After reports surfaced Thursday that the Minnesota Vikings had plans to cut Dalvin Cook if they were unable to find a trade partner, the team has formally announced that move.

The team published a release late Friday morning, acknowledging that "Dalvin Cook's highlight-packed run with the Vikings has concluded".

In the release, they explained that the team had terminated Cook's contract "as the Vikings have had to make multiple cuts because of the salary cap".

As explained in my piece yesterday about the report Cook would be cut, he departs as a 4-time Pro Bowler after joining the team as a second-round NFL Draft pick in 2017.

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Cook came in 6th in the NFL last season in rushing yards with 1,173 yards on the ground. One of the highlights that the team pointed out was his career-long 81-yard touchdown against the Buffalo Bills, which was also the second-longest run for any player in the 2022 season. That, of course, was the same epic game where the Vikings came back from a 27-10 deficit to win in incredible fashion.

In another all-time comeback game against the Colts, Dalvin scored on a play where he caught a pass and ran for the endzone on what went in the books as a 64-yard play.

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Vikings Head Coach Kevin O'Connell shared a statement on Dalvin, saying the following in the release:

"I hold Dalvin in the highest regard and am grateful for his contributions on and off the field. Dalvin is a tough, dynamic player and a respected leader by his teammates, which was evident by his multiple seasons as a team captain,. As a finalist for the 2022 Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award, Dalvin's approach to the game and his commitment to sportsmanship is clearly respected across the league. We appreciate Dalvin's positivity, energy and leadership and will be pulling for him in the future."

Vikings General Manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah shared similar sentiments about Dalvin as a player and person, saying:

"Dalvin has been an incredible leader for this organization for years, and I quickly noticed how respected he is among everyone in our building. I'm fortunate to have been around such an enjoyable, talented and hardworking person like him over the last year. He's etched his name in Vikings history with his production on the field but also by consistently giving back to the Vikings Foundation. We are thankful for everything Dalvin brought to the Vikings and sincerely wish him all the best in his future."

The team shared a video along with the news of Cook's release, thanking for his time with the team.

Cook now hits the open market, with interested teams being able to make him offers. Teams that have been linked to Cook include the Denver Broncos, as well as his home-state Miami Dolphins. Coincidentally, Cook shared an Instagram story of him in Miami after the Vikings game against the Dolphins following Thursday morning's news. This has some speculating he may be hoping for a return to the Sunshine State.

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