The Minnesota Vikings are expected to be without their star running back Dalvin Cook when they take the field against the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 5.
Entering Week 5 of the 2018 NFL season, the Minnesota Vikings are ranked dead last in rushing, averaging only 63 yards per game on the ground and a disappointing 3.5 yards per attempt with zero scores according to ESPN’s stats.
The team’s leading rusher through four games is Dalvin Cook, who has accumulated only 98 rushing yards on the season on 36 total attempts despite missing Week 3 against the Bills this season.
When the injury report was released for the game against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday, Cook was listed as questionable with a hamstring injury. However, it now appears as though he won’t be in action.
According to a tweet from NFL Network and NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport, it is expected that Minnesota will not have Cook active for the game.
The #Vikings are not expecting RB Dalvin Cook (hamstring) to play Sunday vs. the #Eagles, sources say. It would take an impressive turnaround for him to be on the field.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 7, 2018
It is interesting that Cook was in action against the Rams on Sept. 27 and has enjoyed a long week to recover, but likely won’t be in action against the Eagles. In his place, the Vikings will need to rely on the rushing attack of Latavius Murray, Mike Boone, and Roc Thomas with help from fullback C.J. Ham to pick up yardage on the ground.
This is a bad week to be without a dynamic weapon like Cook. Philadelphia has allowed the fewest yards rushing through the first four weeks of the season, allowing only 63.8 yards per game on the ground and is tied for second in fewest yards allowed per carry.
If the Minnesota Vikings want to succeed in having a balanced offense, they will need to find a way to establish a strong running game going forward. However, with Cook out and how tough the Eagles run defense is, this might not be the week it happens.