Report reveals bad news about Vikings starter before big Lions game

While we continue to wait and see if T.J. Hockenson will make his regular-season debut for the Minnesota Vikings this weekend, a recent report has revealed the status of another notable member of the team heading into Sunday's big matchup against the Detroit Lions.

According to the Minnesota Star Tribune's Andrew Krammer on Wednesday, Vikings starting linebacker Blake Cashman is not expected to play against the Lions this week because of a turf toe injury that he is currently dealing with.

In addition, Krammer shared that Cashman's status for Minnesota's Week 8 contest against the Los Angeles Rams is up in the air as well, especially since the game will played on a Thursday night, just four days after the Vikings take on Detroit.

Minnesota Vikings LB Blake Cashman expected to miss Week 7 against the Detroit Lions

While the report about Cashman is disappointing, the rest of Minnesota's defense should be good to go for Sunday against the Lions. And if Kamu Grugier-Hill is the player the Vikings choose to replace Cashman in the starting lineup this weekend, then the team's concern level shouldn't be too high

Grugier-Hill did a great job earlier this season when he stepped in as a starter for two games while Minnesota linebacker Ivan Pace Jr. sat out with an ankle injury. In those two contests, the veteran defender accumulated five tackles, three pass breakups, and two interceptions.

Even if Grugier-Hill is able to do a solid job as a replacement on Sunday, the Vikings will still miss Cashman's ability as a run-stopper against the Lions. Heading into Week 7, the Minnesota linebacker has the fourth-best PFF run defense grade on the team behind only Pace, Josh Metellus, and Stephon Gilmore.

Unfortunately, the Vikings are taking on a Detroit team this weekend that ranks eighth in the NFL in yards per rush attempt. So, hopefully, the rest of Minnesota's defense will be able to step up and make sure Cashman's absence isn't one that results in a banner day for the Lions' rushing attack.

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