Dalvin Cook To Return In Week 9?

The Vikings may have their preferred starting running back in action earlier than expected. Dalvin Cook is on track to play Sunday against the Lions, Andrew Krammer of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune reports.

Cook’s been dealing with a hamstring injury for most of the season and hasn’t played since Week 4. While the Vikings having the 2017 second-rounder back would help their cause, Krammer adds he’s only expected to be used in a part-time capacity. A 15- to 20-snap workload should be anticipated for Cook.

Listed as questionable, Cook has struggled with this injury for weeks. The Vikings previously planned to play him against the Cardinals three weeks ago but nixed the idea after warmups. Cook’s only rushed for 98 yards (2.7 per carry) this season, and Latavius Murray‘s continued to be the Vikings’ primary back.

He was a limited practice participant throughout this week. Cook said (via the Associated Press) he didn’t experience a setback, missing practice for two weeks, instead calling this a slow-healing malady.

Minnesota has a Week 10 bye, but Mike Zimmer said the team isn’t interested in delaying a return until after that — as a previous report indicated would be the play — if Cook is healthy enough to contribute. Still, it sounds like Cook won’t be at full strength until after the bye at the earliest.

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