Dalvin Cook taking handoffs and returning kickoffs?
If Vikings special teams coordinator Mike Priefer gets his way that’ll be the case. Priefer told SiriusXM NFL Radio on Tuesday that he’s lobbying head coach Mike Zimmer two let Cook be the kickoff returner.
According to show host Alex Marvez, Priefer isn’t convinced that Zimmer will allow it to happen. Cook did not return any kicks at Florida State last fall.
There’s a far better chance Cook sees a strong amount of work in the backfield with Latavius Murray and Jerick McKinnon, although it’s unclear who will be the feature back Week 1 against the New Orleans Saints.
.@Vikings ST coach Mike Priefer tells @SiriusXMNFL he's petitioned Mike Zimmer 2 let him try Dalvin Cook on KO returns. Isn't holding breath
— Alex Marvez (@alexmarvez) July 19, 2017
With Cordarrelle Patterson signing with the Raiders the Vikings have an job opening at kick returner. A more likely option than Cook is fellow rookie Rodney Adams, who told Vikings.com that the Vikings have talked to him about being the return man.
“We wanted to make sure we had some guys as a potential kickoff returner,” Vikings GM Rick Spielman said following the draft. “It’ll all be open competition once they get in here … hopefully we’ll be able to find a kickoff returner out of this draft.”
Cook, Adams and the rest of the rookie class reports to Mankato for training camp on Sunday.
