Questions Answered: Vikings-Colts Score Prediction, Blake Cashman Status, Dalton Risner
The following questions are about current Minnesota Vikings topics, answered by VikingsTerritory. Today is the Halloween edition, addressed in a from-the-hip fashion. If you have questions, please email them to [email protected].
Questions Answered: Vikings-Colts Score Prediction, Blake Cashman Status, Dalton Risner
Also, please note: These are opinion-based responses. Some answers will be incorrect from time to time. But we’ll try to keep that to a minimum.
Q: Give us the score prediction for Sunday Night Football, Colts at Vikings.
Answer: A Vikings win 30-17.
We were wrong last week, predicting Minnesota to bounce back on the road and somewhat handily beat the Los Angeles Rams. That prediction looked wonderful after the game’s first drive.
But we didn’t know the defense would fail to show up at SoFi Stadium.
However, we refuse to believe the defense — the pass rush, specifically — is dead for good, so we foresee a rebound performance for the defense. The Vikings’ defensive trenches will rattle immobile Joe Flacco, and Minnesota’s offense won’t struggle to score points. A 13-point victory.
Q: Will Blake Cashman play this weekend?
Answer: That’s trending toward no.
On this week’s specific injury report, Cashman is looking like a no-go. He’s battling turf toe, an injury that notoriously lingers for athletes.
The Vikings listed Cashman as a DNP (did not practice) on Thursday, just three days before Vikings-Colts on Sunday Night Football. Cashman, in theory, could still practice Friday and be ready for the primetime affair, but he probably would’ve experienced limited practice participation this week if so.
A couple of weeks ago, head coach Kevin O’Connell didn’t sound too worried about Cashman’s long-term prognosis. “He’ll be kind of day-to-day, week-to-week as he deals with that, O’Connell said. “We really don’t know yet, but don’t think it will be a long-term injury, with IR or anything involved in that,” the young skipper said before Week 7.
“We’ll just hopefully have him work through it and get back on the field as soon as possible. Don’t really know about his status for this week. We’ll see if he can get some limited work in throughout the week and maybe have a chance to go.”
If Cashman doesn’t play on Sunday, onlookers will fire up Cashman Injury Watch all over again leading into the following weekend, a road trip to Jacksonville for a date with the Jaguars.
It will probably be the Kamu Grugier-Hill show for a third consecutive game.
Q: Do you think Dalton Risner will play against the Colts?
Answer: This one is a true coinflip.
We’ll say no as a prediction — unless an offensive guard like Blake Brandel or Ed Ingram gets hurt. Minnesota might give Ingram a bit more time because it fancies continuity.
Risner will likely see the starting lineup before too long, but with the caveat that we’re willing to be wrong, let’s say Ingram gets another start.
Vikings Urged to Trade for Young CB
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. The show features guests, analysis, and opinion on all things related to the purple team, with 4-7 episodes per week. His MIN obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band). He follows the NBA as closely as the NFL.
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.
You must be logged in to post a comment.