Vikings vs. Packers NFL injury report, Week 17 odds, spread: Dalvin Cook back Sunday for desperate Minnesota, Adam Thielen done for season

The Minnesota Vikings have to win their final two games and get help to make the playoffs and save Coach Mike Zimmer's job. Caesars Sportsbook oddsmakers list the Vikings at +600 to reach the postseason and heavy -900 favorites to miss out. They are 6.5-point underdogs for Sunday night's game at Green Bay and will have Pro Bowl running back Dalvin Cook back early from COVID protocols, but Pro Bowl wideout Adam Thielen has had surgery that will end his season.

Minnesota sits eighth in the NFC but currently wins the tiebreakers over fellow 7-8 teams Atlanta and New Orleans. To earn a wild-card spot, the Vikings must upset the Packers – who are playing for the NFC's top seed – and then win at home in Week 18 against nothing-to-play for Chicago.

Any combination of an Eagles win and Vikings loss over the next two weeks will eliminate Minnesota. Philadelphia (8-7) visits Washington on Sunday and then hosts Dallas in Week 18 and the Cowboys may not have any reason to play their starters then.

Cook, who is unvaccinated, was placed on the COVID-19 list late last week after testing positive. Previously, he wouldn't have been eligible to be activated Wednesday but was because the NFL and NFLPA modified their joint COVID-19 protocols Tuesday, cutting the isolation period after a positive test for asymptomatic individuals from 10 days to five. Previously, unvaccinated players had to wait 10 days.

In 11 games, Cook has rushed 226 times for 1,067 yards and six scores while catching 30 passes for 221 yards to be named to another Pro Bowl. He likes facing the Packers. In six previous games against them, he has 104 times for 520 yards and seven touchdowns. Last season at Lambeau Field in a 28-22 victory, Cook had 163 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 30 carries while adding two receptions for 63 yards, which included a 50-yard TD.

Thielen had ankle surgery Tuesday and was placed on injured reserve Wednesday. He returned last Sunday after missing two games because of a left ankle sprain but re-injured it in a loss to the Rams. Thielen has 67 receptions for 726 yards and a team-leading 10 touchdowns in 13 games.

When Minnesota beat Green Bay 34-31 in Week 11 this year, Cook had 115 yards from scrimmage and a TD and Thielen eight catches for 82 yards and a score. 

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