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.
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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.