Cook was injured during the third quarter of Sunday’s 14-7 loss to the Detroit Lions. Zimmer said the 22-year-old Cook will undergo surgery and is expected to return next season.
“I saw him this morning for a minute,” Zimmer said Monday. “But he’s a great kid. I’m extremely impressed with what he’s done to this point.
“It’s obviously a terrible thing for him and for us but we’ll move forward and go from there. But he’s a great worker and I have no doubt that he’ll come back from this.”
Cook was injured after cutting to his right to avoid being tackled by Lions safety Tavon Wilson on a 10-yard rush. The second-round selection out of Florida State immediately reached down to grab his left knee and fumbled the ball.
The 5-foot-10, 210-pound Cook had rushed for 354 yards and two touchdowns and had 11 receptions for 90 yards in the first four games this season for the Vikings (2-2).
Latavius Murray replaced Cook on Sunday and finished with 21 yards on seven carries and two receptions for eight yards.