Training Camp Preview: Inside & Outside Linebackers
https://www.vikings.com/news/2026-training-camp-preview-inside-outside-linebackers
Training Camp Preview: Inside & Outside Linebackers
INSIDE LINEBACKERS
RETURNEES: Blake Cashman, Ivan Pace, Jr., Josh Ross (practice squad in 2025), Eric Wilson
NEWCOMERS: Draft pick Jake Golday, free agent Jacob Roberts (CFL), undrafted rookies Bangally Kamara and Keli Lawson
2025 RECAP: Wilson reunited with the Vikings, where he started his NFL career as an undrafted free agent and played from 2017-20, and entered training camp in a reserve role — but that didn't last long. The veteran LB stepped in for Cashman in the Vikings season opener when Cash' suffered a hamstring injury and never looked back. Wilson assumed "green dot" helmet duties and executed so well that when Cashman returned after four weeks, Wilson usurped Pace's position as the other starting 'backer.
Wilson showed a nose for the ball, creating splash plays throughout the season and recording a career-high 6.5 sacks, 17 tackles for loss and four forced fumbles. His 115 tackles (including seven on special teams) are the second most he's tallied in a season and trailed only Cashman.
Despite playing just 13 games for Minnesota, Cashman racked up a team-leading 144 tackles on defense last season, which ranked ninth in the NFL in 2025.
Pace played in all 17 games last season, making six starts, and totaled 62 tackles (including 13 on special teams), two tackles for loss and a sack. He logged 323 defensive snaps and continued to be a regular contributor on special teams, finishing the season with 333 snaps.
Originally signed in 2022 by Baltimore as an undrafted free agent, Ross spent his first two-plus seasons with the Ravens, before finishing 2024 with Seattle. The Seahawks re-signed Ross to a one-year deal in March 2025 but waived him in late August during final roster cuts. Minnesota signed Ross to its practice squad in December and to a reserve/future contract in January.
POSITION OVERVIEW: Without much of a positional overhaul, the Vikings linebacker corps can pick up where the unit left off last season.
Wilson earned a new deal after his impressive 2025 campaign, signing a three-year contract in March to stay with the Vikings.
Cashman, an Eden Prairie native, gears up for his third season playing for his home-state team. He seemed no worse for wear after returning from the hamstring injury last season and has enjoyed a healthy offseason program — as well as welcoming a son, Crew — ahead of his eighth NFL training camp. Cashman has increased his tackles total each of his past three seasons as a starter (including 2023 with Houston) and will maintain his role as LB1.
Pace's defensive snaps decreased in his third season with Wilson and Cashman playing at high levels. He has competition with the older linebackers for a larger role.
Minnesota used its 51st overall pick to draft Golday out of Cincinnati, making him the third former Bearcat among Vikings linebackers (joining Pace and Wilson). Golday began his college career at Central Arkansas and played his final two seasons at Cincinnati. He recorded 105 tackles (39 solo), including six for a loss, 3.5 sacks, three passes defended and a forced fumble in 2025, and was named First-Team All-Big 12 after being Honorable Mention All-Big 12 in 2024. Golday was featured at No. 48 in Bruce Feldman's annual “Freaks List” after doing 24 reps of 225 pounds on the bench press and reaching a GPS speed of 22.16 mph going into the 2025 season.
The Vikings nabbed Roberts out of the Canadian Football League in addition to signing Lawson and Kamara when the two went undrafted in the spring.
Lawson, a former UCF standout after four seasons with Virginia Tech, brings unique measurables to the position group, tying with Golday for tallest LB at 6-foot-4 but weighing in (230 lbs) as one of the lightest. Lawson demonstrated athleticism and dynamic play style during his sole season at Central Florida, returning a fumble for a touchdown in UCF's homecoming game and recording two sacks in the team's final game of the season.
Kamara began his collegiate career at the University of Pittsburgh (2020-23) before transferring to the University of South Carolina for the 2024 season and concluding his career at the University of Kansas in 2025. In his lone season with the Jayhawks, Kamara posted 56 total tackles, including 9.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, four passes defensed and one forced fumble in 11 games played, including nine starts.
WHAT TO WATCH IF YOU MAKE IT TO CAMP:
The Vikings should have good competition behind the names fans are used to seeing in the middle of the defense.
Roberts is new to the NFL but brings an added layer of experience from the Canadian Football League.
A former standout at North Carolina A&T (2019-22) and then Wake Forest (2023), Roberts spent the past two CFL seasons with the Calgary Stampeders and recorded 97 defensive tackles, 19 special teams tackles, 4.0 sacks and forced one fumble. During the 2024 season with the team, he logged four 14 total tackles (four defensive and 10 special teams) in six games played.
How will Roberts transition to the NFL, and how will that show up during training camp? The same goes for Lawson and Kamara. Does Ross' head start in Brian Flores system that began in December help?
2 KEY QUESTIONS FOR THE VIKINGS ILBs:
1. Will Golday play a role in Year 1?
Golday, the second-round pick, is a physical player who already seems like the type of "just loves football" defender Flores loves. Cashman and Wilson of course have the starting roles on hold, but will the rookie LB make a big enough impression on coaches during camp to earn consideration for a reserve role?
It also isn't improbable for Golday to carve out a special teams role first. NFL.com's Lance Zierlein wrote that his "traits, explosiveness and field demeanor should make him an early special teams standout with the potential to eventually start at Sam or [Mike] linebacker."
Speed tracking showed Golday can flat-out fly. Will he maintain play speed as he takes on new knowledge in this system?
2. Another big season for Wilson?
Wilson noted at the end of last season things had "finally clicked in a certain way" and said, "I definitely feel like I'm playing some of my best ball."
The 31-year-old has always found joy around the game of football but specifically feels Minnesota is a special place and was thrilled to reunite with the Vikings last spring. Inking a new deal rewards the hard work he put on tape in 2025, and you can bet that effort won't go anywhere.
Is Wilson poised for another impressive season?
No reason to believe otherwise. He'll continue working with Flores, who puts Wilson in spots to succeed. He's a good fit in the Vikings system and continues to demonstrate a vitality beyond his age in football years.
LIVE WELL ~ LOVE MUCH ~ LAUGH OFTEN
OUTSIDE LINEBACKERS
RETURNEES: Tyler Batty, Chaz Chambliss, Bo Richter, Dallas Turner, Andrew Van Ginkel
NEWCOMERS: UDFAs Cam'Ron Stewart and Arden Walker
NOTABLE DEPARTURE: Jonathan Greenard
2025 RECAP: The Vikings wrapped up last year's training camp filled with optimism about Year 2 of the Greenard and Van Ginkel Pro Bowl tandem, but injuries derailed initial plans.
Greenard and Gink' played just seven games together last season, with the latter missing time early due a neck injury and Greenard later suffering a season-ending shoulder injury.
A silver-lining of the situation, if there is one, is the Vikings saw a lot more of 2024 first-round pick Turner. The second-year pass rusher showed strides in his game (both mentally and physically). The 23-year-old boosted his physique and technique. Turner flashed on numerous occasions and filled in admirably for both Van Ginkel and Greenard at various times, faring better when filling in at Greenard's role.
Richter returned for his second season after signing with Minnesota as an undrafted free agent in 2024. He saw a small increase in defensive production and contributed on five of six special teams phases.
Batty and Chambliss joined the Vikings as undrafted rookies. The pair of tough, gritty players answered limited bells to contribute on defense in their debut seasons. But when active (12 games apiece), they appeared in multiple special teams phases for Matt Daniels.
POSITION OVERVIEW: The Vikings are returning most of their outside linebackers room but must fill Greenard's shoes this season.
Turner will be looked to in a big way after a solid showing in Organized Team Activity and mandatory minicamp practices.
Richter, Batty and Chambliss all will have an opportunity this training camp to make an impression on coaches and earn more playing time come the regular season. Keeping fresh legs on the field is always advantageous, and it would benefit the Vikings if they had other strong options to rotate in — or to step in should a starter need to leave the game.
The Vikings didn't technically use any of their 2026 draft picks on outside linebackers but are likely to capitalize on Golday's versatility by having the rookie apply some of his time as an understudy to Van Ginkel. He will begin on the inside, but could play on the edge.
Walker transferred to Colorado (his home state) after two seasons at Missouri. For the Buffaloes in 2025, he logged 46 tackles (19 solo), 4.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks and one pass defensed.
Stewart started his collegiate career at Rutgers before transferring to Temple, where in 2025 he totaled 32 tackles (19 solo), 10.5 tackles for loss, five sacks, one pass defensed and one forced fumble.
WHAT TO WATCH IF YOU MAKE IT TO CAMP:
Keep an eye on Batty and the ways he's utilized throughout camp.
He brings a unique blend of size, measuring in at 6-foot-6 and 271 pounds, and has a tenacity that allows Flores to put him in various situations. Exhibit A: Batty got some spotlight in Week 7 against the Eagles, when the rookie was asked to lie down parallel with the line of scrimmage in effort to stop Philadelphia's "Tush Push" special.
3 KEY QUESTIONS FOR THE VIKINGS OLBs:
1. Back to a healthy Gink?
Van Ginkel played all 17 regular-season games for the Vikings in 2024, plus the team's Wild Card playoff contest against the Rams, and it paid off with a Pro Bowl nod.
Minnesota sorely missed Van Ginkel when he was sidelined last season, as his unique skill set can't be simply replaced. Having him back to full health is significant, and keeping him there would be tremendous for the Vikings.
2. Will Turner answer the bell?
There's no two ways about it: As the roster stands now and with trading away Greenard to the Eagles, Minnesota needs Turner to continue his progression into Season 3.
He certainly showed strides last season, and he's expressed confidence in handling an even bigger workload, which seems to be a given looking ahead at the 2026 campaign. Training camp will offer Turner a chance to take most first-team reps and add even more experience to his arsenal before the regular season gets underway.
3. How will depth shake out behind Turner and Van Ginkel?
Flores has a number of names available behind the presumed starters in Van Ginkel and Turner, and it will be interesting to see which players stand out as best reserve options. Richter has played well on special teams and shows attention to detail and technique; will that carry over to more playing time when rubber hits the road?
The same goes for Batty, discussed earlier, and Chambliss — who twice helped Georgia win the College Football National Championship in college. With a full NFL season under their belt and healthy offseason thus far, how will the two second-year players maximize their snaps through the rest of summer?
And don't forget Walker and Stewart, who no doubt will enter their first pro training camp looking to make an impression.
LIVE WELL ~ LOVE MUCH ~ LAUGH OFTEN
Edit Post (mod action — author will see a notice)
Warn Poster
Suspend User (3 days)
The user will be suspended for 3 days and will receive an email with the reason and information about how to appeal.