Minnesota Vikings: Dalvin Cook injury cause for concern
Dalvin Cook suffered an injury on Sunday, and that could be a problem for the Minnesota Vikings offense.
The Minnesota Vikings lost their game against the Detroit Lions by a 14-7 score on Sunday, and according to reports, that may be the least of their concerns at the moment. Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer told the media Sunday the team is concerned running back Dalvin Cook injured his ACL in the loss (per ESPN). He’ll have an MRI on Monday.
The injury occurred when Cook took a handoff from quarterback Case Keenum up the middle of the field, gaining 10 yards. He then reached and grabbed for his knee, being looked at by trainers on the field before going back to the locker room under his own power with a trainer.
Before the injury, Cook was having a very good day. He rushed for 66 yards which included a five-yard touchdown on the afternoon, and was on the receiving end for eight more.
Depending on the severity of the injury, this is news that has the potential to present a big problem for the Vikings. Cook has been a focal point for the offense this season, something that is rare for a rookie. His explosiveness combined with his versatility have been tremendous assets.
On the season, he has rushed the rock 61 times for 288 yards and a touchdown. His best game of the season to this point came on Sept. 11 against the New Orleans Saints in a Monday Night Football affair. He ran 22 times for 127 yards, averaging 5.8 yards per carry.
Jerick McKinnon and Latavius Murray are among the running backs capable of filling in. Although they may not light up the stat sheets, they have proven that they can be productive in the NFL, particularly Murray. He rushed for 1,066 yards and six touchdowns in 2015 with the Oakland Raiders and really put himself on the map. McKinnon’s best year to this point came in 2016. He rushed for 539 yards and two touchdowns, cementing himself as a dependable running back.
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The Vikings probably do not want to explore these scenarios as having Cook as the starter for the majority of the season would be the most ideal situation. Even if he misses a couple of games, that is certainly a lot better than missing the entire season.