Though Minnesota running back Dalvin Cook sat out much of the second half of the Vikings’ Monday night loss to the Seattle Seahawks, he sounded ready to return to action Wednesday as the team started to prepare for its Sunday game against the Detroit Lions.
“I feel good,” Cook said, according to the team’s website. “Actually, better than I expected. I’ll be out there on Sunday and ready to get a W.”
Listed on the injury report last week with a chest ailment, Cook confirmed that the problem that only got worse when Seahawks defensive end Jadeveon Clowney tackled him in the first half. He made a critical fumble on a hit in the third quarter, and he didn’t return (reported initially Monday as a shoulder injury) after the Seahawks recovered and went on to beat the Vikings 37-30.
“That was the best thing, for me to shut it down Monday night so I could get ready to roll on Sunday,” Cook said.
“I don’t feel like it’s going to hold me back from playing in any game. It’s more of just, lay off the contact during the week and get ready for Sunday. That’s just going to be my plan in preparing for these next couple of games.”
During his Wednesday press conference, coach Mike Zimmer wasn’t ready to give Cook the starting nod for Sunday, when the 8-4 Vikings face the 3-8-1 Lions in Minneapolis.
“We’ll see how it goes during the week and then make a decision toward the end of the week,” said Zimmer, who indicated that Cook’s ball security wasn’t an issue. “We’re not going to play a guy that’s hurt.”
Cook, who finished with nine carries for 29 yards and a touchdown along with three catches for 35 yards against Seattle, will focus on fumble avoidance during practice.
“That’s what I have to work on — getting that firm grip on the football,” he said. “I’m going to work on that all week.”
On the Wednesday injury report, Cook was listed as a limited participant while wide receiver Adam Thielen (hamstring) did not participate after he was limited in practice last week.
On Monday, Thielen missed his third straight game and fourth in the past five due to the injury he initially sustained at Detroit on Oct. 20.
