The Minnesota Vikings will return running back Dalvin Cook from a groin injury on Sunday at Lambeau Field, but will it matter if Mike Zimmer’s defense can’t cover anyone?
While Cook was not given a designation on Friday’s final injury report and will play Sunday, the Vikings ruled out cornerbacks Mike Hughes and Holton Hill, and rookie Cameron Dantzler remains on the COVID-reserve list.
Cook injured his groin during the Vikings’ loss to the Seattle Seahawks and then sat out a loss to the Atlanta Falcons before the bye week. In the first five games, Cook ran for 489 yards and seven touchdowns. A dynamic runner, he could take some pressure off of Kirk Cousins and help the Vikings offense control the football on Sunday against the Packers.
The bigger issue for Zimmer’s team is on defense, where the Vikings will likely be without three of their top four cornerbacks. Rookie Jeff Gladney will play and likely represents the Vikings’ best chance at combating receiver Davante Adams.
Behind Gladney, the Vikings will be down to rookie Harrison Hand, Krys Boyd, Chris Jones and Mark Fields II, all inexperienced players.
Adams caught 13 passes for a career-high 196 yards and two scores for the Packers last week.
The Packers will release official injury designations later on Friday.