Vikings RB Dalvin Cook questionable for Sunday, LB Anthony Barr out, CB Harrison Hand off COVID list

Chris Tomasson, Pioneer Press, St. Paul, Minn.
·4 min read

Sep. 24—Vikings running back Dalvin Cook, bothered by an ankle injury, was listed as questionable on Friday for Sunday's game against Seattle after not having practiced all week.

Cook sat out practices on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday with the injury suffered in last Sunday's 34-33 loss at Arizona. Asked after Friday's workout if Cook did any work in the just-concluded practice, Vikings coach Mike Zimmer said, "Yeah, he did some." But a Vikings practice report sent out several hours later listed Cook as having not participated.

Zimmer said that Cook is "doing much better," but declined to speculate if he will play against the Seahawks at U.S. Bank Stadium, saying, "I don't know. We'll see on Sunday." He said Cook is the type of player who could play in a game after having little practice time during the week.

"If you're asking about Dalvin, I think Dalvin can, yeah," Zimmer said.

The Vikings on Friday ruled out linebacker Anthony Barr (knee) and tackle Christian Darrisaw (groin), who both will miss a third straight game, and cornerback Harrison Hand (hamstring), who will miss a second straight game. Barr. listed as limited in practice Friday, said Thursday he had hoped to play. But Zimmer said the Vikings are being cautious with him.

Before being ruled out, Hand was activated Friday off the COVID-19 reserve list. He had been placed on it Wednesday with what Zimmer called a "close contact." Hand only did work on the side at Friday's practice.

Darrisaw, a rookie taken with the No. 23 pick in the first round, had only done individual work in practice in recent weeks until getting some team reps this week and being listed as limited in Friday's workout. Zimmer said he's making progress.

"It's a process," Zimmer said. "Took some team reps this week, got about three reps a period. Next week, we'll get him going a little bit more and we'll see where he's at."

Returning to action Sunday will be defensive end Everson Griffen, who sat out against the Cardinals due to a concussion. He was listed as limited in practice on Wednesday and Thursday before being upgraded to a full participant on Friday and not being listed on the injury report.

If Cook does play, it will be a rare instance of a Vikings player taking the field after not practicing all week since Zimmer took over as coach in 2014. In 2017, tight end Kyle Rudolph missed an entire week of practice with an ankle injury and was listed as doubtful the Friday before a December game against Cincinnati. Rudolph was upgraded to questionable on Saturday and played on Sunday.

For Sunday's game, the Seahawks listed as out running back Rashaad Penny (calf), tackle Brandon Shell (ankle) and wide receiver D'Wayne Eskridge (concussion) and as questionable linebacker Benson Mayowa (neck).

DEPTH AT TIGHT END

The Vikings still don't have a catch this season by a reserve tight end.

In the first two games, Tyler Conklin has six catches for 56 yards. He took over as the starter after Irv Smith Jr. was lost for the season with a knee injury suffered in the final preseason game.

After Conklin, Chris Herndon had two targets without a catch in 24 snaps in the first two games, and Ben Ellefson had no targets in 16 snaps in his first Minnesota game last Sunday. Herndon was acquired Aug. 31 from the New York Jets and Ellefson claimed off waivers Sept. 1 from Jacksonville.

"They're going to have a decent role (against Seattle), and they did last week," Zimmer said of the reserve tight ends. "But they're learning, but they're fine."

BRIEFLY

Vikings guard Ezra Cleveland, who grew up in the Seattle area, will get offensive snaps for the first time Sunday against his hometown team. He played only on special teams last year at Seattle. "I think he's played fine," Zimmer said of Cleveland, ranked by Pro Football Focus as the NFL's 10th-best guard in the first two weeks, "I think last week he played really well." ... The Vikings are expected Saturday to elevate running back Ameer Abdullah off the practice squad to the active roster for Sunday's game.