Report reveals chances of Dalvin Cook playing for Vikings in Week 4

Following an early exit from Sunday’s game, Minnesota Vikings running back Dalvin Cook will reportedly attempt to play with a shoulder injury next week.

After nearly eclipsing 100 rushing yards in the first three quarters of the matchup, a shoulder injury forced Minnesota Vikings running back Dalvin Cook to watch from the sideline as his team delivered an improbable comeback win over the Detroit Lions on Sunday.

Following the victory, Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell revealed that Cook will be day-to-day this week due to his shoulder injury despite the running back already telling him that he will play next Sunday against the New Orleans Saints.

Well, it sounds like the chances of Cook suiting up in Week 4 against the Saints are actually pretty high according to a recent report from ProFootballTalk’s Mike Florio on Sunday.

Minnesota Vikings RB Dalvin Cook should reportedly be able to play in Week 4 vs. New Orleans Saints

According to Florio, the “expectation is [Cook] will wear a brace and play” next weekend against New Orleans. NFL Media’s Tom Pelissero also reported something similar on Sunday and added that Cook is currently dealing with a dislocated shoulder.

This isn’t the first time the Minnesota running back has injured his shoulder. Cook dislocated his shoulder last season in the Vikings’ Week 12 loss to the San Francisco 49ers, and in 2019, he suffered a shoulder A/C joint sprain in Minnesota’s Week 15 win over the Los Angeles Chargers.

Cook didn’t miss any time due to his dislocated shoulder last season, but he did miss two games in 2019 because of the shoulder injury he sustained against the Chargers.

So if his latest shoulder injury is similar to the one that he suffered against the 49ers last season, then he probably will take the field next weekend against the Saints.

However, this decision will ultimately be up to the Vikings, and the new medical staff that they have in place could determine that it might be best for Cook to sit out at least one game to avoid further injury.

If Minnesota’s top running back cannot play next Sunday, Alexander Mattison will likely replace him in the starting lineup. In four starts last season, Mattison found the end zone three times, and he averaged 130 total yards per contest.