Minnesota Vikings running back Alexander Mattison has opened up about Dalvin Cook after he was released by the franchise earlier this month.
The Vikings awarded Mattison with a two-year deal this offseason as they put their faith in the 25-year-old, with the running back keen to "maximise" the opportunity. But Cook was let go as a result, and is currently exploring his options ahead of next season.
Cook played all 17 games last season which was a career first, and scored 10 touchdowns in the process. Mattison has thanked Cook for challenging him, but is grateful to now be No. 1 rather than a back-up.
"I’m thankful for having Dalvin in that running back room and challenging me to challenge him every single day, so that kind of helped me out within my preparation," Mattison said. "Yeah, with that understanding of knowing kind of where my role is going to be and maximise it.
"I’ve been a lot more prepared in the way of understanding where I’m going to be at in the playbook, where I’m going to have to be at physically, you know, stamina. It’s just a whole bunch that I have to now take into account but without applying too much pressure, of course, because this is a game of ball that we have grown to love and grown to adapt to at all different levels.
"I’m definitely comfortable as a professional athlete and understanding what I have to do to get the job done. Now just cranking that thing up and getting ready for this opportunity that I have in front of me."
Cook may have expected his departure, but Mattison has admitted he was expecting to be cut too. Mattison described it as a "blessing" to be back with the Vikings, and seems happy to settle down in Minnesota for the next stage of his career.
"I actually didn't think that I'd be back in Minnesota, so it's a blessing to be back, to be in a place where I spent the first four years of my career and loved it there," Mattison added. "To be there, be a part of this team, this locker room, the ownership, the staff.
"It's a great place to be, so I wouldn't want to be anywhere else, and while I'm with this opportunity in front of me, I just see so much upside. Just coming back into year two of this offense under coach K.O. (Kevin O'Connell) and (offensive coordinator) Wes Phillips.
"They just, they know what they're doing, and we've gone back to the drawing board, and we've seen a lot of where we can improve from last year, especially in the run game, so it's pretty exciting." The Vikings made it to Wild Card Weekend last season but lost against the New York Giants, and will be keen to improve.
