In addition to beating the brains and kicking the butts of the Minnesota Vikings, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers also broke at least one bone.
Vikings coach Leslie Frazier said after Thursday night’s game that starting cornerback Chris Cook suffered a fractured wrist during the 36-17 loss.
Cook, a second-round pick in 2010 who missed most of 2011 after being charged with domestic assault, had been playing well this year. He’s now out indefinitely, which pushes rookie third-rounder Josh Robinson into the starting lineup and nudges A.J. Jefferson into the nickel role.
“They need to step up now,” cornerback Antoine Winfield said, via the Minneapolis Star Tribune. “I don’t know how long Chris will be out. Broken wrist, that’s not good. But our motto is when somebody goes down, it’s the next man up.”
With the delayed trade deadline this year, the acquisition of veteran help from a non-contending team also is possible. The Vikings, along with every other team, have until Tuesday at 4:00 p.m. ET to make a deal.
Then again, based on their performance last night, the Vikings suddenly look like a non-contending team.