The Minnesota Vikings informed running back Dalvin Cook he is being released, multiple outlets reported Thursday.
The salary-slashing move has been widely anticipated since before the NFL draft in April.
Cook, who turns 28 in August, is coming off four straight 1,000-yard rushing seasons and four Pro Bowl selections.
He also carried a salary cap hit of $14.1 million this season, $15.6 million in 2024 and $13.5 million in the last year of his contract in 2025.
Instead, the Vikings will owe Cook $2 million this season and will take a dead cap hit of $5.1 million in 2023.
ESPN reported that Minnesota will make one last effort to trade Cook on Thursday before processing his official release on Friday.
A second-round pick in 2017, Cook has rushed for 5,993 yards and 47 touchdowns and has 221 receptions for 1,794 yards and five scores in 73 career games (72 starts) in Minnesota.
Rumored landing spots for Cook during the past couple of months have included the Miami Dolphins, Philadelphia Eagles, Buffalo Bills and Denver Broncos.
Cook is recovering from offseason surgery to repair a shoulder injury that was originally suffered in 2019. His agency said in February that Cook is expected to be healthy for the start of the season.
The Vikings appear prepared to enter the 2023 season with Alexander Mattison as their lead back. The 2019 third-round pick rushed for 283 yards and five scores in 17 games last season. Ty Chandler and rookie DeWayne McBride are also on the depth chart.
–Field Level Media
