Schefter: Dalvin Cook “unlikely to play” on Monday Night

With the Minnesota Vikings not playing until Monday night, we’ll be getting their first injury report of the week this afternoon. However, we might have gotten a bit of a preview of things to come thanks to Adam Schefter of ESPN.

According to Schefter, Cook is “unlikely to play” when the Vikings take the field against the Green Bay Packers on Monday Night Football in a game that could, potentially, have the Vikings’ postseason hopes riding on it.

Cook has started all 14 of the Vikings’ games this season, but has missed parts of the Vikings’ last four games while dealing with a chest/shoulder issue. In those four games, he’s carried the ball 47 times for 144 yards, though he has scored three touchdowns in those games.

Cook had a big game the first time the Vikings and Packers got together, carrying the ball 20 times for 154 yards and a 75-yard touchdown at Lambeau Field in Week 2. However, it looks like he’s going to have to sit this one out.

The Vikings’ running back depth chart might look significantly different on Monday, as it sounds like Alexander Mattison is still dealing with the ankle issue that kept him out of Sunday’s win over the Los Angeles Chargers. If that’s the case, it could very well be the Mike Boone show on Monday night, and the team has added running back Tony Brooks-James to the practice squad.

Depending on the results of the game on Saturday night between the Los Angeles Rams and the San Francisco 49ers, the Vikings could know their playoff fate before Monday night. A loss or tie by the Rams clinches a post-season spot for the Vikings. If that happens, it would not be surprising to see Cook miss the Week 17 game against Chicago as well.