Vikings RB Dalvin Cook Intends To Play Through Injury
After missing Week 3, Dalvin Cook returned to the field for Week 4 but struggled as he battled through an ankle injury. However, the Vikings running back isn’t intending to miss another game as he nurses the injury.
“I don’t feel like I’m getting worse,” Cook said (via ESPN’s Courtney Cronin). “I don’t feel like I’m headed in the wrong direction. I feel like I’m headed in the right direction to get myself back to where I need to be at. You have those days, but we just played a game. Just trying to work myself back to being 100% so I can help us win games.”
The running back has dealt with his a share of injuries throughout his career, missing a total of 21 regular season games through his first four seasons in the NFL. The Vikings are prioritizing his long-term health, and they naturally sat him out of practice late this week.
Cook had a hot start to the season, scoring two touchdowns in Week 1 and collecting 148 yards from scrimmage in Week 2. It was during that latter game that the running back suffered his ankle injury, forcing him out of the lineup for Week 3. He returned last weekend but collected only 44 yards on 11 touches.
Fortunately, if the Vikings star does miss another game, the team is set at the position. Backup Alexander Mattison rushed for 112 yards and added another 59 yards through the air in Week 3.
Vikings DL Michael Pierce Could Miss Time
Michael Pierce suffered an elbow injury on Sunday, and the Vikings nose tackle could end up missing time thanks to the ailment. Ben Goessling of the Minnesota Star-Tribune reports (via Twitter) that Pierce “could be out a while.”
The veteran was limited to only 21 defensive snaps during Sunday’s loss to the Browns. The 28-year-old had a great Week 1, collecting two sacks, two tackles for loss, two QB hits, and seven tackles, but he was limited to only a pair of tackles over the next three games.
After spending the first four seasons of his career with the Ravens, Pierce joined the Vikings last offseason on a three-year, $27MM deal. The defensive tackle ended up opting out of the 2020 season.
The Vikings have already started preparing for Pierce’s absence, signing T.J. Smith to the practice squad. As Goessling points out, Smith is already a bit familiar with the Vikings scheme after having played for current assistant defensive line coach Imarjaye Albury at Arkansas. The reporter also suggests that Dalvin Tomlinson could move to nose tackle with Pierce out of the lineup.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/5/21
We’ll keep tabs on today’s taxi squad moves here:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: RB Tavien Feaster
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: K Elliott Fry, S Shawn Williams
Denver Broncos
- Signed: WR Josh Malone, LB Avery Williamson
- Released: G Harry Crider, CB Rojesterman Farris
Houston Texans
- Signed: OL Jake Eldrenkamp, OL Jordan Steckler
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: DT T.J. Smith
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: TE Jordan Matthews
- Released: LB Curtis Bolton, RB Kerryon Johnson, RB Chris Thompson
Washington Football Team
- Signed: K Chris Blewitt, WR Damion Willis
Minor NFL Transactions: 10/5/21
We’ll keep track of today’s minor moves here:
Atlanta Falcons
- Promoted: DT Mike Pennel
Chicago Bears
- Waived: WR/KR Nsimba Webster
Cincinnati Bengals
- Signed: S Michael Thomas
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: OL Hjalte Froholdt (from Texans’ practice squad)
Detroit Lions
- Signed: OL Ryan McCollum (from Texans’ practice squad)
Kansas City Chiefs
- Designated for Return: LB Willie Gay
- Placed on IR: DE Joshua Kaindoh
Las Vegas Raiders
- Signed: CB Brandon Facyson (from Chargers’ practice squad)
Minnesota Vikings
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: CB Harrison Hand
New York Jets
- Placed on IR: LB Hamsah Nasirildeen
- Promoted: OL Isaiah Williams
Washington Football Team
- Promoted: CB Danny Johnson, LB Jordan Kunaszyk
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/4/21
Today’s taxi squad moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Released: G Shaq Calhoun
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed: DB Mazzi Wilkins
- Released: DB Linden Stephens
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: WR Matt Cole
- Released: DB Jalen Julius
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: WR Lawrence Cager
Los Angeles Rams
- Signed: DB J.R. Reed
- Released: OL Jared Hocker
Minnesota Vikings
- Released: WR Whop Philyor
Minor NFL Transactions: 10/4/21
We’ll keep track of today’s minor moves here:
Arizona Cardinals
- Promoted: S Chris Banjo
- Waived: OL Koda Martin
Atlanta Falcons
- Promoted: P Dustin Colquitt
Carolina Panthers
- Promoted: LB Kamal Martin
- Waived: G Michael Jordan
Indianapolis Colts
- Claimed off waivers (from Buccaneers): DT Khalil Davis
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed: DL Forrest Merrill
- Promoted: DL Breiden Fehoko
- Placed on IR: DL Justin Jones, LB Kenneth Murray Jr.
Minnesota Vikings
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: CB Cameron Dantzler
Seattle Seahawks
- Designed for return: DB Tre Brown
Washington Football Team
- Placed on IR: CB Torry McTyer
Minor NFL Transactions: 10/2/21
Here is Saturday’s batch of minor moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Activated from IR: LB Dennis Gardeck
- Promoted: S Chris Banjo, OL Eric Smith
Buffalo Bills
- Promoted: CB Cam Lewis
Carolina Panthers
- Promoted: S Kenny Robinson, RB Rodney Smith
Dallas Cowboys
- Activated from IR: WR Malik Turner
- Promoted: DT Austin Faoliu, DT Justin Hamilton, RB Nick Ralston, TE Jeremy Sprinkle
Denver Broncos
- Promoted: LB Curtis Robinson, OL Austin Schlottmann
Detroit Lions
- Promoted: K Ryan Santoso
Green Bay Packers
- Activated from IR: WR Equanimeous St. Brown
- Placed on IR: WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling (story)
Houston Texans
- Promoted: QB Jeff Driskel, DB A.J. Moore, LB Hardy Nickerson
- Activated from IR: K Ka’imi Fairbairn
Kansas City Chiefs
- Promoted: DB Dicaprio Bootle
Los Angeles Rams
- Activated from IR: LB Ogbonnia Okoronkwo
- Promoted: RB Buddy Howell, LB Justin Lawler
- Waived: S J.R. Reed
Miami Dolphins
- Promoted: C Cameron Tom
Minnesota Vikings
- Promoted: G Dakota Dozier, CB Parry Nickerson
New Orleans Saints
- Promoted: C Will Clapp, T Jordan Mills, WR Kenny Stills
New York Giants
- Promoted: C Jonotthan Harrison
New York Jets
- Activated from IR: S Ashtyn Davis, S Sharrod Neasman
- Promoted: OL Isaiah Williams
- Waived: RB Josh Adams
Philadelphia Eagles
- Activated from IR: OL Jack Driscoll, CB Josiah Scott
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Promoted: OT Chaz Green, WR Cody White
San Francisco 49ers
- Promoted: DL Maurice Hurst
Seattle Seahawks
- Promoted: WR Cody Thompson
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Promoted: CB Pierre Desir, TE Codey McElroy, CB Rashard Robinson
- Waived: DL Khalil Davis
Tennessee Titans
- Promoted: DL Amani Bledsoe, FB Tory Carter
Latest On Vikings’ Dalvin Cook
Barring any setbacks, Vikings running back Dalvin Cook should be ready to play on Sunday (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero). His ankle injury kept him out of last week’s tilt against the Seahawks, but he should be ready to rock after getting ample reps in practice this week.
[RELATED: Mike Zimmer On Hot Seat?]
Cook could still be kept to a limited number of carries as he returns to the lineup. That’d shift a good chunk of work to Alexander Mattison who tallied 112 yards off of 26 carries against the Seahawks, plus six grabs for 59 yards.
Still, the Vikings offensive is at its best with a healthy and productive Cook. The 26-year-old is coming off of his second-straight Pro Bowl season, a year with 1,557 rushing yards, 17 total touchdowns, and a 5.0 yards per carry average. It was also his second-straight 14-game slate, an encouraging sign for his long-term outlook.
After two tough losses to open the year, the Vikings sit at 1-2. Cook should provide a boost against the Browns, but they could also use some good news on the rest of their injured players. As of this writing, linebacker Anthony Barr, corner Kris Boyd, and defensive tackle Michael Pierce are all listed as questionable.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 9/27/21
We’ll keep track of today’s taxi squad moves here:
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: G Mike Horton
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed: K Matthew Wright
- Released: WR Phillip Dorsett (story)
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: T Blake Brandel
Minor NFL Transactions: 9/25/21
The weekly Saturday bunch of minor moves:
Atlanta Falcons
- Promoted: WR Juwan Green
Baltimore Ravens
- Promoted: LB Josh Bynes, DL Reginald McKenzie, CB Kevon Seymour, T Andre Smith
Chicago Bears
- Promoted: DL Margus Hunt
Cincinnati Bengals
- Promoted: S Sean Davis
Cleveland Browns
- Promoted: TE Jordan Franks
Detroit Lions
- Promoted: K Ryan Santoso
- Placed on IR: DE Kevin Strong
Indianapolis Colts
- Promoted: WR DeMichael Harris, QB Brett Hundley
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Promoted: WR Phillip Dorsett
Las Vegas Raiders
- Promoted: RB Trey Ragas
Los Angeles Chargers
- Promoted: OLB Emeke Egbule, DL Joe Gaziano
Los Angeles Rams
- Promoted: DB Tyler Hall, RB Buddy Howell
Minnesota Vikings
- Promoted: RB Ameer Abdullah, G Dakota Dozier, CB Parry Nickerson
- Waived: T Blake Brandel
New England Patriots
- Promoted: LB Jahlani Tavai
New York Giants
- Promoted: WR C.J. Board, C Jonotthan Harrison
- Placed on IR: LB Cam Brown
New York Jets
- Promoted: OL Isaiah Williams
San Francisco 49ers
- Placed on IR: DL Kevin Givens
Seattle Seahawks
- Promoted: DT Robert Nkemdiche, WR Cody Thompson
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Promoted: CB Rashard Robinson, TE Deon Yelder
Tennessee Titans
- Promoted: FB Tory Carter, DL Woodrow Hamilton