Dalvin Cook Says Hamstring Injury Isn't 100 Percent: 'I'm Just Not There Yet'

Minnesota Vikings running back Dalvin Cook said Monday he's still recovering from a hamstring injury that kept him out of action in Week 3 and limited him to just 10 carries against the Los Angeles Rams in Week 4. 

"This thing is still healing up. I want to be 100 percent as bad as everybody else wants me to 100 percent. But I'm just not there yet," he said, per Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press. "I just got to keep chipping away. But I'm going to be ready when the time comes, though."

Injuries have been the major storyline in Cook's young career. Cook, a 2017 second-round pick, started strong during his rookie season, rushing for 354 yards and two touchdowns in his first four games. But a torn ACL ended that campaign and led to a lengthy rehab.

Cook was ready to go for the 2018 season, though his hamstring has limited his productivity and playing time. Through three games, Cook has registered just 98 yards on 36 carries, and the Vikings as a team are rushing for just 63 yards per contest, worst in the NFL.

"It's been non-existent," running back Latavius Murray said of the team's run game, per Tomasson. "It's just what it is. We got to figure it out. We got to be better."

A fully healthy Cook would help in that regard, and Monday he said he believes the Vikings will put it all together eventually.

"There's nothing wrong with the guys we've got," he said, per Fox 9 Sports. "We just gotta take advantage of it and keep getting better every week and it's gonna come." 

Figuring it out in Week 5 won't be easy, however, with the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles looming. The Eagles are allowing just 63.8 rushing yards per game, best in the NFL.