NFC North

The spotlight is again on Alexander Mattison in the Minnesota Vikings' backfield.

Minnesota announced on Friday that Dalvin Cook has been ruled out for this week's game against the Detroit Lions with a shoulder injury, which positions Mattison as the temporary starter.

Fantasy football managers have seen plenty of the 2019 third-round draft pick as Minnesota's primary ball-carrier. Most recently, he filled in while Cook recovered from a torn labrum.

Mattison has carried the ball 88 times for 315 yards and one touchdown in 2021. He has also caught 21 passes for 149 yards and one score.

While Cook obviously cast a big shadow in the running game, Mattison's breakout wasn't entirely unexpected because he had two solid seasons as a backup in 2019 and 2020. Over that span, he ran for 896 yards and three touchdowns in 26 games and averaged 4.6 yards per carry.

There was a point at which Mattison represented an undervalued commodity on the waiver wire:

After Cook's shoulder injury, the secret was out and the race to add Mattison was on, and the uncertainty over Cook's status going forward meant fantasy managers weren't going to jettison him after a game or two. 

Detroit's defense has allowed the fourth-most rushing yards in the NFL (1,473) and is tied for ninth in rushing touchdowns allowed (11). 

Per Pro Football Reference, opposing running backs are combining to score 23.2 fantasy points per game against the Lions. That's the third-highest mark in the NFL, behind only the New York Jets (28.5) and Seattle Seahawks (24.2). 

For those who were quick enough to hop on the Mattison bandwagon, he's a must-start in any format. 

Kirk Cousins is making $31 million, but that didn't stop the Vikings from putting Cook in a position to be a fantasy standout. Mattison should get more than enough touches to warrant RB1 or RB2 status, especially with a favorable matchup against a winless Lions team. 

Dalvin Cook's shoulder injury will keep him out for at least one game.

The Minnesota Vikings announced on Friday that Cook won't play this weekend against the Detroit Lions. 

The 26-year-old missed two games earlier in the season with an ankle issue, and his woes didn't end there. He was forced to leave a Week 12 loss against the San Francisco 49ers early with a dislocated shoulder, an injury that was expected to cost him two games. 

It was a particularly concerning injury for Cook, as he has had shoulder problems dating back to his Florida State days. 

Injuries in general have become a theme. His rookie season was cut short in 2017 with a torn ACL. In 2018, a hamstring injury cost him five games. And in 2019, a shoulder injury cost him the final two games of the regular season, though he returned for the postseason. 

When healthy, Cook has been fantastic. He's got 975 yards from scrimmage and four total touchdowns on 198 touches so far this season. 

In 14 games in the 2019 campaign, he rushed for 1,135 yards and 13 scores. He was even better in 2020, rushing for 1,557 yards and 16 touchdowns in 14 contests. 

When Cook is able to stay on the field, he's one of the best running backs in football and a key offensive pillar for the Vikings alongside Adam Thielen and Justin Jefferson. 

The Vikings do have a good insurance plan in place, though, in the talented Alexander Mattison. Expect him to see the majority of the backfield work while Cook is sidelined, while Kene Nwangwu could see some touches as well.

The Detroit Lions will honor the victims of the shooting at Oxford (Michigan) High School that killed four students and injured several others. 

Head coach Dan Campbell told reporters the Lions will wear T-shirts, hats and a helmet decal during Sunday's game against the Minnesota Vikings. 

"Those guys are on our minds, so we want to represent them on Sunday," Campbell said. "I know there will be a group of those students and kids and people that have been affected that will be watching this game, so right now, that's the best way to help them."

The Lions will also hold a moment of silence before kickoff. 

Per CNN's Amir Vera, Taylor Romine and Kelly McCleary, the shooting occurred in the early afternoon on Tuesday when a gunman opened fire in the school. 

Four students, Madisyn Baldwin, Tate Myre, Hana St. Juliana and Justin Shilling, were killed, with seven others—six students and one teacher—injured in the shooting. 

Ethan Crumbley, a 15-year-old sophomore at the school, has been taken into police custody and charged with four counts of first-degree murder, seven counts of assault with intent to murder, one count of terrorism causing death and 12 counts of possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony. 

On Thursday, the University of Michigan football team announced its jerseys for Saturday's Big Ten Championship game against Iowa will feature a special decal "to honor all victims, survivors and community members" affected by the shooting, with special recognition of Myre, who was a football player at Oxford High.

Detroit Lions running back D'Andre Swift's sprained shoulder could leave him unavailable for "multiple weeks," according to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler.

Swift was forced to leave the Lions' Thanksgiving Day game against the Chicago Bears with the shoulder injury. He was listed as questionable because of a groin injury on several occasions this season but didn't miss any games with that ailment.

The 22-year-old University of Georgia product missed three games during his rookie campaign last year because of a concussion and an illness.

He's been a bright spot on an otherwise struggling Detroit offense when healthy, tallying 984 yards from scrimmage and six total touchdowns in 11 games this season.

Jamaal Williams is in line to lead the Lions' backfield any time Swift is sidelined. Jermar Jefferson and Godwin Igwebuike could also receive some playing time as part of a committee approach.

Swift is a building block on offense for Detroit, so it wouldn't be a surprise to see the team be cautious with his recovery from injuries since its playoff hopes have faded away, with the team at 0-10-1 on the year. 

Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers said he would not have to miss any game time if he undergoes surgery on his injured toe.

Appearing Tuesday on the Pat McAfee Show, Rodgers said he is attempting to allow the healing process to take place over the team's Week 13 bye but could still undergo a procedure on his ailing pinky toe.

"We're hoping to avoid surgery, obviously, but the surgery would be something such a minor one it wouldn't be something that I would have to miss time with. ... We'll kinda reassess early next week and make a decision. I could have surgery on a Monday or Tuesday and play on Sunday," Rodgers said.

Rodgers initially injured his toe when he missed action after testing positive for COVID-19. He's managed to play through the injury over the last three weeks despite practicing on a limited basis, throwing for 984 yards and six touchdowns against one interception. The Packers are 2-1 since Rodgers' injury, including a critical win Sunday against the Los Angeles Rams.

The reigning NFL MVP said the surgery would immobilize his toe, which would help him avoid any further injury but also force him to deal with the lack of use of his toe for the remainder of the season.

Green Bay is hopeful a week of full rest will allow Rodgers to get back at something close to 100 percent for the season's stretch run. The Packers (9-3) would be the NFC's No. 2 seed if the season ended today but are within a half-game of the top-seeded Arizona Cardinals. 

Minnesota Vikings cornerback Patrick Peterson played in his second game on Sunday against the San Francisco 49ers since returning from a hamstring injury. Now, it looks like he is set to miss more time.

The Vikings announced Monday that Peterson has been placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list ahead of the team's Week 13 game against the Detroit Lions.

Peterson suffered his hamstring injury in Week 6 against the Carolina Panthers. He missed three games before returning on Nov. 21 against the Green Bay Packers. It was the first time in his 11-year career that he was forced to miss games because of an injury.

Peterson played all 70 of Minnesota's defensive snaps on Sunday against San Francisco and recorded five tackles. The Vikings lost the game 34-26 and fell to 5-6 this season.

Through eight games, Peterson has 21 tackles, two tackles for loss, two passes defended and no interceptions. It's his first season in Minnesota after spending the first 10 years of his career with the Arizona Cardinals.

After being selected fifth overall in the 2011 draft, the LSU All-American earned three first-team All-Pro selections. He was named to the Pro Bowl in eight consecutive seasons from 2011-18. He has 28 career interceptions and 93 passes defended. The Florida native is one of the best shutdown cornerbacks of his generation and was named to the NFL 2010s All-Decade team.

Peterson's absence is a big blow to Minnesota's defensive backfield. Second-year cornerback Cameron Dantzler is the next man up on the depth chart, while veteran corner Bashaud Breeland will be under more pressure to make up for Peterson's production.

Luckily for the Vikings, the Lions have the 29th-ranked passing offense in the league. Minnesota likely won't struggle against Detroit even with Peterson sidelined.

Green Bay Packers superstar quarterback Aaron Rodgers does not plan to have surgery on his injured toe "at this time," according to Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero of NFL Network.

The 37-year-old has already missed one game this season after testing positive for COVID-19, and a toe injury has limited his practice time throughout the year as well. 

"It's very, very painful," Rodgers told reporters regarding the toe injury after a Nov. 21 loss to the Minnesota Vikings. "I got stepped on in the first half and that kind of activated all the symptoms I was having. It's going to be another painful week next week and then hopefully start to feel better during the bye."

He called it "a little worse than turf toe."

Rodgers has remained productive when on the field this year, throwing for 2,878 yards, 23 touchdowns and four interceptions. And the Packers are one of the NFL's best teams with a 9-3 record. 

The quarterback totaled 307 passing yards, two passing touchdowns and one rushing touchdown in Sunday's win against the Los Angeles Rams even while dealing with his toe injury.

The team has a bye in Week 13 before facing the Chicago Bears in Week 14.

Backup Jordan Love, meanwhile, struggled in his only start of the season, finishing 19-of-34 for 190 yards, a touchdown and an interception in a 13-7 loss against the Kansas City Chiefs in November. 

The Packers will only go as far as the nine-time Pro Bowler, three-time MVP and one-time champion can take them. If Rodgers is forced to miss time in the future, Love will get another shot to prove his worth.

Minnesota Vikings star Dalvin Cook is expected to miss at least the next two games after suffering a shoulder injury in Sunday's 34-26 loss to the San Francisco 49ers, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.

Schefter noted the hope is Cook will be able to return for a Dec. 20 contest against the Chicago Bears.

Head coach Mike Zimmer told reporters Monday that Cook was viewed as "day-to-day":

Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported earlier Monday that Cook had been diagnosed with a torn labrum after an MRI on his dislocated shoulder. However, per Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press, Zimmer said that wasn't the case.

Zimmer would not disclose, though, whether the running back suffered a dislocation.

According to Rapoport, Cook missed the final two regular-season games in 2019 with a similar injury. Cook returned for a playoff matchup with the New Orleans Saints, rushing for 130 yards and two touchdowns.

The two-time Pro Bowler was carted off the field during the loss to the 49ers. The team said afterward he'd be out for the remainder of the contest with a shoulder injury.

The 26-year-old has put together another big season. He has run for 734 yards and four touchdowns and caught 21 passes for 138 yards.

Alexander Mattison takes over as the primary ball-carrier when he's absent.

Mattison looked great earlier in the year when filling in for Cook. In two starts against the Seattle Seahawks and Detroit Lions, he ran for 225 yards on 51 carries. It's difficult to take much from either performance since both opponents have below-average run defenses.

At 5-6, the Vikings occupy the final wild-card spot in the NFC. Given their precarious position, losing Cook for any length of time will likely be big trouble.