Minnesota Vikings RB Dalvin Cook cleared for team drills

Minnesota Vikings running back Dalvin Cook participated in team drills on Tuesday for the first time in eight months since a torn ACL ended his promising rookie season.

Cook has been cleared to participate in certain portions of 11-on-11 drills after being limited to individual work on the rehab field during the first two weeks of voluntary team workouts.

"I've been feeling good, but this week was another milestone," Cook said, per multiple media outlets. "They kind of told me at the beginning of the week. I was excited to get back into action, get out there and just get some live reps."

Cook wore a brace on his left knee as he worked with the first-team offense.

"It's more about getting him around bodies flying at him a little bit," Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer said. "It's not so much trying to figure out what he can do right now, it's just trying to get him comfortable with 22 players around him."

Cook was off to a sizzling start with 354 yards rushing -- with a robust 4.8 yards per carry -- in four games last season before suffering his injury in Minnesota's 14-7 loss to Detroit on Oct. 1.

"I'm still that same guy," Cook said. "I'm still Dalvin Cook. I haven't left. The motivation is still there. The talent is still there, just a little older, that's it."

A second-round pick in the 2017 NFL Draft, Cook also had two rushing touchdowns and 11 catches for 90 yards before he went down with the injury.