One Cut — And Dalvin Cook Is Likely A Go Sunday
Wes Johnson
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Throughout any given week of NFL season, teams will constantly jostle their team to accommodate for injuries and depth at positions of need. These moves are made through the week before finally settling on Sunday’s 53-man roster. With these roster moves, one can usually get an indication of who will be active for the games on Sunday. The Vikings made a few interesting moves Saturday and they are fairly telling as to what can be expected.
First, let’s look at some of Saturday’s moves by the Vikings.
https://twitter.com/Vikings/status/1441855445900017668
The Vikings cut offensive tackle Blake Brandel to make room for running back Ameer Abdullah — who was signed off of the practice squad. NFL rules in a post-covid world allow for teams to elevate two players from their practice squad. Players that are elevated, can only be elevated twice before needing to be outrighted to waivers or signed to the 53-man roster. Abdullah was subjected to waivers after the week 2 contest against Arizona after having been elevated in both games to start the season. Guard Dakota Dozier and cornerback Parry Nickerson are the two players elevated for week 3, each player’s first move up from the practice squad.
What is significant about these moves? By not promoting running back AJ Rose from the practice squad the Vikings are indicating that Dalvin Cook will be ready to go.
Dozier can help fill in depth from the released Brandel and Nickerson will provide depth for a cornerback group that was a little banged up last week. Cornerback Harrison Hand is freshly activated from the Reserve/Covid list and might need a little time to get acclimated, so the Nickerson promotion also makes sense there.
Having Cook on the field healthy is the real prize for the Vikings. They are winless in their past seven contests against the Seahawks and will need all hands on deck to end that streak. Cook has accumulated 192 rushing yards on 42 attempts with one touchdown. He has also added 60 receiving yards on 8 receptions. His dynamic playmaking ability will be a welcome sight on Sunday.