The Minnesota Vikings wrapped up a promising 2017 season that saw them finish a win shy of reaching the Super Bowl.
Minnesota now heads into the offseason with several prominent questions around the team that could have a significant impact on their future next year and beyond. One of which is the health of running back Dalvin Cook, who is recovering from an ACL tear that he suffered in October.
According to Eric Smith of Vikings.com, general manager Rick Speilman stated this week that the 22-year-old is on track to take the field for the 2018 season opener.
“He’s progressed very nicely,” Spielman said of Cook. “I talked to [Director of Sports Medicine/Head Athletic Trainer] Eric Sugarman yesterday when we got back in town, and we don’t see any reason where he’s not going to be where Adrian Peterson was when he came off his knee [injury].
Prior to the injury, Cook was putting together a promising start through the first month of the season, racking up 354 rushing yards while hauling in 11 catches for 90 receiving yards over that stretch. He registered 127 rushing yards in their season opening win over the New Orleans Saints.
If he's able to remain on track for next season, it should put him in line to earn the starting job back. In his absence, Latavius Murray and Jerick McKinnon filled the void in both aspects of the running and passing game quite well.
His imminent return could also lead McKinnon to signing elsewhere in free agency to get a better opportunity to play in 2018. Meanwhile, Murray will be relegated to backup duties where he was through the first four games of last season. He just completed the first year of a three-year, $15 million deal.
The Vikings have placed much stock into Cook stepping back into a prominent role in the offense as the feature running back. Given the significance of the injury, the team will likely take the precautionary route through the rest of the recovery process to avoid any setbacks.
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