Vikings star running back Dalvin Cook was helped off the field Sunday with an apparent right-leg injury. He was unable to put any weight on the leg as medical personnel helped him to the blue medical tent, but two drives later, he was back in the game.
Cook went down with an injury after fumbling on a carry. Minnesota's rusher was initially stood up just past the line of scrimmage, and a handful of defenders closed in to bring him down while Cook kept churning his legs. It's not obvious from the sideline camera where exactly Cook's injury occurred, but he remained on the ground in pain before being helped off.
The Vikings announced Cook as probable to return to Sunday's game after suffering what was deemed an ankle injury, and the very next play following the announcement, Cook had returned.
📽 C’EST TOTALEMENT DINGUE ! Moins d’une minute après son TD, le rookie Jeremy Chinn marque un autre TD sur ce fumble de Dalvin Cook qu’il force lui-même ! #Skol #nflextra pic.twitter.com/wJ5u2glNYH
— NFL France (@NFLFrance) November 29, 2020
Dalvin Cook went down and had to be helped off of the field after being tackled in today's game. pic.twitter.com/BsMLrEFrPZ
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) November 29, 2020
After Cook left the medical tent, he did retrieve his helmet and could be seen jogging on the sideline, potentially pointing toward a return. He had 13 carries for 37 yards prior to the injury, and his fumble had led to a second Jeremy Chinn fumble-return-for-touchdown in as many plays. It was Cook's fourth fumble of the season.
Cook is backed up by Alexander Mattison, a second-year running back from Boise State. Mattison has averaged 4.6 yards per carry in his NFL career.