Vikings’ Cook won’t play after father’s death

MINNEAPOLIS — Dalvin Cook’s incredible season has come to an end as the Vikings running back left the team this week after the death of his father, and he will be unavailable for Sunday’s season finale at Detroit, a league source told the Star Tribune.

Cook left for Miami to be with family after his father, James, unexpectedly died. Even if he were available to play in Detroit, Cook likely couldn’t because of the NFL’S COVID-19 protocols that require five days of entry testing if the daily testing routine is interrupted.

Running back Alexander Mattison, if healthy, would start for Cook. Mattison has most recently been sidelined by a concussion.

Cook’s fourth NFL season ends with a leagueleading 1,918 yards from scrimmage, which will likely slip to second with Titans running back Derrick Henry just 27 yards behind him. Cook signed a five-year, $63 million contract extension in September that put him among the top-five highest paid running backs.

Browns add more COVID-19 cases

The Browns have two more positive COVID-19 cases — another player and an assistant coach — as they prepare for Sunday’s regular-season finale against the Steelers.

The team closed its facility Wednesday after being informed of the test results. The latest player to test positive has not been identified, but coach Kevin Stefanski said he’s on the practice squad. Stefanski also did not reveal the identity of the assistant.

The Browns already have nine players on the list, including their top four wide receivers.

Cleveland (10-5) can make the playoffs for the first time since 2002 with a win over Pittsburgh (12-3).

Bills fans allowed to attend playoff

New York is making an exception to its restrictions on large gatherings to allow about 6,700 fans to attend a Buffalo Bills home playoff game in January as long as all test negative beforehand.

That’s about 10 percent of the stadium’s capacity. Gov. Andrew Cuomo said the football team staff will only allow fans with negative tests to enter the stadium, where they will be seated distanced apart.

49ers K Gould gets new deal

The San Francisco 49ers locked up their kicker for the next two seasons and found one for this week.

The Niners signed Robbie Gould to a renegotiated contract that keeps him on the team through 2022 with a guaranteed contract at a reduced rate from his current deal. Gould was also placed on the COVID-19 list Wednesday and will miss the season finale against Seattle.

The 49ers signed kicker Tristan Vizcaino, who had spent time on Minnesota’s practice squad this season.

The 49ers faced a Saturday deadline to exercise an option on the final two years of a four-year, $19 million contract Gould signed before last season. The new deal will give Gould a guaranteed $7.25 million the next two seasons, according to ESPN.

Odds and ends

The Packers claimed veteran defensive tackle Damon “Snacks” Harrison off waivers from the Seahawks. … Colts left tackle Anthony Castonzo will undergo season-ending surgery on his right ankle.