WK 08 ~ Lions Week ~ Discussion, Pressers, News, etc.

"He's finding his stride... the things he's good at, where he can use his skill set to help our team" - Brian Flores on @DrakeRodriguez5 pic.twitter.com/MksCAoFgb2

— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) October 27, 2026

Kentis wrote:

Hell, I’d be happy w/ John Jacob Jingleheimer Schmidt at this point…

Thanks @Kentis  ~ Now that song is stuck in my head! 😂

"They've earned the opportunity to get in there and play a bit" - Defensive Coordinator Brian Flores on rotating in the younger players pic.twitter.com/jasLlhzP9y

— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) October 27, 2026

Blake Cashman is responsible for 195 tackles, 6.5 sacks and 13 quarterback hits in his last 18 games 🔥

📰: https://t.co/txOGKwGmUX pic.twitter.com/zaa4qBQTRE

— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) October 27, 2026

Blake Cashman is playing absurdly well.

The homegrown Viking has been the ideal Green Dot linebacker under Defensive Coordinator Brian Flores since he signed with the team in 2024 free agency, but his performance dating to Week 7 last season when he returned from injury is beyond that.

It's been unbelievably good — and unrivaled across the league.

During that span of 18 games, Cashman is responsible for 195 tackles, 6.5 sacks and 13 quarterback hits. The No. 2 tackler is Detroit's Jack Campbell, with 174 in 17 games, and you must search outside the Top 25 tacklers to find another player with five or more sacks.

Moreover, Kaden Elliss (Falcons, Saints) and Cashman's running mate Eric Wilson are the only other players with 100-plus tackles — they both have 110 — and double-digit QB hits since Week 7 of 2025.

Cashman has made 18 consecutive appearances for the first time in his career, and it's paid off for him and Minnesota. While the 30-year-old has averaged 10.8 tackles in that stretch, the team has allowed 17.2 points per game. Through the first six in 2026, Cash' is averaging 9.0 tackles, and opponents are averaging 12.3 points. The success is intertwined.

And it was never more apparent than Sunday against Indianapolis when Cashman had an effort of epic proportions: 12 tackles, four passes defended, three QB hits and two sacks.

Those numbers and his ubiquitous impact in Minnesota's 16-10 victory earned him his first weekly All-Star nod from FOX Sports' Greg Auman. It could result in league honors, as well, making him a candidate for NFC Defensive Player of the Week (the winner will be announced Wednesday).

Auman noted that Cashman's "little-of-everything game, at the center of a defense-driven win" got him the nod over Alex Singleton, who had 19 tackles and a sack for the Broncos in their win over Arizona, and Kendal Daniels, who closed out Atlanta's upset of San Francisco with an interception of Brock Purdy in addition to nabbing 11 tackles and a fumble recovery.

Cashman is the most recent Viking to garner All-Star recognition, following Justin Jefferson and Andrew Van Ginkel in Week 1, Dallas Turner in Week 2, Myles Price in Week 3 and T.J. Hockenson and Turner in Week 4.

QB: Joe Burrow (Bengals)

RB: Tony Pollard (Titans); Bucky Irving (Buccaneers)

WR: Jaxon Smith-Njigba (Seahawks); Tee Higgins (Bengals)

TE: Colston Loveland (Bears)

OL: Tampa Bay

EDGE: YaYa Diaby (Buccaneers)

DT: Adetomiwa Adebawore (Colts)

LB: Blake Cashman (Vikings)

DB: Jessie Bates III (Falcons)

ST: Tykee Smith and Zyon McCollum (Buccaneers)

"This guy is one of the best I've been around" - Brian Flores on @harrismith22 joining 40/20 club pic.twitter.com/dpVQSfNcsA

— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) October 27, 2026

This group is fun to be around. pic.twitter.com/ZZre5ylv2A

— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) October 27, 2026

LIVE: Offensive Coordinator Wes Phillips https://t.co/M5Snlw6uGP

— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) October 27, 2026

Offensive Coordinator Wes Phillips on the #Vikings run game pic.twitter.com/Mkfa261nbJ

— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) October 27, 2026

Wes Phillips on leaning into @k1 's strengths pic.twitter.com/nOqe5Zgiko

— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) October 27, 2026

Cricket wrote:

Blake Cashman is playing absurdly well.
The homegrown Viking has been the ideal Green Dot linebacker under Defensive Coordinator Brian Flores since he signed with the team in 2024 free agency, but his performance dating to Week 7 last season when he returned from injury is beyond that.
It's been unbelievably good — and unrivaled across the league.
During that span of 18 games, Cashman is responsible for 195 tackles, 6.5 sacks and 13 quarterback hits. The No. 2 tackler is Detroit's Jack Campbell, with 174 in 17 games, and you must search outside the Top 25 tacklers to find another player with five or more sacks.
Moreover, Kaden Elliss (Falcons, Saints) and Cashman's running mate Eric Wilson are the only other players with 100-plus tackles — they both have 110 — and double-digit QB hits since Week 7 of 2025.
Cashman has made 18 consecutive appearances for the first time in his career, and it's paid off for him and Minnesota. While the 30-year-old has averaged 10.8 tackles in that stretch, the team has allowed 17.2 points per game. Through the first six in 2026, Cash' is averaging 9.0 tackles, and opponents are averaging 12.3 points. The success is intertwined.
And it was never more apparent than Sunday against Indianapolis when Cashman had an effort of epic proportions: 12 tackles, four passes defended, three QB hits and two sacks.
Those numbers and his ubiquitous impact in Minnesota's 16-10 victory earned him his first weekly All-Star nod from FOX Sports' Greg Auman. It could result in league honors, as well, making him a candidate for NFC Defensive Player of the Week (the winner will be announced Wednesday).
Auman noted that Cashman's "little-of-everything game, at the center of a defense-driven win" got him the nod over Alex Singleton, who had 19 tackles and a sack for the Broncos in their win over Arizona, and Kendal Daniels, who closed out Atlanta's upset of San Francisco with an interception of Brock Purdy in addition to nabbing 11 tackles and a fumble recovery.
Cashman is the most recent Viking to garner All-Star recognition, following Justin Jefferson and Andrew Van Ginkel in Week 1, Dallas Turner in Week 2, Myles Price in Week 3 and T.J. Hockenson and Turner in Week 4.
QB: Joe Burrow (Bengals)
RB: Tony Pollard (Titans); Bucky Irving (Buccaneers)
WR: Jaxon Smith-Njigba (Seahawks); Tee Higgins (Bengals)
TE: Colston Loveland (Bears)
OL: Tampa Bay
EDGE: YaYa Diaby (Buccaneers)
DT: Adetomiwa Adebawore (Colts)
LB: Blake Cashman (Vikings)
DB: Jessie Bates III (Falcons)
ST: Tykee Smith and Zyon McCollum (Buccaneers)

Sign that man, there should be no debate…!

LIVE: Special Teams Coordinator Matt Daniels https://t.co/7RCEPt9wJO

— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) October 27, 2026

No wasted snaps for @DallasDeejay pic.twitter.com/LBxsVf3DR1

— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) October 27, 2026

.@rodgers_isaiah doing whatever it takes to put pressure on the kicker pic.twitter.com/wBkxVQegxw

— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) October 27, 2026

Former #Vikings WR Adam Thielen says Brian Flores is better off staying as Minnesota’s DC rather than becoming a head coach elsewhere:

“I’m thinking for him, why take on that stress. You can get paid dang near just as much as a head coach to be the best defensive coordinator in… pic.twitter.com/c8lkeJS4k0

— VikingzFanPage (@vikingzfanpage) October 27, 2026

I don’t mind the Vikings not matching on Nelson. They likely want to push for an RB and they can’t afford to burn through ALL of their picks.

— Jason Harmon (@JasonHarmonNFL) October 27, 2026

I’m sorry but we can’t pretend this is sustainable. Brian Flores is a damn hero. https://t.co/rvAwcr6bM7

— Jason Harmon (@JasonHarmonNFL) October 27, 2026

Vikings DC Brian Flores clearly was thrilled today to face his weekly dose of blitz rate questions. pic.twitter.com/z21f0QJtpp

— Kevin Seifert (@SeifertESPN) October 27, 2026

Colts game review:
Van Ginkel doesn’t get enough credit as a coverage LB. Instinctual with spatial awareness. Stud.

— Ben Leber (@nacholeber) October 27, 2026

It will be a good test for BO and CD vs Hutch this week. https://t.co/hxgywysz02

— Dustin (@Dust_Vikings) October 27, 2026