Dalvin Cook Ruled Out for Remainder of Sunday's Game With Painful-Looking Shoulder Injury

Vikings stalwart Dalvin Cook entered Sunday's game nursing some health issues, but he'll leave the weekend in far worse shape.

Cook shook off a chest injury to return to the field and rush for 62 yards on 18 attempts against Detroit last week. But early in the third quarter of Minnesota's Week 15 clash with the Chargers, he collapsed in pain following a relatively standard tackle.

Shortly thereafter, Cook was ruled out.

The team is deeming it a shoulder injury, which could spell disaster for a Vikings squad that's otherwise in a perfect position for the postseason. En route to a 10-4 record and welcoming Adam Thielen back, most Minnesotans were likely feeling as confident as ever in their chances as halftime approached.

Instead, we're now discussing a shoulder injury of unknown severity, and the only visuals we have to pontificate over are quite bleak.

Of course, this is also a pivotal time for an injury for...reasons other than Minnesota's NFC Playoff seeding.

Obviously, this pales in comparison, however, and we hope the internet refrains from making this still-developing situation all about them. Updates to come on Cook's status, though it seems possible Alexander Mattison will have to be more of a postseason workhorse than a change of pace.