Dalvin Cook Injury: Latest Updates & Fantasy Outlook

Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images Vikings running back Dalvin Cook

Minnesota Vikings superstar running back Dalvin Cook was forced out of Sunday’s game with the Los Angeles Chargers, after injuring his shoulder in the third quarter.

After being evaluated in the medical tent on the sideline, Cook was ruled out for the game.

With Cook not returning to Sunday’s contest, fantasy owners that are playing for their postseason lives this week have been dealt a significant blow to their rosters.

Cook had been limited to only 27 yards on nine carries by the Chargers’ defense on Sunday. The dynamic RB also added 3 receptions for 16 yards before exiting the game.

Mike Boone and Ameer Abdullah are the remaining backfield options for the Vikings for the rest of the game in Los Angeles on Sunday.

We’ll have more updates on Cook’s injury and status for next week’s game, as they are made available.


Vikings Force Seven Turnovers En Route to 39-10 Blowout of Chargers


The Minnesota Vikings forced seven Los Angeles Chargers’ turnovers on Sunday, en route to their fourth win in five games.

The turning point of the game came late in the first half with the Chargers trailing 12-10 and positioned at the Vikings 26-yard line, poised to take the lead heading into halftime.

Instead, Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers fumbled the ball when Danielle Hunter sacked him and then running back Austin Ekeler picked it up and tried to continue the play but fumbled it as well. Ifeadi Odenigbo picked up the loose ball and returned it 56 yards for a touchdown that gave the Vikings a 19-10 lead. That seemed to be the knockout blow, as the Chargers would not score another point from that point on.

“Danielle did a heck of a job forcing that fumble. I was fortunate to pick the ball up,” Obenigbo said. “I was running down and getting tired but I was fortunate to score the touchdown. Coach Zim always harps on pursuit and effort. That was a collective effort from everyone.

“It was pretty neat doing it against the Chargers because I grew up a Chargers fan because of LaDainian Tomlinson and Philip Rivers. Now being able to play them and be able to score my first touchdown is very cool.”

The Chargers gave up 30 unanswered points after leading the game 10-9 halfway through the second quarter.

Chargers QB Philip Rivers was picked off three times and RB Melvin Gordon coughed up two fumbles.

Mike Boone was more than just a serviceable replacement for Dalvin Cook after he exited the game with a hamstring injury. The undrafted free agent from 2018 carried the ball 13 times for 56 yards and scored two touchdowns.

The Vikings head into Week 16 only one game behind the Packers in the NFC North and will host them in a critical showdown next Monday night in prime time. Minnesota would love to see their star RB Cook be able to return to the field next Monday night but will have to wait and see what his prognosis is this week.