Vikings Final Week 9 Injury Report Confirms Fear on Blake Cashman

The Minnesota Vikings will play Sunday night vs the Indianapolis Colts, trying to end what has already snowballed into two straight losses, following a 5-0 start to the season. Luckily, they will get some important guys back.

TJ Hockenson and Dalton Risner will both be active on Sunday, for the first time all season. Unfortunately, Christian Darrisaw will not be, after he tore his ACL and MCL last week vs the Los Angeles Rams.

Minnesota Vikings Final Injury Report – Week 9 vs Colts: Blake Cashman Out

Neither will former Gopher, Blake Cashman, who was officially ruled out on Friday afternoon, after spending all week on the injury report as “DNP”. DT Taki Taimani was also ruled out, while Akayleb Evans was listed as questionable. Dalton Risner was also added later as “Questionable”, but he’s expected to play.

#INDvsMIN final injury report

OUT: Blake Cashman and Taki Taimani

QUESTIONABLE: Akayleb Evans pic.twitter.com/NloI3rH5he

— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) November 1, 2024

Not having Blake Cashman will hurt… again. Minnesota Vikings fans and coaches have realized just how much Blake covers up for on defense, with his elite level cover skills and a football IQ that is through the roof. He’s the perfect inside linebacker for what defensive coordinator Brian Flores is trying to do.

Related: Vikings vs Colts QB Drama: Head Coach Under Fire and Not Handling It Well

Without him, sophomore ILB Ivan Pace Jr has struggled to provide consistency against the pass, constantly being picked on when the Vikings bring pressure. Can Flo find a way to counter what opposing veteran QBs have been able to do against Minnesota’s defense over the last two games?

Let’s hope so because Joe Flacco is the exact type of quarterback that this team has struggled against recently. So if those weaknesses haven’t been mended, Sunday could be a long night for Vikings fans.

Akayleb Evans questionable, David Quessenberry good to go

Sticking with defense, Akayleb Evans was listed on the practice report as “Questionable”. The 3rd-year cornerback out Missouri hasn’t gotten much of any run on defense, after general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah brought in Shaq Griffin and Stephon Gilmore during the offseason.

He’s one of the Minnesota Vikings trade pieces that they’ll be floating to teams during deadline negotiations on Monday. We’ll see if he ends up being active the night before those negotiations really heat up.

Related: Jaguars Paid Minnesota Vikings to Take Cam Robinson. Here’s Why…

A sneaky big name that is not on the final injury report this week is backup left tackle David Quessenberry, who took over mid-game last week, when Darrisaw left with his knee injury. Now that he is ready to go, does that mean we see less of our new starting left tackle, Cam Robinson?

Had Quessenberry, who was listed as “Limited” at practice on Wednesday and Thursday, not been able to play, Robinson likely would have gotten every single rep at left tackle vs the Colts. Now that he is healthy, will we see more of Quessenberry and at least a little bit less of Robinson? We’ll find out on Sunday Night Football.