Vikings’ Cook out after dad’s death

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 regular-season finale against the Lions, according to a league source.

Cook left for Miami to be with family after his father, James, unexpectedly passed away. 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.

“Tragic news,” Vikings quarterback

Kirk Cousins said Wednesday morning. “Our thoughts and prayers are with him and his family, and just want him to take all the time he needs to process through that. Very sorry to hear that.”

Cook’s fourth NFL season ends with a league-leading 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, and he established his place in that tier with his play.

Only Henry has more than Cook’s

1,557 rushing yards and nobody has more than his 16 rushing touchdowns in just 14 games. It’s the third-best rushing season in Vikings franchise history, trailing only Adrian Peterson in 2012 (2,097) and 2008 (1,760).

„ ■ The NFL cites outside influences for the most recent set of positive coronavirus tests, including exposures during the holiday season. There were 21 new confirmed positive tests among players and 37 among other personnel in the league’s latest round of testing for COVID-19. Dr. Allen Sills, the league’s chief medical officer, referred to three sources of exposure: household, outside medical providers, and community/social settings. “We shared that message with all our clubs and the players association,” Sills said Wednesday, noting that the holiday season is not over. He also mentioned that there has been widespread testing with family members “and as we’ve seen the numbers rise, clubs have seen that and tried to test more family members.”

NHL: Longtime Bruins captain Zdeno Chara signed with the Capitals on Wednesday, saying his former team had decided to move on from the towering defenseman who helped the Bruins climb back into the top and win the Stanley Cup in 2011. The stunning move — Chara agred to terms on a one-year contract worth just $795,000 — came less than a week before most NHL teams open training camp. The Bruins haven’t opened camp without Chara since 2005, the first season after a yearlong lockout. “The Boston Bruins have informed me that they plan to move forward with their many younger and talented players, and I respect their decision,” Chara posted on Instagram. “Unfortunately, my time as the proud captain of the Bruins has come to an end.” ... The Predators will start their season Jan. 14 without fans for the foreseeable future with COVID-19 cases surging in the area. The Predators announced the decision Wednesday, noting they want to not be a detriment to the Nashville community. The team had been working on a plan for reopening for months with the local board of health and the Nashville mayor’s office.