Mike Hughes might return for Vikings; decision likely Friday

Though cornerback Mike Hughes was a full participant in practice for the third consecutive day on Thursday, whether he returns from a torn ACL on Sunday against the Oakland Raiders remains subject to clearance from the team's medical staff.

Coach Mike Zimmer said Thursday afternoon he had not received that clearance yet, and added the Vikings will likely have an answer about Hughes' availability for Sunday's game when they issue their final injury report for the week on Friday.

"Whatever the doctors decide is what we'll do," Zimmer said. "I can't make the decision for Mike; I can't make the decision for the doctors."

Hughes, injured last Oct. 15 against the Arizona Cardinals, has said this week he feels ready to go. He will play with a knee brace for at least the first game when he does return, since he hasn't taken any on-field contact since his injury.

Running back Dalvin Cook was named the NFL's Ground Player of the Week on Thursday, after his 154-yard performance against Green Bay that included a 75-yard touchdown run at Lambeau Field.

Cook, whose 154 yards Sunday were a career high, is the NFL's leading rusher with 265 yards through two games. He's 38 yards ahead of the New York Giants' Saquon Barkley for the top spot.

As the Jaguars prepared to play the Titans on Thursday night, in what could be two-time Pro Bowler Jalen Ramsey's final game with Jacksonville, the Vikings popped up as a potential landing spot for the cornerback.

An ESPN report named the Vikings as one of six teams who have made "substantive inquiries" about Ramsey, who has requested a trade. The report also listed the Ravens, Chiefs, Raiders, Eagles and Seahawks among the teams most serious about pursuing him.

The Jaguars are reportedly seeking two first-round picks for Ramsey, 24, though it remains to be seen whether any team will meet their asking price. If the Vikings were to emerge as a viable landing spot for Ramsey, they'd either have to deal a veteran player back to Jacksonville or figure out another mechanism to clear cap space. Ramsey has a base salary of $3.734 million this season, in the fourth year of his rookie deal.

Linebacker Anthony Barr, who was limited in practice on Wednesday because of a groin injury, did not participate in practice on Thursday because of the ailment. When asked if he thought he'd be without Barr on Sunday against the Raiders, Zimmer said, "I doubt it."

Ben Gedeon (groin) returned to practice as a limited participant Thursday. The third-year linebacker ran through drills with his teammates but did not have his helmet during the open portion of practice. Cornerback Mackensie Alexander (elbow) did not practice.