Dalvin Cook says he is ‘ready to go’ for big game against Saints

Minnesota Vikings running back Dalvin Cook missed the final two games of the regular season with a shoulder injury, but he insists he is ready to return for the team’s big playoff showdown against the New Orleans Saints on Sunday.

Cook told reporters on Monday that the two weeks he took off were beneficial, and he declared himself “good to go.”

“Two weeks of rest and got treatment … I’ve been putting the time in, and I feel good,” Cook said, via Lindsey Young of the Vikings’ official website. “It’s a long season. You go through a lot, your body takes a lot. I got some rest, and I’m ready to go.”

Cook rushed for 1,135 yards and added another 519 yards receiving in just 14 regular season games. He also had 13 rushing scores, and we saw how important he is to Minnesota’s offense during a Week 16 loss to the Green Bay Packers. The Vikings had just 57 rushing yards and 139 total yards of offense in that game.

You could easily make the argument that Cook is the most important piece of the Vikings’ offense heading into the postseason, and that is certainly true in a game where they are nine-point underdogs against New Orleans. The Saints can score points in bunches, and the Vikings will need a few explosive plays from Cook to stand a chance at pulling the upset.