The bye week is over for the Minnesota Vikings, and up next on the schedule for the team is a clash with the Philadelphia Eagles. The Week 7 contest will be a major challenge for a team that has dealt with multiple setbacks during the 2025 NFL season.
Injuries have been a major part of the early portion of the season for the Vikings. However, the team is finally getting a couple of players back who were placed on short-term injured reserve earlier this year.
The Minnesota Vikings will have two linebackers back on defense for the game against the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 7.
The official X account of the Minnesota Vikings announced on Saturday that two defenders will be back from injured reserve in time for Sunday's game against the Eagles, and the team desperately needs the help.
The #Vikings have activated OLB Tyler Batty and LB Blake Cashman from IR. pic.twitter.com/a197rCUi6X
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) October 18, 2025
While most of the conversation surrounding the Vikings this week has been about the quarterback situation in Minnesota, the team is getting a couple of its defenders back who could make an impact against the Eagles.
A 26-year-old edge rusher, Tyler Batty, is one of the linebackers activated. He has not seen action in a regular-season game yet, but that's due to having excellent depth at the position. Still, having him available gives the team more depth, especially against a physical team like the Eagles.
On the other hand, starter Blake Cashman is expected to return on Sunday as a starting middle linebacker. When paired with Ivan Pace Jr, in Minnesota's defense, the team always seems to perform better than when he's out of action.
Cashman played in 14 games for the Vikings last season, where he registered career-highs with 112 tackles, 11 quarterback hits, eight pass defenses, and 4,5 sacks. The 29-year-old is an important part of Brian Flores' defense and should give the team a boost.
The Vikings are sitting with a 3-2 record following their bye week and face an incredibly tough challenge in the next few weeks. While that's a solid record, they will need every win they can get in a highly competitive NFC North.
While it won't make major headlines around the league, the Minnesota Vikings getting two of their injured defenders back is huge news for the purple and gold and hopefully starts of trend of more players returning to action instead of being added to the team's long list of players who are put on injured reserve.