Mike Zimmer says Dalvin Cook 'feels good today' after hurting shoulder in Vikings' win over Chargers
Running back Dalvin Cook #33 of the Minnesota Vikings is helped off the field after injuring his shoulder in the third quarter against the Los Angeles Chargers at Dignity Health Sports Park on December 15, 2019 in Carson, California. The Vikings defe ((Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images))
EAGAN - Despite missing a majority of the second half of Sunday’s 39-10 Vikings’ win over the L.A. Chargers, Mike Zimmer is cautiously optimistic running back Dalvin Cook can play next Monday night against the Green Bay Packers at U.S. Bank Stadium.
Cook suffered a shoulder injury on his second rushing attempt of the third quarter. He went down in considerable pain before being helped off the field by two team trainers, favoring his left shoulder. He went to the medical tent, and was immediately ruled out for the rest of the game.
Cook never went to the locker room, and spent a majority of the second half on the sidelines smiling and chatting with teammates. Zimmer said Monday he believes Cook can play through his latest injury.
“Yeah, feels good today,” Zimmer said.
Cook had nine carries for 27 yards and three catches for 16 yards before having to leave the game. He left the Vikings’ 20-7 win over the Lions two weeks ago early in the third quarter with what was then labeled a chest injury. Cook initially got hurt in the Vikings’ 37-30 loss at Seattle on Monday Night Football, coming out of their bye week.
In Cook’s absence Sunday and with Alexander Mattison inactive due to an ankle injury, No. 3 running back Mike Boone had 13 carries for 56 yards and a pair of second half touchdowns as the Vikings pulled away from the Chargers.
Cook has not had a 100-yard rushing game since Minnesota’s 42-30 win at Detroit, where he had 25 carries for 142 yards and a pair of touchdowns. He’s had less than 30 yards rushing in three of his past four games.
The Vikings host their NFC North rivals, the Green Bay Packers, Dec. 23 on Monday Night Football. The Vikings can clinch a playoff spot with a win over the Packers, or if the L.A. Rams lose to the San Francisco 49ers on Thursday Night Football.
In Minnesota’s 21-16 Week 2 loss at Green Bay, Cook had 20 carries for 154 yards and a touchdown. He also had three catches for 37 yards.
Zimmer said Monday it’s too early to know if Cook will get his full share of the offensive responsibilities against the Packers.
“It’s too early, but an extra day obviously helps. We’ll just have to see how the week goes,” Zimmer said.
Odenigbo’s scoop and score a game-changing play
With the Vikings leading 12-10 late in the first half, the Chargers had the ball looking for a score to take the lead into the locker room. It was a pivotal sequence, with the Chargers getting the ball to start the second half.
Ifeadi Odenigbo picked as good a time as any for his first career defensive touchdown. Danielle Hunter got pressure on Philip Rivers and forced a fumble, one of seven Chargers’ turnovers on the day. Eric Kendricks prevented a Chargers’ player from picking it up, and the ball was there for the taking on the turf.
Odenigbo scooped it up, and with Hunter’s guidance, took it 56 yards for a touchdown and a 19-10 Vikings lead. It was the biggest play in 30 unanswered points the Vikings scored after getting down 10-9 in the second quarter.
“That was a big swing and then for us to score with 7 seconds left, I thought that was big to go up right before the half,” Zimmer said. “It was big, those are typically game-changing plays.”
Odenigbo, in his second year with the Vikings, has seen more playing time over the past seven games. He’s got 17 tackles on the season, including five sacks. Four of those five sacks have come in Minnesota’s past eight games. He finished with two tackles and a quarterback hit on Sunday, in addition to the fumble return for a touchdown.