EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. — The Vikings lost one of their go-to playmakers Sunday when running back Dalvin Cook suffered a torn ACL.
But Minnesota's offense will also get a playmaker back this week. Wide receiver Michael Floyd will be eligible to play in his first game with the Vikings after serving a four-game suspension.
Floyd, who spent the first five seasons of his career with Arizona and New England, joined the Vikings as a free agent this offseason.
"I think he's just another added weapon, another guy who can make plays," said Vikings wide receiver Adam Thielen. "He's a good locker room guy, and we love having him around. It'll be good to have him back at practice."
Floyd has attended meetings and been around the facility but has not been allowed to practice with the team during a four-game suspension. The 27-year-old said he's ready for any role in the offense.
"I have no idea. I think my role is just to go out there and make plays and contribute to the best of my ability," Floyd said Monday. "Whatever they say, goes, so I'll be ready. I'm in shape, I feel great and I'm ready to get started."
Floyd joins a Minnesota offense that is currently ranked seventh in the NFL with an average of 371.3 total yards per game.
Vikings wide receiver Stefon Diggs leads the NFL with 391 receiving yards and is tied for second with four touchdown receptions. Thielen ranks third in the league with 358 receiving yards through four games.
Floyd said he's been impressed by the play of his teammates during his absence and noted he's focused on continuing the early surge by the position group.
"It's been great to see out there on the field, them making big-time plays," Floyd said. "That's what we expect out of them – great receivers that when the quarterback is in trouble, they'll come down with the ball.
"That's expected in our room, and we just have to move forward to make some bigger plays," Floyd added.
Vikings Head Coach Mike Zimmer said Monday that he wasn't sure how much Floyd would be used in his first game back.
"We'll see how practice goes this week, and we'll continue to work forward with that," Zimmer said. "At this point, we're just trying to get better."
Floyd has 246 career catches for 3,781 yards and 24 touchdowns. He's averaged 15.4 yards per catch during his career and has three seasons of at least 840 receiving yards or more.
Vikings cornerback Xavier Rhodes said Floyd will be a welcome addition on offense.
"Physicality. Big guy, red zone threat. He's pretty fast for his size … all-around guy. He blocks, he cares about the team," Rhodes said about Floyd's game.
Floyd was a standout performer at training camp in Mankato when he routinely made tough catches in a crowd of defenders.
Most of those throws came from Vikings quarterback Case Keenum, who has started the past three games for Minnesota.
"I love Case – as a player and as a teammate," Floyd said. "He's out there making plays all the time, to the best of his ability, and I think me going out there, all I can do is help him."
Time will tell how much of an impact Floyd has on the offense, but there's no doubt that the wide receiver's presence is a welcome addition for the Vikings.
"I'm just going to be aggressive," Floyd said. "I'm an aggressive player, and I'm going to go out there and make plays. That's just what I do. That's what's it in me, and that's never going to stop."
