Dalvin Cook leaves Minnesota Vikings game with non-contact knee injury

The Minnesota Vikings’ star rookie running back may have suffered a serious injury to his left knee during Sunday’s game against the Detroit Lions.

After scoring on a five-yard run to put the Minnesota Vikings up 7-3 over the Detroit Lions at the half on Sunday, Dalvin Cook’s second carry in the third quarter took the air out of U.S. Bank Stadium.

After gaining 10 yards, the rookie running back made a cut in the open-field that resulted in his left knee buckling and him dropping the football. After the Lions recovered the ball, Cook stayed lying on the ground as the Vikings’ trainers attended to him.

From the replays, the initial diagnosis does not look good for the Minnesota running back.

Whatever happened to Cook, the injury was not induced by contact, which is never a good sign. The majority of ACL tears are sustained without contact and that would the absolute last thing the Vikings need to happen right now.

After limping to the sideline, Cook was seen being consoled by his teammates and coaches, likely telling the kid to keep his head up and stay positive. The running back was then taken to the locker room and was shortly ruled out for the remainder of the game with a knee injury.

Obviously, the hope for the Vikings is that Cook did not suffer any sort of serious damage to his knee and that he can return to the field sooner than later. But just as it seems like Minnesota had discovered their next franchise running back this year, he becomes the latest member of their roster to suffer a non-contact knee injury.

Next: Three Vikings fined after their Week 3 win

More information on Cook’s injury will be known after the team conducts an MRI within the next 24 hours.