ARLINGTON, TEXAS - NOVEMBER 10: Alexander Mattison #25 of the Minnesota Vikings is tackled short of the end zone by the Dallas Cowboys defense during the first half at AT&T Stadium on November 10, 2019 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)If the oft-banged up Dalvin Cook has to leave the the Minnesota Vikings’ game against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday, it won’t be main backup Alexander Mattison coming on in relief. The second-year player is out after coming down with appendicitis.
According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, the 22-year old former Boise State star had successful surgery to treat the frightening situation. However, he won’t be able to go on Sunday against the Jags.
Mattison has been a pretty valuable RB2 for the Vikings this year. While Cook is one of the NFL’s best rushers, with over 1,100 yards on the season already despite some missed time, Mattison has 338 yards on 74 attempts, with three runs of 20+ yards to five for Cook. He has one score on the season.
With Alexander Mattison out, the backup running back duties fall to Mike Boone and Ameer Abdullah. Boone has just three carries for 18 yards on the season, while Abdullah has two for seven yards. Fullback C.J. Ham has four carries for 18 yards as well.
#Vikings RB Alexander Mattison had appendicitis and underwent successful surgery, source said. He’s out for Sunday’s game against the #Jaguars.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) December 5, 2020
Mattison has been a valuable backup for the Vikings, since going No. 102 overall in the 2019 NFL Draft, with the team’s third round pick.
Last year, he carried the ball 100 times for 462 yards and a touchdown.
The Minnesota Vikings and Jacksonville Jaguars kick off at 1 p.m. ET at the Vikings’ U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. The Vikings are 10-point favorites in the game.
