Vikings: Kirk Cousins encouraged Dalvin Cook after brutal fumble

Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins provided words of encouragement to running back Dalvin Cook following his fumble in overtime.

The Minnesota Vikings fanbase went through all of the emotions on Sunday during the team’s Week 1 matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals. After trailing 24-14 at the end of the third quarter, the Vikings came back to tie the game to send the game into overtime. Unfortunately, a controversial fumble by star running back Dalvin Cook helped set the stage for Evan McPherson’s game-winning field goal.

After the game, quarterback Kirk Cousins revealed that he provided words of encouragement for Cook following the fumble.

“I patted him (Cook) on the back after he walked off the field for that series,” Cousins said, via Mitch Stacy of the Associated Press. “I said, ‘We’re good, man, there’s still time left.’ If they don’t get that fourth down, we get the ball on the 50-yard line. That’s how pro football is. You have to play to the last second because you never know, and things turn on a dime. Even after the fumble, it was still right there.”

Bengals capitalize on Dalvin Cook’s fumble in OT to defeat Vikings

Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer did not agree with the fumble call on the field, throwing the challenge flag to argue that Cook was down. However, the referees upheld their decision, giving possession to the Bengals.

As Cousins mentioned, the Vikings were still in a position to get the ball back. However, Bengals head coach Zac Taylor opted to go for it on fourth-and-one, which resulted in quarterback Joe Burrow hitting tight end C.J. Uzomah on a 32-yard pass. Three plays later, McPherson hit the 33-yard field goal to give the Bengals the 27-24 victory.

Cook was held to 61 yards on 20 carries by the Bengals defense, but he did score a one-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter to cut Minnesota’s deficit to 24-21. Cook was targeted by Cousins seven times in the game, where he caught six of those passes for 43 yards.

Cousins completed 36-of-4 pass attempts for 351 yards and two touchdowns.

It was a heartbreaking way for the Vikings to lose, but they will look to put this game behind them next week when they face an Arizona Cardinals team that blew out the Tennessee Titans in Week 1.