Minnesota Vikings Are Releasing Dalvin Cook: Reports
In a surprising turn of events, reports suggest that the Minnesota Vikings are on the verge of parting ways with their star running back, Dalvin Cook.
In a surprising turn of events, reports suggest that the Minnesota Vikings are on the verge of parting ways with their star running back, Dalvin Cook.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the team allegedly notified Cook of their intention to release him, with the NFL Network speculating that this official announcement will occur on Friday.
The decision comes as Cook, currently 27 years old, had a substantial $10.4 million base salary and a $14.1 million cap hit earmarked for the upcoming 2023 season.
Despite a promising start to his professional career, injuries significantly hampered his performance during his initial two years in the league, limiting him to just 15 games.
However, Cook overcame these setbacks and established himself as a consistent Pro Bowler in subsequent seasons.
To address Cook’s departure, the Vikings will likely turn to Alexander Mattison to assume a more prominent role in their backfield.
Mattison, who secured a relatively cost-effective contract to remain with the team during the offseason, is expected to shoulder a significant portion of the rushing duties.
Amidst these developments, head coach Kevin O’Connell has expressed his admiration for Mattison’s growth as an all-around running back.
During the team’s organized activities, O’Connell has been pleased with Mattison’s increased involvement, noting his ability to excel in various downs and situations.
It is worth mentioning that the Vikings have also made efforts to fortify their running back depth in recent drafts.
They selected DeWayne McBride in the seventh round of the latest draft and acquired Ty Chandler in the fifth round of the previous year’s draft, adding further options to their backfield mix.
