In fact, between early-season primetime matchups and early morning kickoffs overseas, Sunday will be the Vikings second noon start in seven games. Want a positive spin? The only other noon start of the year so far also came at home, right before the Vikings left for Dublin.

That’s right, Minnesota’s only other 12 PM start was week three against the Cincinnati Bengals, a contest the Vikings completely dominated, to the tune of 48-10. And just like that game, Carson Wentz is poised to start under center in place of JJ McCarthy.

Except this time, the 2024 first round pick is healthy enough to suit up as Minnesota’s emergency QB3, behind both Wentz and 2025 UDFA out of Dinkytown, Max Brosmer.

Minnesota Vikings linebackers activated off injured reserve

Two other players who were not in uniform that day against the Bengals, who like JJ McCarthy, will be in uniform Sunday against the Eagles — linebackers Blake Cashman and Tyler Batty, who have both been on injured reserve for over a month. But not anymore, after the MN Vikings officially activated both Saturday afternoon.

The #Vikings have activated OLB Tyler Batty and LB Blake Cashman from IR. pic.twitter.com/a197rCUi6X

— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) October 18, 2025

Sunday against Philly will be Tyler Batty’s NFL debut. After impressing at training camp, the 2025 undrafted free agent suffered a knee injury near final roster cuts that cost him the first five games of his NFL career. We’ll see how the Minnesota Vikings decide to deploy him against the Eagles.

Return of Blake Cashman will be felt immediately

The future for Blake Cashman, as long as he can stay healthy, is much more clear. General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah targeted the former Minnesota Gopher two offseasons ago, with visions of #51 patrolling the middle of Brian Flores’ defense for the foreseeable future.

That decision paid itself off in full during Cashman’s first season, when he played 14 games, collected 112 tackles, 4.5 sacks and 11 QB hits, all career high marks, to go along with a 72.0 PFF grade.

Blake Cashman had 13 total tackles, including a sack and TFL against the 49ers. That's not even counting his three pass deflections, one of which led to an INT.

He was all over the field. He had an incredible game in his return home to Minnesota. pic.twitter.com/2Fhmfo6xT1

— Matt Fries (@FriesFootball) September 17, 2024

Unfortunately, he came in with past injury issues that have come back to light in year two, where he flew all over the field for less than one quarter of Minnesota’s opener in Chicago, grabbing 3 tackles before straining his hamstring and subsequently being placed on IR.

Let’s hope Blake’s immediate injury issues are behind him, because the MN Vikings defense is a completely different animal when the Eden Prairie native is on the field, especially given how out of place Ivan Pace has looked at times this season without him.

With the amount of players questionable to participate in practice this week, Minnesota signed hometown tackle Matt Waletzko and had him fly across the pond. He is currently a member of the practice squad, but that could change if the week doesn’t progress well for active roster talent.

Wednesday’s injury report doesn’t inspire a lot of immediate confidence.

Top two centers down for Minnesota Vikings

Christian Darrisaw has now been back for two weeks after the Minnesota Vikings gave him additional time to return from his knee surgery. Unfortunately he has yet to play with the complete intended offensive line and that won’t be changing any time soon. The first injury report of the week revealed he may be playing alongside a third string center too.

The #Vikings first injury report of Week 5 pic.twitter.com/otdJtyftoI

— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) October 1, 2025

Ryan Kelly is certain to be out this week as he works through the concussion protocol for the second time in four weeks. It’s his fifth recorded concussion in his playing career, and at some point the repeated brain injuries become a serious cause for concern.

That would make Michael Jurgens the next man up. He has started a game already this season in place of Kelly, but if he’s out, then things get really dicey. The hamstring injury is presumably a malady he suffered during the Steelers game, though he was able to play through it.

Minnesota’s depth chart doesn’t list a third center. With Justin Skule filling in for O’Neill at right tackle, and Blake Brandel assuming Donovan Jackson’s guard spot, options as a whole are limited. Tackle Walter Rouse, and undrafted rookie guard Joe Huber are the only other linemen on the 53-man roster.

The practice squad, beyond Waltezko, includes only two linemen in Henry Byrd (G) and Vershon Lee (OL). Lee is a rookie yet to appear in a game, and Byrd has one year of experience while making his regular season debut against the Cincinnati Bengals.

Week must progress positively for Minnesota

This is an important week of practice for Minnesota as they look to get healthier going into the bye. There is hope that J.J. McCarthy can run the scout team at the end of the week, and that would put him on track to return after the Week 6 bye. His athleticism can also help to mimic new Browns starting quarterback Dillon Gabriel.

Both C.J. Ham and Tyler Batty had their practice windows opened. Batty is an edge rusher, so he won’t help on the offensive line, but with Andrew Van Ginkel out, addition help in the front seven is welcomed.

Minnesota elevated veteran tight end Nick Vannett from the practice squad for the game against Pittsburgh with Ben Yurosek out. He remains on the shelf to start the week, and another activation for Vannett would be the third and final time that can happen before he must be signed to the active roster.

It seems like the MN Vikings bye is coming at the perfect time. They just need to get through the Browns with a win, and healthy, before getting there.