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Dalvin Cook eyeing Adrian Peterson-like return from ACL tear

Is Dalvin Cook ready to lead the Vikings to a big divisional win?

Adrian Peterson rapidly recovered from an ACL tear in 2011, and Minnesota Vikings running back Dalvin Cook wants to mimic the timetable.

The rookie said he’ll return “better than ever” while commenting on Peterson, per Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press.

“A.P. came back incredible. He’s just a freak of nature. You rarely get guys like that. When you get ACL surgery, that’s the main goal: You want to come back like A.P.”

Christmas Eve in 2011, Peterson tore the ACL in his left knee. Until that point, players commonly took a full year to return from the injury.

However, he returned the first game of the 2012 campaign and nearly set an NFL record. Peterson finished the season with 2,097 rushing yards, just eight shy of passing Eric Dickerson’s all-time mark of 2,105.

Cook isn’t in much danger of missing 2018, since his injury occurred in Week 4 against the Detroit Lions. That’s not a certainty, of course, but the normal timeline suggests Cook won’t be limited for long.

Having a goal of rehabbing like Peterson is absolutely worthwhile. If Cook came anywhere close of matching that timeline, he’d be available for the preseason and could shake off the nerves of planting, cutting and exploding off his left leg.

And the sooner the Vikings have their star runner in the backfield, the better their offense will be.

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