(Packers) Star Rival Running Back Undergoes Major Surgery

The Green Bay Packers will have a hill to climb if they want to get back on top of the NFC North in 2023.  Even after the departure of wide receivers Davante Adams and Marquez Valdes-Scantling, there was high hope for the 2022 Green Bay Packers.  Those hopes, however, didn’t last long.  After starting the season 3-1, the Packers would go on to lose five straight games, eventually falling to 8-9 on the season and missing the playoffs.  The Minnesota Vikings were the team to beat in the NFC North as they finished 13-4 on the regular season and locked up the NFC North well before week 18.  As it turns out, the Vikings’ star running back Dalvin Cook reportedly had surgery this off-season.

Packer Rival Dalvin Cook Undergoes Major Surgery

Adam Schefter of ESPN reports that Cook had shoulder surgery on Tuesday.  Cook has a history of shoulder issues dating back to college and the report indicates that this operation is dealing with an injury he initially suffered in 2019. Cook also appeared on injury reports due to his shoulder in 2021 and 2022.

With Minnesota in need of creating some salary cap space this offseason and Cook currently scheduled to have a cap hit of more than $14.1 million in 2023, some have wondered if the Vikings will attempt to trade the veteran running back this year.  It remains to be seen if the Viking would ever actually trade Cook, however, if they were to consider it this surgery could have impacted his trade value.  Dalvin Cook has had some success agains the Packers in his career.  In nine career games vs the Packers, Cook has accumulated 941 all purpose yards and nine total touchdowns.  The Packers sure wouldn’t be sad to see the four-time pro bowl running back traded during the 2023 off-season.