Blake Cashman won't play against the Green Bay Packers on Sunday, leaving the Minnesota Vikings with a hurdle to clear. They're not just losing one of their best linebackers. They're also losing the guy who gets Brian Flores' defense organized before the snap.
Kirk Cousins is naturally getting plenty of attention ahead of his return to Minnesota, and a sidelined Micah Parsons is good news for Cousins' second Vikings debut. Replacing Cashman might be the more important storyline, though. Someone has to handle his coverage assignments, help get everyone lined up, and make sure the defense knows what's coming.
Making matters worse, Josh Metellus is questionable with a shoulder injury, according to Minnesota's final injury report. Losing Cashman is bad enough. Potentially being without Metellus, too, could seriously complicate things for Flores.
How Minnesota Vikings can replace Blake Cashman against Green Bay Packers
So, who wears the green dot? Eric Wilson looks like the most sensible choice to take over defensive communications.
Cashman normally wears the helmet that lets him get calls directly from Flores. But according to the Minnesota Star Tribune, Wilson has handled that job before.
Metellus also mentioned during Thursday's media availability that Wilson and Ivan Pace Jr. have both handled communication responsibilities in previous games.
Whoever replaces Cashman in the starting lineup doesn't necessarily have to take on everything else he does.
Wilson has enough experience to organize the defense, allowing Pace to focus on what he does best. He's physical, aggressive, and can cause problems when Flores sends him after the quarterback.
Coverage is where things get trickier.
Cashman covers a ton of ground, and Minnesota can't just plug another linebacker into his spot and expect the same results. Green Bay could test Pace with crossing routes, running backs slipping into open space, and play-action passes.
Rookie Jake Golday is another name worth watching. He's contributed on special teams, and Metellus has suggested he could see more defensive opportunities. Golday might help in certain packages, but expecting him to immediately replace Cashman's production would be asking an awful lot.
Josh Metellus could make the Vikings' defensive adjustments even harder
Metellus' status is another headache Flores doesn't need.
One reason Minnesota's defense is so difficult to figure out is that Metellus doesn't have one clearly defined job. He can line up at safety, move into the slot, play closer to the line of scrimmage, or rush the passer.
That versatility gives Flores plenty of ways to confuse opposing quarterbacks. Without Metellus, some of those options become harder to execute.
Theo Jackson, Jay Ward, and rookie Jakobe Thomas could all be asked to do more if Metellus sits. There's talent in that group, but asking less experienced defenders to handle complicated coverage rotations against Jordan Love isn't ideal.
Flores can still give Green Bay problems without both veterans. His defense can bring pressure from just about anywhere, and Wilson provides an experienced player to lean on.
But even the best defensive call can fall apart when players aren't on the same page. One missed assignment or late adjustment can turn into a huge gain.
Not too long ago, the Vikings were the NFL's last-standing undefeated team. But after two straight losses, combined with four-game winning streaks by the Bears and Lions, Minnesota has tumbled to third place in the NFC North. The Vikings enter Sunday at 6-2, with the Packers right behind them at 6-3. Minnesota beat Green Bay earlier this season, 39-22, but the stakes are much higher this time around.
The good news is that Green Bay has significant injury problems of its own.
Running back Josh Jacobs is out with a finger injury, potentially putting more responsibility on Love if the Packers struggle to establish their running game.
And then there's Parsons.
Green Bay's star pass rusher has also been ruled out with injury, giving Cousins and Minnesota's offensive line a major break.
Parsons can wreck an offensive game plan almost by himself. Without him coming off the edge, Kevin O'Connell should have more freedom to send tight ends and running backs into routes instead of keeping them in to help protect Cousins.
Green Bay still has capable pass rushers, but there's a big difference between preparing for a defense with Parsons and facing one without him.
The frustrating part for Vikings fans is that Minnesota has an opportunity to exploit Green Bay's injuries while dealing with potentially costly absences of its own.
If Jacobs' absence puts Love into more obvious passing situations, Flores should have chances to get aggressive. But without Cashman and potentially Metellus, he'll have to decide how much pressure he can bring without leaving his replacement defenders exposed in coverage.
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