2 Hometown Heroes Delivered Once Again for the Vikings
On Sunday, the Minnesota Vikings hosted their annual home game against the Green Bay Packers. Kevin O’Connell’s gang is now 14-2 after securing a close victory over their green rivals, whose comeback attempt fell just short.
2 Hometown Heroes Delivered Once Again for the Vikings
For fans, nothing compares to seeing hometown heroes contribute, as seen when Adam Thielen climbed the receiver ranks for his childhood team. He departed from the organization in 2023, but the Minnesotans are still helping the team win. And both were crucial in Sunday’s victory.
Of the 20 active Minnesota-born players in the NFL, the Vikings employ two: C.J. Ham and Blake Cashman.
Cashman, born in Eden Prairie, MN, signed with the Vikings in the offseason after a breakout year in 2023. He was picked out of the University of Minnesota in the fifth round of the 2019 draft, but injuries derailed his stint with the Jets.
He was ultimately traded to Houston, and after one year as a backup, he became a full-time starter when new head coach DeMeco Ryans arrived. Cashman signed a three-year deal worth $22.5 million in free agency, which has turned out to be a bargain for Minnesota’s front office.
The defender was acquired to be the heart of the defense, and he has taken the role of the play-caller on the field. In the three games he missed with a toe injury, the Vikes are 1-2, but they are 13-0 when he’s active.
In those 13 games, Cashman recorded 104 tackles and 4.5 sacks. With Green Bay’s run-heavy offense, Cashman made plenty of run stops, resulting in 11 tackles and 1.5 sacks. His PFF grade of 79.5 ranks him second on Brian Flores’ defense, behind Harrison Phillips.
He came to Minnesota as a relatively unknown defender but one can make the argument that he is the engine of the defense. The Vikings win games when he’s playing, and it doesn’t seem to be a coincidence.
Ham also helped the team win. From Duluth, Minnesota, he attended Augustana University and went undrafted in 2016. A converted running back, Ham has been Minnesota’s top fullback since 2017. Not many teams actually employ a fullback nowadays, but the Vikings do, and he’s been excellent for the franchise, becoming a team captain and a crucial special teams contributor, as well as a key blocker on offense.
His number of touches has dipped since O’Connell is calling the shots compared to the offenses run by the Kubiaks and Kevin Stefanski under Mike Zimmer.
On Sunday, however, Ham caught a clutch pass in a huge moment to give the Vikings a first down late in the fourth quarter. It was his fifth catch of the season (35 yards), and he ran twice for ten yards and a touchdown, showing how much the coaching staff trusts the two-time Pro Bowler.
Harrison Smith is the longest-tenured Viking. He’s been with the team since 2012. C.J. Ham ranks second, joining the club in 2016. He’s a reliable fullback who can catch a pass if needed or get a couple of yards in the running game. But he is also a leader in the locker room and can block like few others.
They are unsung players but vital for Minnesota’s success in the 2024 campaign.
Editor’s Note: Information from Pro Football Reference helped with this article.
Janik Eckardt is a football fan who likes numbers and stats. The Vikings became his favorite team despite their quarterback at the time, Christian Ponder. He is a walking soccer encyclopedia, loves watching sitcoms, and prefers Classic rock over other genres. Follow him on Twitter if you like the Vikings: @JanikEckardt