Vikings Rule Out 2 Players for a Month
Defeating the Chicago Bears cost the Minnesota Vikings somewhat dearly on Monday night.
The injuries have suddenly mounted for the Minnesota Vikings, with two players hitting injured reserve after Week 1. Here’s the latest.
The team downed its divisional foe by a score of 27-24 in Week 1, but in the aftermath, two players will hit injured reserve, linebacker Blake Cashman and running back Ty Chandler, for at least four games.
Injuries Pile Up for Vikings
Cashman, especially, will be missed for the next several games.
LB Blake Cashman to IR
As suspected, head coach Kevin O’Connell did not sound optimistic about Cashman after Monday’s win — Cashman landed on IR Thursday.
NBC Sports‘ Myles Simmons wrote, “The Vikings have made some roster moves on Thursday. Minnesota announced the club has placed running back Ty Chandler and linebacker Blake Cashman on injured reserve. Each player will miss at least the next four weeks.”
“Cashman had to exit the team’s Week 1 victory over the Bears on Monday night with a hamstring injury. Chandler made one of the key plays toward the end of the game, taking a kickoff out of the end zone to run the clock down to the two-minute warning. He is now sidelined by a knee injury.”
The heart of Minnesota’s defense includes Cashman, so the absence will be felt.
RB Ty Chandler Follows Suit
Battling a knee injury, Chandler accompanied Cashman to IR and will miss at least four games as well.
Minnesota drafted Chandler in Round 5 three and a half years ago. He’s mostly served in an RB3 capacity while performing kick returning duties from time to time. In fact, Chandler returned kicks on Monday night against the Bears. Minnesota will need a KR alternative plan, perhaps a player like rookie wideout Tai Felton.
Eric Wilson Next Man Up at LB
What will the purple team do sans Cashman, its main off-ball linebacker? Simple — lean on Eric Wilson, who fans will know well after Wilson spent his rookie contract in Minnesota.
Wilson, of course, later joined the Green Bay Packers — those same fans were not impressed by that choice — but he found his way home this offseason. In fact, Wilson performed marvelously against the Bears on Monday night, earning a game ball from O’Connell. The head coach even said his squad may not have won the contest without Wilson.
Wilso also blocked a punt at Soldier Field.
Zavier Scott as the RB3
Remember the preseason? The running back with sweet hair whom you’d never heard of? That was Scott, a practice squader for all of 2024.
Scott played well in August’s exhibition games, and assuming general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah doesn’t sign an additional halfback from free agency, it’s all systems go for Scott to serve as the RB3 for the next month.
This is the man’s shot. Scott would be up for RB2 duty if an injury rattles Aaron Jones or Jordan Mason in the next four weeks.
Cashman News and Notes
SI.com‘s Will Ragatz opined on Cashman’s absence Thursday: “Cashman, Minnesota’s No. 1 linebacker, suffered a hamstring injury in the third quarter of Monday night’s season-opening win over the Bears. Chandler is dealing with a knee injury. Both players will be out for the next two home games and the team’s two-week international trip, with a chance to return after the Week 6 bye.”
“The more significant loss is Cashman, who had an outstanding 2024 season as the primary linebacker and green dot player — meaning he receives the play calls in his helmet and relays them to his teammates — for Brian Flores’ defense. The former Gophers standout signed with the Vikings last offseason and stuffed the stat sheet (112 tackles, 4.5 sacks, 8 pass breakups) while playing in 15 of 18 games, playoffs included.”
Cashman missed three games last year, too, and Minnesota began losing the moment he left the lineup.
Ragatz added, “Without Cashman, the Vikings will turn to veteran Eric Wilson, who they brought back this offseason. Wilson stepped in as the green dot player after Cashman’s injury on Monday night and was instrumental in the Vikings pulling off a comeback win. He played well on defense and also made major contributions on special teams.”
“It’ll be Ivan Pace Jr. and Wilson as the Vikings’ top two linebackers moving forward, with rookie Kobe King perhaps next up on the depth chart.”
The Vikings remain a 3.5-point favorite to take down the Falcons despite the IR developments.
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