Injury forces Dalvin Cook to leave Vikings game early vs. Lions

The Minnesota Vikings, unfortunately, had to finish their game against the Lions on Sunday without the help of running back Dalvin Cook.

Trailing by 10 points to the Detroit Lions on Sunday, the Minnesota Vikings handed the ball off to running back Dalvin Cook on a 1st-and-10 play from the Lions’ 48-yard line.

After having a bunch of success against Detroit all day long (more than 90 rushing yards), Cook fumbled the ball on this play, and the Lions were able to recover. To add insult to injury, Minnesota’s top running back left the field with an injury.

After getting checked out by the Vikings‘ medical team on the sideline, Cook was eventually ruled out of the contest with a shoulder injury. He was replaced out on the field by Alexander Mattison.

Injury spoils a great day by Minnesota Vikings RB Dalvin Cook vs. the Detroit Lions

Before his fumble in the third quarter, Cook was running all over Detroit in Sunday’s contest. He had already gained over 90 yards on the ground, and he was averaging more than five yards per carry.

It was a great sign for Minnesota’s top running back, especially after he had quite the underwhelming performance in the team’s loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 2. But with Cook leaving Sunday’s game early, his status for Week 4 against the New Orleans Saints is definitely up in the air.

If Cook can’t go next week, Mattison will likely start in the offensive backfield for the Vikings when they take on the Saints in London. This is something we will definitely have to keep an eye on during the next few days.