Viktor
Well-known member
- Mar 19, 2019
- 2,552
- 0
Wesseling wrote:
Returning from an ACL injury that derailed his rookie campaign, Cook never found a sustained groove behind a beleaguered offensive line and shaky play-calling last season. He looked reborn this summer in godsend Gary Kubiak’s outside-zone run scheme, exploding for an 85-yard touchdown run in limited preseason action.
That momentum carried over to Week 1, as he sliced and diced Atlanta’s defense for 120 yards and a pair of scores on 23 touches, showcasing physicality, agility and an extra gear that were too often missing in 2018. After the game, star wideout Adam Thielen was understandably biased in his praise: “That’s the strength of our team. We have one of the best running backs in the league, if not the best.”
Cook racked up 111 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 21 carries, adding nine yards on a pair of receptions.
He scored a touchdown in each half as Minnesota cruised to a 28-12 victory in the season opener.
Cook had tallied 969 rushing yards and four touchdowns in his first 15 games in the NFL, which were spread out over two seasons.
But by getting a pair of rushing scores Sunday, he has already matched his season-high as he had two rushing touchdowns in 2017 and two more in 2018.
Other players on Wesseling’s list included Chiefs wide receiver Sammy Watkins, who the Vikings will see in Week 9 at Arrowhead Stadium.
Bears defensive end Roy Robertson-Harris was also included. Minnesota will face Chicago twice in NFC North play in 2019, including Week 4 at Soldier Field.
A pair of Raiders (tight end Darren Waller and linebacker Vontaze Burfict) were also on the list (Oakland visits Minnesota in Week 3), as were Cowboys receiver Michael Gallup and Broncos receiver Courtland Sutton.
The Vikings travel to Dallas for Sunday Night Football in Week 10 before turning around and hosting Denver at U.S. Bank Stadium in Week 11.