Former Minnesota Vikings running back <a href="https://www.on3.com/db/dalvin-cook-28370/">Dalvin Cook</a> is on the open market, still looking for a new NFL team after the Vikings released him earlier this year. And a healthy shoulder could help Dalvin Cook land his next gig.



The talented former <a href="https://www.on3.com/teams/florida-state-seminoles/">Florida State</a> star has been plagued by shoulder issues the last two seasons but underwent surgery this offseason to repair a torn labrum.



He recently joined <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-adam-schefter-podcast/id1190094109">The Adam Schefter Podcast</a> to discuss what Dalvin Cook with a healthy shoulder could mean career wise.



“It’s going to be a big difference, man, not just it being in my head anymore,” Cook said. “Just me going and playing football and being me. For people that’s going through like a similar situation, you should get your shoulder done or not, it’s always in the back of your head when you take any carry. When you get the ball it’s always in your head, like ‘My shoulder could possibly come out.'”



That constant worry over the shoulder weighed on Cook over the last two seasons.



You’d hardly know based on Cook’s performance, though. He’s had four straight seasons with more than 1,000 yards rushing, finishing with 1,173 yards and eight touchdowns on the ground in 2022, while adding 39 catches for 295 yards and two more scores.



Still, Cook feels like the shoulder surgery will free him up to run wild again.



“Me getting it done, it’s like now it’s over,” Cook said. “Now I can be Dalvin Cook back to Florida State Dalvin Cook and just turn it loose, be me. And just have fun. Man, I’m just ready to go have fun.”



Schefter followed up on just how big Dalvin Cook’s healthy shoulder could be, as Cook will obviously garner heavy interest this offseason from teams needing a little help in the backfield.



He’ll have a somewhat hefty price tag, but it could be well worth it in the event he is able to turn it up a notch with the newly healthy shoulder. Dalvin Cook at 100% is a versatile weapon.



“It wasn’t really bothering me like as far as like pain wise or anything, that was never the case,” Cook said. “It never was the case like pain wise. It was just a case of like, ‘Man, it could come out, I’ll have to sit out a week, get it back strong, get it back tight, then I’ve got to come back and there’s all the questions around that.’ So just not going through that no more is going to be a positive for me.”



Cook has rushed for 5,993 yards and 47 touchdowns in 73 NFL games over the last six seasons. He was a second-round pick by Minnesota in the 2017 NFL Draft.

Dalvin Cook, Minnesota Vikings running back

5GOATs

Dalvin Cook says having healthy shoulder will make 'big difference'

team image

Pro News

NFL News

NFL Draft News

NASCAR

NBA News

NBA Draft News

Culture

Sports Betting

About

Football

Basketball

Women's Basketball

Softball

Baseball

Alabama

Arizona State

Arizona

Arkansas

Auburn

Baylor

Boston College

California

Removed

Clemson

Colorado

Duke

Florida

Florida State

Georgia

Georgia Tech

Illinois

Indiana

Iowa

Iowa State

Kansas

Kansas State

Kentucky

Lettermen Row

Lettermen Lounge

Louisville

Maryland

Miami

Michigan State

Michigan

Minnesota

Mississippi State

Missouri

NC State

Nebraska

North Carolina

Northwestern

Notre Dame

Ohio State

Oklahoma

Oklahoma State

Ole Miss

The Main Board

Oregon

Oregon State

Penn State

Pittsburgh

Purdue

Rutgers

South Carolina

Stanford

Syracuse

Tennessee

Texas A&M

Texas

Texas Tech

UCLA

Utah

Vanderbilt

Virginia

Virginia Tech

Wake Forest

Washington

Washington State

West Virginia

Wisconsin

BamaOnLine

BOL Round Table

Inside Texas

IT Members Only

DawgsHQ

Dawg Walk

Scoop Duck

Recruiting & Sports

AuburnSports

The Corner

WeAreSC

GarryP's Trojan Huddle

The Wolverine

The Fort

The Lions Den

The Wolfpacker

The Wolves’ Den

GatorsOnline

Swamp Talk

Alabama A&M

Alabama State

Albany

Alcorn State

Abilene Christian

Appalachian State

Akron

Army

Austin Peay

Arkansas-Pine Bluff

Arkansas-Little Rock

Arkansas State

Air Force

Ball State

American

Wofford

Winthrop

Wisconsin-Milwaukee

Wisconsin-Green Bay

Wichita State

Western Carolina

Volleyball

Gymnastics

Men's Lacrosse

Women's Lacrosse

Men's Soccer

Women's Soccer

Women's Track

Men's Golf

Women's Golf

Men's Hockey

Women's Hockey

Men's Swimming

Women's Swimming

Wrestling

Men's Tennis

Women's Tennis

Annual $1

Annual Premium

Annual $1 

Monthly

Annual

Unlimited Access to This and All Articles.

Article (On3 Plus Rivals)

Forum (On3 Plus Rivals)

Intro

Join

College scoop, experts, and community - all in one.

Winback

Buckeyes hire ex-NFL HC

OSU hires OC

Most impactful transfers

Instant Impact

Defends Bama, Charles Bediako

Coach K

Top transfer commits

Jordan Seaton

Goes scorched earth on Ole Miss

Dabo Swinney