Cook (shoulder), who is listed as questionable for Thursday's game against the Steelers, is considered likely to play, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.

EDGE Analysis

When Cook first dislocated his left shoulder in a Nov. 28 loss to the 49ers, he appeared destined to miss two games, but he's apparently coming along better than expected in his recovery from the injury. After not practicing in any capacity Week 13 before sitting out the Vikings' loss to the Lions, Cook was listed as a limited participant on the team's Tuesday and Wednesday practice reports to take the questionable designation into the Week 14 matchup. According to Pelissero, Cook has gotten first-team reps the past two days and wants to give it a go Thursday, though he'll likely be wearing a harness or some sort of protection on his shoulder. If the medical staff clears Cook to play, he'll likely start as he normally does, though he could cede more work to No. 2 back Alexander Mattison than usual.

Cook (shoulder) is listed as questionable for Thursday's game against the Steelers.

EDGE Analysis

After sitting out Monday's walk-through session, Cook returned to practice Tuesday for the first time since picking up a dislocated left shoulder Week 12 against the 49ers. He was listed as a limited participant in that session and again on Wednesday's estimated practice report, giving him a chance to play Week 14. Cook's status will be confirmed, one way or another, about 90 minutes before Thursday's 8:20 p.m. ET kickoff. If Cook is unable to suit up, Alexander Mattison would be in line for significant work out of the Vikings backfield for a second straight week, with Kene Nwangwu and fullback C.J. Ham available for any touches that linger.

Cook (shoulder) was listed as a limited participant during Tuesday's practice.

EDGE Analysis

While the extent of Cook's activity in practice isn't fully known, the Vikings are listing him as a limited participant for the first time since he suffered a dislocated left shoulder in the team's Week 12 loss to the 49ers. Shortly after Cook was diagnosed with the injury, Adam Schefter of ESPN reported that he was expected to remain out until the team's Week 15 game against the Bears, but the running back looks as though he may have a chance to make it back for this week's Thursday night matchup with the Steelers. Before the Vikings make a call on his status one way or the other, the team will wait and see if Cook is able to take a step forward in his practice activity Wednesday. Alexander Mattison would be in line for a high-volume role out of the Minnesota backfield for the second straight game if Cook is ultimately ruled out against Pittsburgh.

Cook (shoulder) was estimated as a non-participant Monday in the Vikings' walk-through practice.

EDGE Analysis

Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer hasn't been willing to put a timeline on Cook's return from the dislocated left shoulder he sustained in the Week 12 loss to the 49ers, with Zimmer merely labeling the running back as day-to-day. After sitting out the Vikings' Week 13 loss to the Lions and having yet to get back on the practice field, Cook would seem to face an uphill battle to gain clearance for a Thursday matchup with the Steelers in Week 14. If that's the case, Alexander Mattison would be poised for a second straight turn as Minnesota's lead back.

The Vikings have ruled Cook (shoulder) out for Sunday's game against the Lions.

EDGE Analysis

There was never much doubt Cook would sit out Week 13 after he didn't participate in practices Wednesday through Friday upon suffering a painful shoulder injury during the Vikings' Week 12 loss to San Francisco. Adam Schefter of ESPN reported Monday that Cook was expected to miss two games before returning Week 15 in Chicago, and Josina Anderson of USA Today relayed Friday that timeline remains intact, even though the running back is "doing better" in his recovery. At this point, however, the Vikings haven't made anything official for Cook beyond ruling him out for this weekend's game in Detroit. Alexander Mattison should get all the snaps and touches he can handle in a friendly matchup this Sunday, backed by rookie speedster Kene Nwangwu and potentially practice-squadder A.J. Rose, who would need to be called up by 4 p.m. ET on Saturday to play in Sunday's game.

Cook (shoulder) isn't present for Thursday's practice, Eric Smith of the Vikings' official site reports.

EDGE Analysis

The Vikings haven't definitively ruled Cook out from playing Sunday in Detroit, but the running back looks to be trending toward his third absence of the season while he recovers from a dislocation of his left shoulder. The injury isn't related to the right shoulder injuries that have dogged Cook at various points of his career, but his latest setback on the health front puts him at major risk of missing at least two games, as the Vikings face a quick turnaround for Week 14 with a Thursday matchup with the Steelers. Assuming Cook is officially ruled out ahead of Sunday's contest, Alexander Mattison will step into a lead role out of the Minnesota backfield and should be a strong option in weekly leagues against Detroit's 29th-ranked run defense.

Cook (shoulder) was listed as a non-participant on Wednesday's estimated injury report.

EDGE Analysis

Considering he's tending to a dislocated left shoulder, it's no surprise Cook wouldn't have been on the field if the Vikings held an actual practice. There's an expectation that the injury will force him to miss the next two games, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN, but coach Mike Zimmer offered a softer tone Monday, calling the running back day-to-day, per Eric Smith of the Vikings' official site. Despite Zimmer's lack of comments regarding Cook in the meantime, the running back appears as if he'll be ruled out for game action by week's end. Assuming Cook doesn't play Sunday in Detroit, Alexander Mattison will be the primary runner out of Minnesota's backfield, with rookie Kene Nwangwu available for complementary work.

Cook (shoulder) is expected to sit out the Vikings' next two games with the aim to return Monday, Dec. 20 at Chicago, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

EDGE Analysis

This isn't official by any means, especially considering coach Mike Zimmer termed Cook "day-to-day" earlier Monday, per Eric Smith of the Vikings' official site. But Cook is reportedly dealing with a torn labrum in relation to the dislocated left shoulder he sustained during Sunday's loss at San Francisco. Overall, the injury isn't seen as season ending, but he appears to be trending toward absences in Week 13 at Detroit and Week 14 against the Steelers. As long as Cook is sidelined, Alexander Mattison will lead the Vikings backfield, with Kene Nwangwu on hand for complementary work.

Coach Mike Zimmer indicated Monday that Cook is viewed as "day-to-day" with a shoulder injury, Eric Smith of the Vikings' official site reports. "We'll just see how Dalvin is doing," Zimmer noted of the running back's Week 13 status. "It will be day-to-day and see where it goes."

EDGE Analysis

While Zimmer declined to reveal the exact nature of Cook's shoulder issue, he did refute a report that the running back suffered a torn labrum Sunday, per Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press. That said, Cook's status for this weekend's game against the Lions remains cloudy and if he's unable to play, Alexander Mattison would be in line to fill in as the Vikings' top back for any length of time Cook is sidelined.

Cook suffered a torn labrum and dislocation of his left shoulder during Sunday's loss to the 49ers, but the injury isn't expected to be season-ending, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

EDGE Analysis

Cook underwent an MRI on Monday as the Vikings looked to gain more information on the injury that resulted in him being carted off the field during Sunday's 34-26 loss to the 49ers. The star running back previously sustained a labrum tear in his right shoulder, the same one that required a pair of surgeries during his college days at Florida State. Back in 2019 after suffering a similar dislocation of the right shoulder, Cook initially tried to play through the pain for two games before ultimately being rested for another two contests, then returned to action in dominant form for a playoff tilt against the Saints. This time around, the Vikings may simply opt to rest Cook right away beginning in Week 13 to better ensure that he avoids a setback once he returns. With Cook on track to miss the Vikings' upcoming game against the Bears and quite possibly more time to follow, Alexander Mattison should get another opportunity to show what he can do in a three-down workhorse role.