For the second straight week in the 2019 preseason, the Vikings top running back watched from the sidelines with his pads hanging up in his locker.
Heading into the game Sunday night, it wasn't clear whether or not Dalvin Cook would be on the field with the rest of the offensive starters against Seattle, but coming out of the tunnel with no pads and a hoodie under his jersey, it was quickly clear we would see a healthy dose of our rookie running back.
And we did, and for the most part Alexander Mattison. Mostly seeing time against the Seahawks ones and a little against the twos, Mattison finished the day with 10 carries for 41 yards. The rookie showed good vision, good versatility and showed that he could handle the load. He also showed the green behind his ears too missing an opportunity for a catch and run early in the game and grinding a little too much only to have the ball stripped out inside the five yard line. Thankfully, the fumble was overturned as forward progress had been stopped.
With Ameer Abdullah inactive for the game, Mike Boone also got an extended look as he fights for the RB3 spot on the roster and he impressed again. Running the ball 21 times for 66 yards but it was a 45 yard catch and run that really tipped the scales on that night in his favor. This was the seconds straight week that Boone turned heads and with Abdullah continuing to struggle with fumbling issues Boone is working his angle on the vacant RB spot behind Cook and Mattison.
It's unclear at this point if Mike Zimmer plans to showcase Dalvin Cook at all this preseason but he has claimed that he has indeed made his decision on the matter. Only, he won't tell anybody. Cook has been injury prone in the past, so nobody would be surprised if we didn't see him until week one versus Atlanta.