Blake Cashman: Everything you need to know

Cashman recorded seven tackles (three solo), including 1.0 sacks, in Sunday's 16-3 Week 18 win over Green Bay. He concluded the season with 144 stops (61 solo), including 2.0 sacks, a forced fumble and two defensed passes across 13 contests. Cashman got some well-deserved rest in the season finale -- he logged fewer than 90 percent of Minnesota's defensive snaps for the first time since Week 1 -- but still managed to finish second on the team in stops. The veteran linebacker capped a productive campaign with a sack of Green Bay QB Clayton Tune for a 10-yard loss in the fourth quarter. Though he missed four games due to injury, Cashman still set a career-high mark with 144 tackles on the season, ranking ninth in the NFL in that category. Cashman should be back to anchor the Vikings' defense in 2026 in what will be the final season of a three-year contract, barring an extension.

Cashman (elbow) was a full participant at practice Thursday. Cashman was able to log a full session after opening the week as a limited participant at practice Wednesday with an elbow issue. The linebacker is now set to try and build off of his 17-tackle performance from Week 17 against the Lions when the Vikings square off with the Packers on Sunday.

Cashman (elbow) was limited in practice Wednesday. Cashman thrived with a season-high 17 tackles against Detroit on Christmas Day, but he appears to have hurt his elbow in the process. At this point it seems more likely than not that the veteran linebacker will be able to suit up for Sunday's season finale against the Packers, though Cashman's practice status throughout the remainder of this week bears keeping an eye on. Should Cashman have to sit out Sunday's contest, Ivan Pace could absorb most of his snaps on defense.