Ryan

Cook

The compensation is expected to be a seventh-rounder. The Dolphins will shed Cook’s $1 million salary while handing the backup job to undrafted rookie Josh Samuda. Cook started 40 games over six seasons with the Vikings before joining Miami. The desperate Cowboys will count on Cook as insurance for shaky starter Phil Costa.

Guard Mackenzy Bernadeau has taken the majority of the reps with the first team this week and is expected to make his first career start at center. Veteran backup Derrick Dockery will go at right guard with Bernadeau at center.

Cook has yet to return to practice. With Phil Costa (probable, hamstring) back in the starting lineup, Cook won’t be guaranteed playing time when healthy. David Arkin will serve as the Cowboys’ emergency center.

Cook failed his pre-camp conditioning test, but this is the first we’ve heard of an injury. Going into the final year of his contract, it’s an inglorious end to Cook’s star-crossed Cowboys career. An 11-game fill-in starter for Phil Costa last season, Cook was slowed by knee and hamstring ailments along the way.

“He’ll compete, certainly,” Childress said. “We’ll just see how fast he can adjust to that side and everything we’re doing on offense.” Artis Hicks and Ryan Cook are atop the depth chart for now, but Loadholt should be an immediate upgrade.

Ryan Cook, who entered last season as the starter, is seeing time at center and guard. Loadholt remains the favorite to hold down right tackle to open the season.

If rookie Phil Loadholt wins the right tackle job, Artis Hicks will take over as the versatile backup. The Vikes will have to determine if Cook is worth keeping as a backup center to John Sullivan.

He’ll be replaced by Artis Hicks, who was serviceable in the first four games playing in place of then-suspended left tackle Bryant McKinnie. Cook, a second-round pick in 2006, will be in the last year of his contract in 2009.

Minnesota’s right tackle in 2007 and 2008, Cook struggled in the first-team role and was more than adequately replaced by Phil Loadholt last season. Cook can play center, so he figures to hang around as a swing-type backup.