Blake Cashman’s hamstring injury lands Minnesota on IR, forcing Eric Wilson into a bigger role with green-dot duties as the Vikings lean on leadership from the middle of the defense. Cashman targets an Oct. 19 return against Philadelphia, giving Wilson a four-game window to establish himself as the defensive signal-caller.

Ty Chandler’s knee injury sends him to IR for at least four games, with the Week 6 bye potentially stretching the absence. Special-teams tweaks put Zavier Scott, Tai Felton and Isaiah Rodgers in the mix as returners, while the Vikings promote Tim Jones and Nick Vannett to the active roster and monitor Oliver’s ankle and other practice-squad moves.

Christian Darrisaw sat out the Bears game after testing his surgically repaired knee in warmups, nudging Justin Skule into starting duty. J.J. McCarthy delivered late heroics despite uneven protection, while Blake Cashman exited with a hamstring issue and Eric Wilson stepped in to direct the defense. Jeff Okudah’s concussion evaluation and Harrison Smith’s illness added to Vikings’ injury drama, with Bears’ Caleb Williams and Nahshon Wright contributing big plays as Minnesota honored shooting victims at the pregame.

The Minnesota Vikings linebacker unit has made a notable mark in the NFL over the past season, ranking 10th among all teams according to Pro Football Focus. Despite the absence of big-name stars, Blake Cashman and Ivan Pace Jr. have emerged as key players, driving the unit's success with impressive performances. Cashman boasts an impressive 80.3 overall grade over the last two years, while Pace Jr. has excelled, ranking among the top 10 linebackers for both run defense and pass rush metrics. Eric Wilson rounds out the trio as a solid contributor, while rookie Kobe King shows promise for added depth.

This unit's ability to seamlessly switch between run support and pass rushing adds significant value to the Vikings defense, making them a more versatile threat on the field. With the potential for even more depth if King develops well, the Vikings linebacker group is poised for continued success in the coming seasons.