Vikings initial injury report: Dalvin Cook not likely to play this week

With Sunday’s game at U.S. Bank Stadium rapidly approaching, the Minnesota Vikings and Atlanta Falcons have put out their first injury reports of the week, and each of them contains some pretty significant names. Let’s take a look at who is listed for both squads, starting with the visiting team.

Did Not Participate

• S Jaylinn Hawkins (concussion)
• WR Julio Jones (hamstring)
• S Keanu Neal (hamstring)
• DT Deadrin Senat (non-injury)

Limited Participation

• S Ricardo Allen (elbow)
• DE Dante Fowler (ankle)
• WR Russell Gage (shoulder)
• TE Hayden Hurst (back)
• DE Grady Jarrett (back)
• DE Takk McKinley (groin)
• LB Foye Oluokun (knee)

Full Participation

No players listed

At this point, I sort of think it’s a bigger story when Julio Jones does practice as opposed to when he doesn’t. Jones has missed two of the Falcons’ five games this year, and if he’s not able to go on Sunday it would obviously be a great help to a Vikings’ defense that could use some.

Speaking of the Vikings, here is their injury report for Wednesday.

Did Not Participate

• RB Dalvin Cook (groin)
• CB Holton Hill (foot)
• DT Jaleel Johnson (back)
• WR K.J. Osborn (hamstring)

Limited Participation

• CB Kris Boyd (hamstring)
• C Garrett Bradbury (finger/knee)
• FB C.J. Ham (shoulder)

The big story here, obviously, is Cook. The word coming out of Eagan is that Cook is likely not going to play this week, which would give him two weeks to rest with the Vikings having their bye week coming in Week 7. Alexander Mattison would step in for Cook, and he’s coming off of his most productive game as a pro.

Head coach Mike Zimmer has said that Cook’s groin injury is “not serious.” This, if recent precedent is any indicator, could mean anything from Cook being back after the bye to his 2020 season being over.

Those are your initial injury reports for this week, ladies and gentlemen. We will obviously continue to keep track of all the injury situations surrounding both the Falcons and the Vikings leading into Sunday’s contest.