Dalvin Cook Remains Practicing With Vikings, Expected To Play Sunday

Minnesota Vikings running back Dalvin Cook said he is the victim in a Nov. 2020 incident that resulted in a lawsuit filed by a former girlfriend and said he intends to suit up for the Vikings game on Sunday.

"Today, I just want everybody to know, I'm the victim in this situation, and the truth and the details about the situation will come out at a further time," Cook told reporters Wednesday.

On Tuesday, the lawyer for the Vikings' star running back said Cook was assaulted by an ex-girlfriend who broke into his home, then later tried to extort him of millions of dollars. Police were never contacted about the incident and no charges were filed.

The Star Tribune reports the lawsuit was filed Tuesday by his former girlfriend and Sgt. 1st Class in the U.S. Army Gracelyn Trimble, who accused Cook of "giving me a concussion, leaving a scar on my face and taking me through hell."

"We are confident a full disclosure of the facts will show Mr. Cook did nothing wrong and any injury Sgt. Trimble may have sustained that evening was the result of Sgt. Trimble's own unlawful conduct," Valentini wrote in a statement. His full statement can be seen here.

Cook's attorney says he is being extorted and that she was the aggressor, and a video shared to YouTube — titled, "Sergeant Gracelyn Trimble Threatening to Pull Her Gun Out and Shoot Dalvin Cook" — paints a different picture than the narrative told in her lawsuit.

Vikings coach Mike Zimmer told reporters earlier Wednesday that Cook would participate in practice.

"What I was told is the NFL said this is a civil matter," Zimmer said. "It is what it is. I don't know that much about it, honestly." 

The Vikings released a statement of their own, saying that they “recently received notification from Dalvin Cook’s legal representative regarding a situation that occurred between Dalvin and a female acquaintance in November 2020 and led to an ongoing dispute between the parties. Upon learning of this, we immediately notified the NFL. We are in the process of gathering more information and will withhold further comment at this time.”

The NFL said in a Wednesday statement that "the matter will be reviewed under the personal conduct policy. We will continue to monitor developments, but there's no change to status."

Cook has appeared in six games this season, compiling 554 yards on 115 carries. He finished last season with a career-high 1,557 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns, plus 361 receiving yards and one TD.

The Vikings (3-5) travel to face the Los Angeles Chargers (5-3) on Sunday at SoFi Stadium in Week 10 with kickoff slated for 3:05 p.m. PST.

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