Featured Posts | Vikings

By Judd Zulgad |

Sprained ankle will sideline Dalvin Cook for the second time in three games

Panthers Vikings Football
Minnesota Vikings running back Dalvin Cook (33) runs from Carolina Panthers safety Tre Boston, left, during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 29, 2020, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn)

Running back Dalvin Cook will be inactive for the second time in three games Sunday as the Vikings play host to Detroit. Cook is dealing with a sprained ankle that he suffered in Week 2 at Arizona.

Cook attempted to play in last Sunday’s loss to Cleveland. He rushed for only 34 yards on nine carries and missed a large portion of the second half after aggravating the injury. He  did not practice on Wednesday or Thursday.

Alexander Mattison will replace Cook as the Vikings’ starting running back. Mattison rushed for 112 yards on 26 carries and caught six passes for 59 yards in the Vikings’ win over Seattle in Week 3.

Cook, who agreed to a five-year, $63 million deal with the Vikings prior to the 2020 season , played in only four games as a rookie in 2017 before a knee injury ended his season. He played in 11 games in 2018 and 14 (of 16) each of the past two seasons. This year he has appeared in three of the Vikings’ five games in a 17-game season.

The Vikings have only six players on the inactive list, including starting nose tackle Michael Pierce (elbow), because cornerbacks Cameron Dantzler and Harrison Hand remain on the COVID-19 list.