“There Is Frustration, There’s No Doubt About That” Vikings Front Office Makes Statement About Own Player

The Minnesota Vikings are in the midst of a surprisingly good season.  Through their first eight games, Minnesota is 6-2 and right behind the Detroit Lions for first place in the NFC North.  They are exceeding nearly all expectations this season after losing Kirk Cousins this past off-season.

However, there is one player who is feeling the pressure to get on the field and perform.

“There Is Frustration, There’s No Doubt About That” Vikings Front Office Makes Statement About Own Player

According to journalist Trevor Squire:

Minnesota Vikings linebacker Blake Cashman‘s three-game absence with a turf toe injury has led to “frustration” within the organization, according to KSTP’s Darren Wolfson.

Appearing on SKOR North on November 5, Wolfson revealed that Cashman, who signed a three-year, $22.5 million deal, continues to be “week-to-week” with a turf toe injury he sustained in Week 5 against the New York Jets.

“It has gone on longer than anyone anticipated. There is frustration, there’s no doubt about that. I’m told ‘week-to-week,’ ” Wolfson said. “It’s possible he’s back this week, but going back to October 7, if I told the Vikings, ‘Blake is not going to be back [by Week 9],’ they would have said ‘You are nuts.’ ”

Cashman’s extended absence was evident in the Vikings’ back-to-back losses coming out of the Week 6 bye. He was the Vikings’ leading tackler and the 15th highest-graded linebacker by Pro Football Focus (PFF) through the first five weeks of the season. He is also the preferred signal caller, relaying Brian Flores’ play calls to the rest of the defense.

While there is frustration within the Vikings organization, Wolfson cleared the air that it’s about the fickleness of the turf toe injury and not a question of Cashman’s mettle.

“There’s toughness there that has carried Blake this far,” Wolfson added. “Trust me, if Blake could be out there, he would be out there.”

Here is a look at Cashman’s stats so far this season: