Vikings injury report: Dalvin Cook returns, Za'Darius Smith doesn't

Three days before the game and Za'Darius Smith has not practiced this week.
Vikings injury report: Dalvin Cook returns, Za'Darius Smith doesn't
Vikings injury report: Dalvin Cook returns, Za'Darius Smith doesn't /

The Vikings have hopped on a jet and are traveling to London Thursday for Sunday's international series game against the Saints, and it appears that running back Dalvin Cook will be good to go. 

Nursing a shoulder injury suffered last Sunday against the Lions, Cook was listed a full participant in Thursday's practice. He did not practice Wednesday and was noncommittal when asked about his status for Sunday. 

Outside linebacker Za'Darius Smith, however, missed a second consecutive practice. He's dealing with a knee injury that he suffered against Detroit. Head coach Kevin O'Connell said Smith is on a day-to-day watch, so there's no reason yet to think he won't play, though it's certainly something to watch. 

There are 13 players on the Saints' injury report, though only two didn't practice Thursday: quarterback Jameis Winston (back) and wide receiver Michael Thomas (foot). 

The Vikings and Saints play at 8:30 a.m. Central Time Sunday and the game will be televised nationally on NFL Network and locally on KSTP-TV (Channel 5). 

Related: This is why the Vikings kept Alexander Mattison

Related: The importance of a 2-1 start and the Vikings' looming 3rd down regression


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Joe Nelson
JOE NELSON

Title: Bring Me The Sports co-owner, editor Email: joe@bringmethenews.com Twitter: @JoeBMTN Education: Southwest Minnesota State University Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota Expertise: All things Minnesota sports Nelson has covered Minnesota sports for two decades, starting his media career in sports radio. He worked at small market Minnesota stations in Marshall and St. Cloud before joining one of the nation's highest-rated sports stations, KFAN-FM 100.3 in the Twin Cities. There, he was the producer of the top-rated mid-morning sports show with Minnesota Vikings announcer Paul Allen.  His radio experience helped blossom a career as a sports writer, joining Minneapolis-based Bring Me The News in 2011.  Nelson and Adam Uren became co-owners of Bring Me The News in 2018 and have since more than tripled the site's traffic and launched Bring Me The Sports in cooperation with the Sports Illustrated/FanNation umbrella. Nelson has covered the Super Bowl and numerous training camps, NFL combines, the MLB All-Star Game and Minnesota playoff games, in addition to the day-to-day happenings on and off the field of play.  Nelson also has extensive knowledge of non-sports subjects, including news and weather. He works closely with Bring Me The News meteorologist Sven Sundgaard to produce a bevy of weather and climate information for Minnesota readers.  Nelson helped launch and manage the Bring Me The News Radio Network, which provided more than 50 radio stations around Minnesota with daily news, sports and weather reports from 2011-17.