ESPN’s Courtney Cronin is reporting that Minnesota Vikings starting RB Dalvin Cook will miss Week 17 versus the Detroit Lions due to a family emergency.
NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero is reporting the family emergency was the unexpected passing of his father, James on Tuesday, and Cook has returned home to Miami, Florida to be with his younger siblings.
With Cook’s season now over, he will end his career year with 1,557 rushing yards, 16 rushing touchdowns, 44 receptions, 361 receiving yards, and a receiving touchdown.
The last time Vikings met the Lions, Cook ran for 206 yards and 2 touchdowns (as well as two receptions for 46 yards), and a repeat performance would have put his name in the Vikings’ record books. Cook was 203 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns away from matching Adrian Peterson’s single-season team records.
Of note for the game, Cooks’s backup Alexander Mattison is currently in concussion protocols and missed Week 16. If he is also not able to play, the Vikings will likely turn to former Lions running back Ameer Abdullah. Minnesota’s Week 17 injury report will be due out Wednesday afternoon, and Mattison’s status will be updated then.
We at Lions Wire wish to offer our condolences to Cook and his family during this difficult time.