Sep 10, 2023; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings fans reacts during the game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports.
The Minnesota Vikings travel to Jacksonville for a date with the Jaguars this Sunday and might welcome back an influential defender to the lineup.
Linebacker Blake Cashman — an Eden Prairie high school and University of Minnesota graduate — has missed the last three games due to turf toe. But this week is suddenly trending the right way.
Minnesota listed Cashman as a limited practice participant, a good omen for Week 10.
In previous weeks, Cashman logged DNPs (did not practice) during game lead-ups, so Wednesday’s limited participation was noteworthy for onlookers. If Cashman plays this weekend, this is exactly how the process would start.
Without Cashman, a free-agent addition in March, Minnesota has turned to veteran linebacker Kamu Grugier-Hill, who has filled in admirably but isn’t quite the defensive playmaker like Cashman.
Some Vikings fans believe Cashman is the straw that stirs the drink on defense. Why? Well, the moment he injured his toe, the defense tumbled in games against the Detroit Lions and Los Angeles Rams, only recovering last week on Sunday Night Football versus the Indianapolis Colts.
KSTP’s Darren Wolfson commented on Cashman’s status this week while chatting with SKOR North: “It has gone on longer than anyone anticipated. There is frustration. There’s no doubt about that. I’m told ‘week-to-week.’ It’s possible he’s back this week, but going back to October 7, if I told the Vikings, ‘Blake is not going to be back by Week 9,’ they would have said, ‘You are nuts.'”
All told, Cashman has missed three games, and Minnesota has a 1-2 record in those contests.
“There’s toughness there that has carried Blake this far. Trust me, if Blake could be out there, he would be out there,” Wolfson added.
Cashman is suffering from turf toe, a notoriously lingering injury that takes a while to heal fully. The Vikings are experiencing that reality.
In five games this season, Cashman has logged 40 total tackles, 5 passes defended, 4 QB hits, 2 tackles for a loss, and a sack, along with a sweet 75.6 Pro Football Focus grade.
Cashman also has a documented injury history. He played 657 defensive snaps in Houston last year — by far his best season as a pro — but past seasons were derailed by various ailments. Healthy may be an undercover weakness for the Minnesota native.
The Vikings’ defense ranks first in the NFL per EPA/Play with Cashman in the lineup and 15th without him.
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 Vikings 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.