Vikings linebacker Blake Cashman has found his home in the middle of the NFL's most dominant defense
(AP) — Blake Cashman faked a blitz at the line before dropping a couple of yards into coverage for the Minnesota Vikings and darting to his right and lunging to break up a third-and-short throw, forcing the Indianapolis Colts to punt.Cashman nearly picked off the first down pass by Daniel Jones on that drive, too, setting the tone for a remarkably productive afternoon by the eighth-year veteran…
Eagan, Minnesota (AP) — Blake Cashman, a linebacker for the Minnesota Vikings, has become a key player in the league's most formidable defense this season. In a game against the Indianapolis Colts, Cashman demonstrated his prowess with 12 tackles, a career-high two sacks for a loss of 25 yards, three quarterback hits and four pass deflections.
His performance was instrumental in the Vikings' 16-10 victory, making him the first player in NFL history to achieve these milestones since 2005. Despite his impressive stats, Cashman is aware of areas for improvement. After analyzing the game footage, he realized that he could have made an interception return for a touchdown had he reacted differently to a pass intended for Laquon Treadwell.
Cashman, who has been with the Vikings since 2024, is second on the team with 10 quarterback pressures and leads the team with 54 tackles. His ability to quickly adapt and understand the system, along with the guidance of defensive coordinator Brian Flores, has enabled him to play at his best. Cashman, who played college football at Minnesota, is also regarded as one of the team's eight captains for 2026, earning the green dot on his helmet for wearing the headset that receives calls from Flores before each play.
His teammates are impressed by his ability to operate efficiently under pressure, handling the constant direction and feedback while maintaining a high level of intelligence and aggression during the game.
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