Dalvin Cook was on the fast track toward stardom as a rookie. After twice being named a First Team All-American at Florida State, the second-round pick burst onto the scene for the Minnesota Vikings, rushing for 127 yards in his NFL debut and 354 yards overall during the first four games of the 2017 season. Cook's ascent was abruptly stopped against the Detroit Lions in Week 4, though, when he suffered a torn ACL, cutting his rookie campaign short.
Almost two years later, many believe the 23-year-old is poised to pick up where he left off before getting injured. In an article predicting a first-time Pro Bowler for each of the league's 32 teams, NFL.com's Marc Sessler singled out Cook as the Viking most likely to earn that honor.
Coach Mike Zimmer appears determined to run the ball to a fault in 2019, signaling a breakout — and bell cow — year for Cook. With little competition in the backfield, Cook's biggest challenge is staying on the field. His talent will pave the way if so.
In 11 games last season, Cook had 133 carries for 615 yards and two scores. He missed all of October with a lingering hamstring injury.
The appointment of Gary Kubiak as Minnesota's assistant head coach and offensive advisor stands to benefit Cook almost as much as a full healthy season. His famed zone-blocking scheme is a perfect fit for a runner of Cook's vision and burst. The Vikings also made improvements along the offensive line, too, selecting center Garrett Bradbury, considered one of the most NFL-ready players in his class, in the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft.
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