note when he said that he's been "optimistically hoping" the Vikings are able to work out a deal to bring Cook back to the team for the upcoming season.

What? Those comments from Cousins certainly caught some people off guard, especially since the chances of Cook returning to Minnesota this year are very, very low.

Why Dalvin Cook won't be re-signing with the Minnesota Vikings for the 2023 season

Even though Cousins would gladly welcome Cook back to the Vikings with open arms, the team and the running back have clearly moved on from each other.

Once Minnesota decided to re-sign Alexander Mattison and select former UAB running back DeWayne McBride in this year's NFL Draft, it became obvious that the team had decided to move into the future without Cook as their top running back.

The Vikings have a plan for their offensive backfield this year, and it's one that doesn't involve Cook. Whether it was due to his high cost or his decline in efficiency last season, Minnesota made the decision a few months ago to move on from the veteran running back after six years with the franchise.

Signs just don't point to the Vikings re-signing Cook before the start of the 2023 season, so Cousins will just have to re-enact the sad Wolverine meme any time the Pro Bowl running back pops into his head.