JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The Minnesota Vikings are getting back a massive piece to their defense while the Jacksonville Jaguars announced they'll be without their starting quarterback.
Blake Cashman is back for Minnesota after missing the past three games with a toe injury. The former University of Minnesota standout and Eden Prairie native led the defense in tackles before sustaining a turf toe injury in London against the New York Jets.
The Vikings (6-2) announced he'll be active Sunday as the Jaguars (2-7) turn to backup quarterback Mac Jones to replace starter Trevor Lawrence, who injured his non-throwing shoulder last week against the Philadelphia Eagles.
Lawrence is 168 of 274 passing for 2,004 yards, 11 touchdowns and six interceptions this season for a passer rating of 87.9. Jones has thrown just nine passes this season — completing six of them — for 28 yards, no touchdowns and no interceptions. Jones, the No. 15 overall pick in 2021 by the New England Patriots, was traded to the Jaguars back in March for a sixth-round pick.
Cashman returns to a defense that is coming off a dominating performance where they held the Indianapolis Colts' offense to just six points and 227 yards of total offense last week. Cashman was a major contributor, both in the passing game and rushing game, before missing the last three games because of injury.
In the first two games he was on the sideline, Minnesota's defense struggled mightily, allowing more than 30 points and nearly 400 yards in losses to the Detroit Lions and Los Angeles Rams.
"I feel great," Cashman told reporters Thursday. "It's been a good week of practice for what they've been giving me. Just got to continue with what the sports performance staff and our coaches have planned, and trust that process and I think everything will turn out great."
The Jaguars have struggled offensively throughout the year, placing in the bottom half of the league in points (21.7) and yards (320.7), so Cashman and the Vikings will look to get the upper hand against a quarterback who hasn't started a game since Nov. 26, 2023.