Minnesota Vikings rookie running back Dalvin Cook suffered a significant knee injury during their 14-7 loss to the Detroit Lions on Sunday at US Bank Stadium. Sources informed Ian Rapoport of NFL Network Insider and Tom Pelissero of NFL Network that Cook suffered a near complete tear of his ACL, based on the initial diagnosis. The team can only hope that the MRI will reveal otherwise. Cook suffered the injury when he tumbled to the turf with a non-contact injury in the third quarter. The Vikings’ second-round pick limped to the locker room under his own power.
Before he got injured, Cook ran 13 times for 66 yards and a touchdown. In their previous four games, Cook ran 74 times for 354 yards and two touchdowns and caught 11 passes for 90 yards. With Cook’s season in doubt, the Vikings cannot rely solely on Jerick McKinnon to fill the void left by the rookie rusher.
Stafford, Abdullah carry Lions past Vikings
Matthew Stafford went 19-of-31 passing for 209 yards and a touchdown as the Lions capitalized on the Vikings’ three turnovers to improve to 3-1. Ameer Abdullah carried the ball 20 times for a career-best 94 yards and a score while defensive end Anthony Zettel had two sacks and a fumble recovery for the Lions. The Vikings (2-2) played their third straight game without starter Sam Bradford.
Case Keenum completed 16 of 30 passes for 219 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions. Stefon Diggs and Adam Thielen each caught five passes for 98 and 59 yards, respectively.
Titans lost Marcus Mariota to injury vs. Texans
Tennessee Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota suffered a hamstring injury in the first half of their 57-14 loss to the Houston Texans on Sunday.
According to NFL.com, Mariota did not return in the second half but was seen standing on the sideline. Veteran backup Matt Cassel played in the second half, completing four of 10 passes for 21 yards and two interceptions. Mariota, who suffered the injury on his second touchdown run, will undergo an MRI on his hamstring, according to head coach Mike Mularkey.
Before getting injured, Mariota completed six of 10 passes for 96 yards and two interceptions, running four times for 39 yards and two scores for the Titans (2-2).
Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson had a breakthrough game, throwing four touchdown passes and running for another to become the first rookie signal-caller to accomplish the feat since Hall of Famer Fran Tarkenton in 1961. He completed 25 of 34 attempts for 283 yards and ran four times for 24 yards as the Texans improved to 2-2.
