The Minnesota Vikings are a mess. Five losses on the final play of the game and Mike Zimmer’s job security are now secondary to two major storylines coming out of Minneapolis Wednesday. Star running back Dalvin Cook has been accused of abuse by a former girlfriend. And one of the four Vikings players on the NFL’s COVID-19 list had to be rushed to the hospital Tuesday night after experiencing severe symptoms. Zimmer, who is in his eighth season with the Vikings, addressed both serious issues during his Wednesday morning news conference.
Dalvin Cook accused of domestic assault
Cook practiced Wednesday, and the Vikings are planning for him to play Sunday against the Los Angeles Chargers despite a lawsuit filed by his former girlfriend on Tuesday accusing Cook of hitting her with such force he caused a concussion and left a scar. Cook contends that she illegally entered his home, and he was acting in self-defense.
“I’m the victim in this situation,” Cook told reporters Wednesday.
“Honestly, I don’t know that much about the situation,” Zimmer added. “What I was told is the NFL said this is a civil matter, and it is what it is. I don’t know that much about it, honestly.”
NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy told PFN the following: “The matter will be reviewed under the personal conduct policy. We will continue to monitor developments, but there’s no change to his status as this is a civil complaint.”
Cook would be placed on the commissioner’s exempt list if he is charged with a felony offense or a crime of violence. Since the matter has not risen to that level, Cook will be permitted to play.
Cook’s agent, Zac Hiller, has argued that the accuser is extorting Cook, and doubled down on that position Tuesday.
“In Minnesota, a civil claim must be personally served on the Defendant prior to filing with the Court,” Hiller wrote on Twitter. “Instead of following proper protocol, [the accuser’s attorney, Daniel Cragg] leaked a copy of the Summons and Complaint to the Star Tribune [Tuesday] afternoon. Mr. Cragg then tried to electronically file the Summons and Complaint at 9:01 p.m. last evening. The Summons and Complaint was initially accepted by the Court through the electronic filing system but has now been deemed deficient presumably because Mr. Cook has not been personally served and Mr. Cragg failed to file the requisite Affidavit of Service. We believe this information only further supports Mr. Cook’s claim that he is the victim of domestic abuse and extortion.”
Minnesota Vikings player hospitalized with COVID-19
Zimmer revealed to reporters Wednesday that a Vikings player, whom he declined to identify, was in the hospital as of late Wednesday morning after experiencing alarming COVID-19 symptoms.
“One of our players that was vaccinated, he had to go to the ER last night because of COVID,” Zimmer said. “It’s serious stuff. I don’t know. Like 29 guys are getting tested because of close contact, including myself. … He’s stable now. But it was scary.” When asked for more details, Zimmer replied: “It was COVID. I’m not a doctor. It was COVID pneumonia or something. He had a hard time breathing.”
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The Vikings have four players currently in the COVID-19 protocol: safety Harrison Smith, center Garrett Bradbury, linebacker Ryan Connelly, and guard Dakota Dozier. Despite all of that, the Vikings — losers of two straight — are still just a game out of the seventh seed in the NFC and only 2.5-point underdogs in L.A. this weekend.
“This team fights,” Zimmer said. “They compete like crazy. … We’ve had a little bit of injuries and COVID and things like that. As long as we keep fighting, good things will happen.”