Everything is on schedule for Dalvin Cook. Just ask him.

The Vikings running back said Sunday he believes he’s making the progress that was expected in his rookie season.

“I feel like I’m right where I need to be,’’ Cook said. “I just got to keep pressing and keep working on my craft and get better. But I think I’m at the right point right now where I can just keep taking that step of being a pro.’’

Cook started in Thursday’s 17-10 win over Buffalo in the preseason opener, carrying five times for 13 yards and catching four passes for 30 yards. Even if his running stats weren’t too impressive, offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur liked what he saw.

“I thought for a first outing, it was certainly something we can build on,’’ Shurmur said. “There are areas he needs to improve, but it was a good start.’’

Cook, taken in the second round out of Florida State, is seeking to replace the departed Adrian Peterson as the starter. He is getting more competition now with the return of Latavius Murray, who practiced for the first time Aug. 7 after recovering from ankle surgery in March.

Murray participated some in team drills at practice Sunday and said he is showing continued improvement. It remains to be seen if he will make enough progress to make his Vikings debut Friday at Seattle.

Meanwhile, Cook isn’t planning to cut any corners.

“You still got to put the hard work in,’’ he said. “You can’t skip that part, because once you skip that part, the job will skip you.’’ Related Articles Now with Colts, Jonathan Taylor continues to torment Minnesota

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OFFENSIVE LINE SHUFFLE

Left tackle Riley Reiff did some work with the first string in team drills, but left guard Alex Boone wasn’t alongside him.

Boone was not at the workout that was moved indoors because of rain. Shurmur declined to say why, and Vikings coach Mike Zimmer did not speak Sunday to the media.

Reiff suffered a back injury July 27 in the first full-squad workout of training camp and didn’t return to practice until Aug. 7. He then did only individual work until Sunday, when Rashod Hill also got first-team snaps at left tackle.

With Boone out, Nick Easton and Pat Elflein both saw time at left guard. Easton and Elflein also both got work at center, where they are battling for the starting job.

“I felt OK,’’ Easton said of playing left guard. “The more reps you get in there, the more comfortable you feel.’’

With Reiff and Boone having missed practice time, the Vikings have needed to shuffle players on the line.

“The unintended consequence of this is that they’re getting used to playing with one another in different lineups, and I think that’s good,’’ Shurmur said. “We like what we’ve seen from the players that we got out there.’’

DBS STILL SIT

For the second straight day, the Vikings practiced without two starting defensive backs.

Cornerback Trae Waynes remained out with a right shoulder injury suffered against the Bills and safety Andrew Sendejo with an undisclosed ailment.

Practicing but not participating in team drills were wide receiver Laquon Treadwell (thigh) and linebacker Kentrell Brothers (hamstring). Fullback C.J. Ham (undisclosed) returned after being out Saturday.

BRIEFLY

–Running back Bishop Sankey, whose season ended when he suffered a torn right ACL against the Bills, cleared waivers Sunday and was placed on Minnesota’s injured reserve list. Sankey was waived Saturday with an injury designation, and the Vikings signed running back Bronson Hill.

–Hall of fame defensive tackle John Randle will be the latest former Vikings player profiled on the NFL Network’s “A Football Life,’’ airing Dec. 15. Others featured in recent years were Randall Cunningham and Cris Carter in 2013, Warren Moon in 2014, Alan Page in 2015 and Brett Favre in 2016.

–Strong-legged Vikings rookie kicker Marshall Koehn, battling Kai Forbath for the job, had a chance to make a statement Sunday when he attempted a 58-yard field goal. However, it was a bit short and to the left.

–Minnesota could be fresher Friday than Seattle. While the Vikings have more than a week off between their first and second preseason games, the Seahawks will take to the field just five days after their opener Sunday at the Los Angeles Chargers.