Thoughts From the Morning After: FSU 34 Virginia 20

Nov 8, 2014; Tallahassee, FL, USA; Florida State Seminoles running back Dalvin Cook (4) comes off of the field injured in a run play during the second half of the game against the Virginia Cavaliers at Doak Campbell Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Melina Vastola-USA TODAY Sports

Dalvin Cook

Despite the fumble on Dalvin Cook’s last carry, the most disturbing part of that play was the injury that occurred on it. On the snap, Dalvin Cook takes the handoff and is met by a pair of Cavalier defenders a yard beyond the line of scrimmage. The blocking on the play gets blown up almost immediately — as Fisher alluded to in post-game comments — which in turn runs Cook into the grasp of LB Max Valles. Valles twists Cook around and stands him up as DT David Dean appears to land a solid shot on Cook’s right hip.

The talented true freshman had to be helped off the field and was not able to place any weight on his right leg.

“He got banged up pretty good. I’ll have to wait and see. I don’t know,” said a cautious Fisher after the game. “We missed a block and it looked like he got hit on the hip. I couldn’t tell, though.”

Cook never left the field, he didn’t go into the locker-room and come back in street clothes as is common for injured players. Instead he stood alone — most of his weight on his left leg — watching the rest of Saturday night’s game with his head hung.

It was a heartbreaking image.

So far Dalvin Cook’s Florida State career has been filled with hardship. After flipping from UF to FSU and enrolling early, an injury kept Cook out of Spring practice and mitigated many of the benefits of giving up his final semester of high school. And now, the week before heading back to his hometown to play his first college game in Miami he injures himself and his status for next week is highly in doubt.

That’s a lot to stomach for an 18 year-old.

It’s possible the injury was just a stinger and Cook will be fine. But it’s also possible that the injury is much worse and could cost Cook a season and possibly even next Spring.

We likely won’t know until Monday.

Next: The Offense Struggles