Devastating Dalvin Cook news potentially obliterates Vikings playoff hopes

On Thursday, the Minnesota Vikings announced that Pro Bowl running back Dalvin Cook has been placed on the team’s Reserve/COVID-19 list.

With their playoff fate depending on the next three weeks, the Minnesota Vikings were delivered a gigantic punch to the gut on Thursday when the team announced that running back Dalvin Cook has been placed on their Reserve/COVID-19 list.

Cook is reportedly unvaccinated according to NFL Media’s Tom Pelissero, so Minnesota will not have him available when they host the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday inside U.S. Bank Stadium.

Luckily, the Vikings just recently activated running back Alexander Mattison off of the team’s Reserve/COVID-19 list, so he should be able to play this weekend. However, not having Cook on the field is certainly going to make getting a win over the Rams a lot tougher for Minnesota on Sunday.

How long will the Minnesota Vikings be without Dalvin Cook?

The Vikings running back has reportedly tested positive for the virus according to NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport, so he will have to be away from the team for at least 10 days. Still, Cook could be able to suit up in Week 17 against the Green Bay Packers if he isn’t experiencing any significant symptoms from the virus.

If Cook was actually vaccinated, he would have a chance to still play on Sunday’s matchup with the Rams. But since he is reportedly unvaccinated, Minnesota will have to try and defeat a 10-4 Los Angeles team without their top running back.

According to FiveThirtyEight, the Vikings’ playoff chances will increase to 51 percent with a win on Sunday, and they will fall to 11 percent with a loss.

Minnesota has actually won three of their last four games with Mattison as a starter, so hopefully their success with him in the backfield continues this weekend against the Rams.