Vikings Expected to Be Without a Key Starter for Several Weeks
The Minnesota Vikings escaped Week 1 with a victory, although it undoubtedly didn’t look like that would be the case for nearly three quarters. Then, the squad turned it around, with J.J. McCarthy turning into a killer right before America’s eyes.
Vikings Expected to Be Without a Key Starter for Several Weeks
On the defensive side, Brian Flores sent more heat Caleb Williams’ way and disrupted the young passer’s rhythm. Linebacker Blake Cashman missed the comeback after suffering a hamstring injury on an attempt to chase down Williams. Eric Wilson replaced him and made some plays.
Yet, Cashman is one of the key players in Flores’ unit, playing as the green dot linebacker and functioning as the connecting link between the play-caller and teammates. Well, he won’t be around for a while, according to Ben Goessling of the Star Tribune.
Goessling reported via social media, “Vikings linebacker Blake Cashman is scheduled for an MRI on his hamstring today, but the initial expectation is that he’ll miss several weeks. Cashman pulled up after chasing Caleb Williams on a 13-yard scramble late in the third quarter, and did not return.”
Cashman might be the most underrated player on Minnesota’s defensive roster, considering everyone knows the edge rushers or Harrison Smith. Even Joshua Metellus has gained some steam from a national perspective, and Byron Murphy Jr. went to the Pro Bowl.
But nobody ever mentions Cashman, who was an excellent signing in March of 2024 to replace Jordan Hicks. The Minnesota native immediately took charge of the play-calling and just made plays, resulting in 112 tackles and 4.5 sacks despite missing three contests due to a hamstring injury.
In the three games he missed, the Vikings struggled on defense, matching up against the Rams and Lions, who cracked the code of Flores’ defense last year. We’ll never know whether that could’ve worked differently with him, and it’s only fair to point to the end of the season, when the same opponents also came out victorious versus the Vikes.
Still, Cashman is clearly a great linebacker, with the ability to rush the passer, stop the run, and cover. He’s a versatile player who’s good in all areas, and his absence will hurt the Vikings.
Injuries have constantly derailed his career. Cashman, born and raised in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, was selected by the New York Jets in the fifth round of the 2019 NFL Draft. He was limited to seven games in his rookie season, four as a sophomore, and three in his third year. The Jets then shipped him to Houston for a sixth-round pick.
As a Jet, Cashman played in only 14 games through three years, starting seven contests. After playing 427 defensive snaps in his rookie campaign, he only saw the field on 36 in the following two years.
In 2022, he played in 16 of 17 games, primarily on special teams. Cashman had 149 defensive plays that year. In 2023, new head coach DeMeco Ryans gave him more opportunities, allowing him to play 657 defensive snaps in 13 starts. That year, the former Golden Gopher made more tackles than he had in all four previous seasons combined.
The Vikings handed him a three-year deal for $22.5 million. That contract is aging quite well.
Without Cashman, Flores will lean on Wilson once again. Another wrinkle could be to give some linebacker responsibilities to Joshua Metellus if Harrison Smith, who has been out with a personal health matter, returns Sunday. That’s how Flores handled Cashman’s absence in 2024. He gave some reps to Kamu Grugier-Hill and many more to Metellus.
In addition to Cashman, the Vikings could be without Jeff Okudah, who potentially suffered a concussion on the final play of the game. The upcoming injury reports are primed to be fascinating with those two, plus Smith and tackle Christian Darrisaw.
The next game for Kevin O’Connell’s crew will come on Sunday when the Atlanta Falcons come to Minnesota for the home opener.
Editor’s Note: Information from ESPN, PFF, Over The Cap, and Pro Football Reference helped with this article.