A bright light in a disappointing season...
The Vikings held an eight-point lead late in the fourth quarter Sunday night. The Dallas Cowboys were driving for a potential touchdown that could lead to tying the score.
The ball sat at the Vikings 45-yard line at AT&T Stadium, fourth-and-7 with 5½ minutes remaining. The Cowboys made the now-or-never decision to go for it.
Quarterback Dak Prescott threw a checkdown pass to running back Malik Davis, who was belted by a defender immediately just short of the first-down marker, a play that preserved a Vikings win.
Linebacker Eric Wilson made that drive-stalling tackle because of course he did.
He’s been an unsung star of the Vikings defense all season.
“You can always count on him to be sound with his assignment,” fellow linebacker Blake Cashman said.
Wilson’s emergence is a bright spot in a season that drifted far off course. Signed last offseason to a one-year, $2.6 million contract, Wilson has been an absolute bargain when measuring his impact and production.
He leads all NFL linebackers (non-edge rushers) in quarterback pressures (31) and hurries (23).
His 15 tackles for loss rank sixth in the NFL, third among linebackers.
He ranks second on the team in tackles (98), first in tackles for loss and is tied with edge rusher Dallas Turner for first in sacks (5½).
To put that into context, Wilson is only the 17th NFL player since 1999 — and first since Las Vegas Raiders edge rusher Maxx Crosby in 2023 — to record 90 tackles, five sacks and 15 tackles for loss in a season.
Not bad for a guy who was expected to serve as a backup and make his mark on special teams.
“I think I’m playing my best ball now,” Wilson said.
Best ball of his nine-year career. NFL players don’t typically hit peak performance at age 31, but Wilson’s success is due to several factors.
First, he takes remarkable care of himself. Listed at 231 pounds, his body is chiseled like a sculpture. He has muscles on top of muscles. Teammates marvel at the copious amount of fruit he consumes.
Second, fit matters. Wilson has played in different schemes with four NFL teams, including two stints with the Vikings. His role in defensive coordinator Brian Flores’ complex, aggressive system aligns nicely with his skill set.
“When you’re playing linebacker in a 4-3 or a 3-4, the game looks different,” said Wilson, who first joined the Vikings as an undrafted free agent in 2017. “It’s a different feel. Over the years, it’s all kind of making sense.”
He just needed an opportunity. Wilson impressed Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell as a member of the Green Bay Packers defense last season, setting the wheels in motion.
“He jumped off the tape to me,” O’Connell said, noting he also heard glowing reports about Wilson’s character from Vikings staffers who knew him from his first stint with the team.
O’Connell met with Wilson during free agency last winter. Wilson was drawing interest from multiple teams. A chance to return to his roots and play in Flores’ system tipped the scale.
“I thought it could be a really good fit, and he agreed,” O’Connell said. “He’s made that all come to life.”
Injuries opened the door for Wilson to become a starter. His production kept him in the lineup, replacing Ivan Pace Jr.
Wilson said he has blitzed more this season than any point in his career. Flores’ creativity in how he uses players gives Wilson opportunities to make splash plays, especially as a pass rusher.
“We’re an attacking scheme. I like that about it,” Wilson said. “It’s helped me adjust my game accordingly. You’ve got to know when to take your shots.”
Cashman emphasized Wilson’s football intellect. Wilson is a smart, instinctive linebacker who has developed cohesion with Cashman on the Vikings’ elaborate pre-snap checks and disguised looks that are designed to confuse offenses. They spend hours every week going over communication. Being in sync prevents chaos.
“It helps that he’s a savvy vet, and he has a lot of experience and knowledge of the game,” Cashman said.
Wilson has made a habit of being in the right spot this season. The looming question now is: What comes next?
Wilson is set to become a free agent. He’s enjoying a career season, but he turned 31 in September. That’s not a sweet spot for a long-term deal, yet Wilson belongs high on the list of the Vikings’ most valuable players on defense this season.
“I like it here, but we’ll see what happens,” he said. Finding a practical deal that keeps him here would be a wise investment.
Strib
LB's usually take a season or 2 to acclimate to the league.
That would be especially true here if BFlo and his scheme stay.
Been a # of posts how the Vikings need to prioritize a LB this draft. Would love to see Wilson remain another year or 2 to help mentor a rook.
Hurry-up Vikings, we ain't getting any younger!
I don't think anyone expected Eric Wilson to come in and have the kind of year he's had. He seems to be a unique fit in the Flores defense. But the way I see it, this is still a 31-year-old player on his 6th team. I think more than anything, he's showing us what this defense can look like with better linebacker play.
I hope the Vikings bring him back. Even if we draft an ILB in the 1st round, it's not a given he'll be ready to play full time. Jihaad Campbell, the Eagles 1st round rookie, is that kind of ILB. He's played well but he's started only 8 games.
Of course, his breakout season will end up costing us our 3rd comp pick.
Mattyman wrote:
IMO,It was a mistake to let Wilson walk the first time.
Obviously he wasn't that special anywhere else either. He signed a 1 year 2.6 mil contract.
But he has been a stud in Flores D. A great find and fit.
greediron wrote:
Obviously he wasn't that special anywhere else either. He signed a 1 year 2.6 mil contract.
But he has been a stud in Flores D. A great find and fit.
He played well his first go here as well. Arguably better than Barr in his limited opportunities.
Why isn't Chuck Foreman in the Hall of Fame?
JimmyinSD wrote:
He played well his first go here as well. Arguably better than Barr in his limited opportunities.
lol, still gnawing on that bone? Not a chance. He was ok, but nothing special. This is the first year he has actually stood out as a playmaker. His contracts agree with that statement.
greediron wrote:
lol, still gnawing on that bone? Not a chance. He was ok, but nothing special. This is the first year he has actually stood out as a playmaker. His contracts agree with that statement.
Barr was largely nothing special, if the defenses weren't dialed up for him to have a free run he rarely showed the ability to get after the QB, never lived up to the hype IMO. It wasnt that Wilson was special, its just that the bar/Barr wasn't set very high.
Why isn't Chuck Foreman in the Hall of Fame?
If he's killing it now (which the article/tangibles certainly suggest), he should be offered some extension. This organization rarely whiffs on proven players, but isn't great at drafting future stars (though, that may be changing).
Wilson's name is definitely one that's been heard regularly even as the season has proven difficult.
KOC, JJM, Flores...make a good plan, or you'll be following Kwesi....
JimmyinSD wrote:
Barr was largely nothing special, if the defenses weren't dialed up for him to have a free run he rarely showed the ability to get after the QB, never lived up to the hype IMO. It wasnt that Wilson was special, its just that the bar/Barr wasn't set very high.
4 straight Pro Bowls, but sure, nothing special.
MaroonBells wrote:
4 straight Pro Bowls, but sure, nothing special.
Since when does the pro bowl mean anything? Imo he was largely over rated, made a few plays, but not worth the fuss. Especially his pass rush ability, he was never the threat he was made out to be.
Why isn't Chuck Foreman in the Hall of Fame?
JimmyinSD wrote:
Since when does the pro bowl mean anything? Imo he was largely over rated, made a few plays, but not worth the fuss. Especially his pass rush ability, he was never the threat he was made out to be.
what fuss lol
JimmyinSD wrote:
Since when does the pro bowl mean anything? Imo he was largely over rated, made a few plays, but not worth the fuss. Especially his pass rush ability, he was never the threat he was made out to be.
Because he wasn't a hand in the dirt, Jared Allen type. He took away so much of the field. There were reasons our D was so damn good all those years. Barr and Harrison were the two main cogs in the D. They took away significant chunks. An unselfish player that did his job and did it a a high level. Pay attention to what Harrison Smith thinks of him.
JimmyinSD wrote:
Since when does the pro bowl mean anything? Imo he was largely over rated, made a few plays, but not worth the fuss. Especially his pass rush ability, he was never the threat he was made out to be.
When you want it to.
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