Minnesota will continue attempting to finalize a trade for Cook (shoulder) on Thursday, and will otherwise officially release him Friday, Adam Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

EDGE Analysis

Cook has been surrounded by trade rumors all offseason, and while Schefter reports that the Broncos and Dolphins remain interested, at this point it may be likelier that he's released than a last-minute deal comes to fruition. The four-time Pro Bowler's shoulder surgery isn't expected to impact his regular-season availability and could even have a positive long-term influence on his durability, and he remains one of the league's true every-down backfield options. Heading into his age-28 season, Cook is coming off four straight seasons of over 1,100 rushing yards and boasts a career 4.7 yards per carry, so he should have no lack of suitors if he does hit free agency.

The Vikings informed Cook (shoulder) on Thursday of his pending release, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

EDGE Analysis

Schefter reports that the Dolphins and Broncos are two of the top teams expected to make a bid for Cook's talents once he's officially a free agent. Per Tom Pelissero of NFL Network, Cook is expected to be officially released Friday. With the soon-to-be 28-year-old now heading to new pastures, Minnesota's backfield is headlined by Alexander Mattison, whom the team re-signed this offseason, alongside depth options Ty Chandler and DeWayne McBride. Cook is coming off shoulder surgery but still profiles as an every-down player when healthy, meaning his fantasy prospects for 2023 will depend heavily on landing spot.

Cook (shoulder) is unlikely to be on the Vikings roster by the start of the new campaign, Kevin Seifert of ESPN.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Typically situations like this aren't discussed with such absolute language, so Seifert suggesting "all that remains is for the Vikings to formalize Cook's exit, a denouement that seems likely if not completely certain" is worth noting. Cook has a cap hit of nearly $14 million for 2023, and the Vikings already traded productive pass rusher Za'Darius Smith, who had a similar cap figure. The soon-to-be 28-year-old back has been the subject of trade rumors for months, although given no such trade has materialized it's unclear how many teams remain interested. The Vikings re-signed long-time backup Alexander Mattison to a two-year, $6.5 million deal this offseason, and the fifth-year pro figures to step in as the starter if Cook is traded or released.

Cook (shoulder) is making progress in his recovery from a shoulder procedure undergone back in February, a recent in-person checkup confirms, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.

EDGE Analysis

Cook hopes the procedure will strengthen his shoulder, which has plagued him with recurring injuries dating back to 2019. The 27-year-old running back started all 17 regular-season games for Minnesota in 2022 while protecting the shoulder, and though his recovery from surgery could impact his availability for the start of OTAs, it would be a positive development if his long-term durability sees a boost. The Vikings have reportedly received inquiries about trading Cook, which could make sense considered his upcoming $8 million salary cap hit for the 2023 season.

The Vikings have received a trade offer for Cook (shoulder), according to SKOR North's Darren Wolfson.

EDGE Analysis

The report didn't name the team offering the deal nor the return for the Cook in such a scenario. However, trade talk around Cook makes sense given that he will count $8 million toward the cap next season and Minnesota is about $15 million over the salary cap. The report says Cook does not want to take a pay cut. Cook underwent shoulder surgery in February which guaranteed $2 million in his salary for next season due to injury. The injury could affect his availability for the start of OTAs, but he's expected to be ready for the start of the coming season.

Cook underwent surgery Tuesday to address a shoulder injury, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

EDGE Analysis

Cook started all 17 games for the Vikings in 2022 -- the first such full season of his career -- despite continuing to manage a lingering shoulder injury initially suffered back in 2019. The 27-year-old rushed for 1,173 yards and eight touchdowns on 264 carries last season, with another 39 catches for 295 yards and two scores on 56 targets, though his 4.4 yards per carry was a career-low mark. Cook's shoulder surgery could affect his availability for the start of OTAs, but as long as he's fully healthy by the start of the 2023 campaign, the four-time Pro Bowler will be in good position for another productive fantasy season as one of the Vikings' top offensive playmakers.

Cook rushed 15 times for 60 yards and caught six of seven targets for 10 yards in Sunday's 31-24 playoff loss to the Giants.

EDGE Analysis

Cook had an eerily similar line to his previous meeting with the Giants when he was held to 64 rushing yards on 14 carries in Week 16 of the regular season. The 27-year-old was able to record his fourth consecutive 1,000-yard rushing season with 10 total touchdowns in another strong fantasy campaign. Cook hasn't shown any signs of slowing down, and he should remain one of the key offensive cogs for an explosive Minnesota offense in 2023.

Cook rushed 11 times for 37 yards and lost a fumble in Sunday's 29-13 win over the Bears. He also caught his only target for no gain.

EDGE Analysis

Cook's involvement was limited to the first half, as the Vikings decided to rest their offensive starters after halftime. While that situation opened the door for backup Alexander Mattison to rush 10 times for 54 yards and two touchdowns, Cook didn't have his best performance prior to being rested, as he was held under 40 rushing yards for the second straight week and lost his fourth fumble of the campaign. Nonetheless, Cook figures to reclaim his leading tailback role once Minnesota takes the field in the playoffs.

Head coach Kevin O'Connell intimated Friday that Cook and other key starters on offense and defense may not play the entirety of the Vikings' Week 18 game in Chicago, Joe Nelson of SI.com reports. "We've got a pretty clear cut plan with how we want to go about the whole game, but we're going to go in with the expectation of our guys going and try to get off to a good start and play good football," O'Connell said.

EDGE Analysis

Minnesota is assured no worse than the No. 3 seed in the NFC playoffs regardless of how this weekend's games transpire, but since the Vikings will need a win over the Bears plus a Cardinals win over the heavily-favored 49ers to climb to the No. 2 seed, O'Connell may not have much incentive to expose key players to an injury heading into the wild-card round. While Cook and all of the Vikings' other starting skill-position players look poised to play at least one series, the uncertainty of whether they'll play much beyond that makes it tough to reliably project any in Week 18 season-long or DFS lineups.

Cook carried the ball nine times for 27 yards and caught two of three targets for 17 yards in Sunday's 41-17 loss to the Packers.

EDGE Analysis

The Vikings lost two offensive linemen to injuries early in the game, absences which contributed to Cook failing to get anything going on the ground. It was his worst performance since Week 2 against the Eagles, and with Minnesota having nothing but playoff seeding on the line in Week 18's matchup with the Bears, it wouldn't be a surprise to see Cook get some extra rest and cede touches to Alexander Mattison.