The Minnesota Vikings are in a unique position to close out the 2024 NFL season. If they can win out, they will get the top seed in the NFC playoffs and home-field advantage after a bye week. A loss to either the Packers or Lions will result in a Wild Card berth and being the visitor in the opening round of the playoffs.
With so much riding on Week 17, the Vikings need to have as many of their major contributors as possible available. The team got some good news on Saturday, as a starting linebacker will return from injury.
Vikings get notable defender back for Week 17 vs. Packers
The Minnesota Vikings announced on social media that starting interior linebacker Ivan Pace Jr. was activated from injured reserve and will be available for the game against the Packers without an injury designation.
The #Vikings have activated LB Ivan Pace Jr. from IR. He will enter tomorrow without a game designation.
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) December 28, 2024
LB Jamin Davis has been waived. pic.twitter.com/CEwqtm4Y9p
Pace last played in Week 12 against the Chicago Bears but missed Minnesota's last four games while dealing with a hamstring injury. He and fellow linebacker Blake Cashman have done a good job holding down the middle of the Vikings defense and his return should be a nice boost to Brian Flores' unit.
In nine games this season, Ivan Pace Jr. has done a bit of everything. He has 59 combined tackles (31 solo) including six tackles for a loss and three sacks and a fumble recovery that he returned for a touchdown.
An undrafted free agent signing in 2023, Pace emerged as a reliable defender and quickly earned a starting role in Minnesota. Since then, the former Miami (Ohio) standout has been a major part of the purple and gold defense.
To have Pace back from injured reserve without an injury designation is huge for the Vikings and should be a great sign that he should be ready to be inserted back into the starting lineup in time for the border battle against Wisconsin's team at U.S. Bank Stadium on Sunday.
Minnesota is currently enjoying an eight-game winning streak. The Vikings haven't suffered a loss since Week 8, when the team suffered their second loss of the season to the surging Los Angeles Rams
There always seems to be a little extra when the Vikings play the Packers and having Ivan Pace Jr. back for this game is huge for a Minnesota defense facing a dynamic Green Bay offense.
To make room for Pace, the Minnesota Vikings waived linebacker Jamin Davis.