Takitaki (hamstring) is questionable to return to Sunday's game versus the Packers.
Takitaki was a weekend elevation from Minnesota's practice squad for Week 18, but he exited the contest early after hurting his hamstring. Until he's ready to return to the field, Bo Richter could be a candidate to see additional reps at linebacker.
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Vikings' Dwight McGlothern: Inactive with hip issue
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McGlothern (hip) is inactive for Sunday's game against the Packers.
McGlothern's absence means that his minimal role on special teams will have to be filled by another defensive back. Zemaiah Vaughn is likely the next man up and will log a few special-teams snaps in Sunday's game.
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Vikings' Blake Cashman: Full practice Thursday
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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.
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Vikings' Blake Cashman: Managing elbow issue
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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.
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Vikings' Elijah Williams: Placed on injured reserve
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The Vikings placed Williams (ankle) on injured reserve Monday.
Williams sustained an ankle injury during the Vikings' win over the Lions on Christmas Day, and his placement on IR means he won't be available for Minnesota's regular-season finale against Green Bay on Sunday. Williams served in a deep rotational role on the Vikings' defensive line while also contributing on special teams, and the undrafted rookie will finish his first NFL regular season with nine tackles (six solo) across seven games.
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Vikings' Zemaiah Vaughn: Catches on with Minnesota
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The Vikings signed Vaughn from the practice squad to the active roster Monday.
Vaughn signed with the Vikings in May as an undrafted free agent and opted to stick around in Minnesota as a member of the team's practice squad after failing to make the 53-man roster at the end of training camp. He'll be a part of the Vikings' active roster for their regular-season finale against the Packers on Sunday and will give Minnesota a potential contributor on special teams while providing depth in the secondary.
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Vikings' Jonathan Allen: Notches seven tackles Christmas Day
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Allen posted seven tackles (three solo) during the Vikings' 23-10 win over the Lions on Thursday.
Allen finished Thursday's game with the second-most tackles on the Vikings behind Blake Cashman (17). Allen has posted at least seven stops in back-to-back games and is up to 65 tackles (28 solo), including 3.5 sacks, and one fumble recovery through 16 regular-season games.
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Vikings' Byron Murphy: Tallies two turnovers vs. Detroit
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Murphy posted three solo tackles, an interception and a fumble recovery during the Vikings' 23-10 win over the Lions on Thursday.
Murphy scooped up a Jahmyr Gibbs fumble early in the second quarter, and the former caused another turnover by picking off Jared Goff midway through the third frame, which ended up leading to a 52-yard field goal from Will Reichard nine plays later. Both of Murphy's two interceptions have come over the last two weeks, and the 2019 second-rounder is up to 67 tackles (45 solo) and seven pass defenses through 16 regular-season games.
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Vikings' Blake Cashman: Season-high 17 tackles vs. Detroit
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Cashman recorded 17 tackles (six solo), including 1.0 sacks, during the Vikings' 23-10 win over the Lions on Thursday.
After matching a season high with 16 tackles against the Giants in Week 16, Cashman did one better Christmas Day with 17 stops, which were his most in a game since Week 11 of the 2023 season (19 tackles). Cashman has recorded double-digit stops in four consecutive games and in nine of his last 10 outings. He's up to 137 tackles (58 solo), including 1.0 sacks, two pass defenses and one forced fumble through 12 regular-season games.
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Vikings' Dallas Turner: Has sack and forced fumble
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Turner had five total tackles, including 1.0 sacks, a forced fumble and four QB hurries in Thursday's win over Detroit.
Turner played on 72 percent of the defense's snaps as he continues to become a larger factor in Minnesota's pass rush. He now has a career-high 6.0 sacks and three forced fumbles this season.
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Vikings' Harrison Smith: Disruptive force in win
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Smith had three total tackles, including 1.0 sacks, along with three passes defensed (including an interception) in Thursday's win over Detroit.
It was a vintage performance from Smith, who was disruptive in all phases of the defense. He's playing well enough that the 36-year-old could decide to return next season rather than retire.
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Vikings' Andrew Van Ginkel: Difference-maker in win
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Van Ginkel had five total tackles, including 1.5 sacks, and recovered two fumbles in Thursday's win over Detroit.
Van Ginkel had a signature performance in the win as he had two key takeaways in the opponent's backfield on a day when Minnesota's offense barely moved the ball. He now has 7.0 sacks in 11 games this season.
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Vikings' Elijah Williams: Won't return vs. Lions
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Williams (ankle) has been ruled out for the remainder of Thursday's contest against Detroit.
Williams was initially listed as questionable to return to action Thursday, but his ankle injury is severe enough that he'll spend the remainder of Christmas Day sidelined. The depth defensive lineman's next opportunity to take the field will come Sunday, Jan. 4 versus the Packers in Week 18.
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Vikings' Elijah Williams: Picks up ankle injury
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Williams (ankle) is questionable to return to Thursday's game against the Lions.
Williams sustained his ankle injury late in the second quarter of Thursday's divisional matchup. If he's unable to retake the field versus Detroit, both Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins and Levi Drake Rodriguez could see slight upticks in the amount of reserve defensive snaps allotted to them.
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Vikings' Javon Hargrave: Ready for Thursday
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Hargrave (thigh) doesn't have an injury designation ahead of Thursday's game against the Lions.
Hargrave logged limited practices all week with a thigh injury, and the partial participation was clearly enough to clear the defensive lineman of any injury designation. The 32-year-old is all set to suit up alongside Jalen Redmond and Jonathan Allen in the hopes of crushing the Lions' dreams of the postseason.
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Vikings' Eric Wilson: Cleared for Thursday
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Wilson (thumb) doesn't have an injury designation ahead of Thursday's game against the Lions.
Wilson was a limited participant in Monday and Tuesday's practices, but was able to upgrade to a full participant Friday, just in time to avoid any injury designation for this week's divisional matchup. The starting inside linebacker is all set to suit up for Thursday's game, where the Vikings will try to play spoiler for a Lions team on the brink of postseason elimination.
Hargrave (thigh) has been deemed a limited participant on Minnesota's estimated practice report both Monday and Tuesday.
Hargrave didn't play against the Giants on Sunday due to the thigh injury he suffered one week earlier versus Dallas. The Vikings haven't held an actual practice yet this week, but the veteran defensive lineman's listing as limited two straight days suggests he at least has a chance of suiting up Thursday against Detroit. However, if Hargrave has to miss that game, a combination of Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins and Elijah Williams could help fill the void.
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Vikings' Eric Wilson: Dealing with thumb injury
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Wilson (thumb) was listed as a listed practice participant on Monday's estimated injury report, Craig Peters of the Vikings' official site reports.
Wilson likely picked up the injury during the Vikings' 16-13 win over the Giants on Sunday, when he posted four tackles (one solo), including 1.0 sacks. Wilson has logged at least 1.0 sacks in three of his last four games and is up to a career-best 6.5 sacks through 15 regular-season games. His practice participation over the next two days will provide clarity on his chances of playing against the Lions on Christmas Day.
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Vikings' Jonathan Allen: Sacks Dart in Week 16 victory
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Allen posted eight tackles (four solo), including 1.0 sacks, during the Vikings' 16-13 win over the Giants on Sunday.
Allen got to Jaxson Dart for a six-yard sack on the final play of the third quarter. It was Allen's first sack since Week 10 against the Ravens, and the 2017 first-rounder is up to 3.5 sacks through 15 regular-season games. He's also logged 58 combined tackles on the year, which puts him in striking distance of his career high that he set in 2019 as a member of the Commanders (68 tackles through 15 regular-season games). Allen will have two more opportunities to set a new career high in tackles, starting with Christmas Day against the Lions.
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Vikings' Blake Cashman: Matches season high in Week 16 win
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Cashman logged 16 tackles (seven solo) during the Vikings' 16-13 win over the Giants on Sunday.
It was another active performance from Cashman, who played every single defensive snap and tied a season high with 16 combined tackles. He has reached double-digit stops in eight of his last nine games, and his 120 combined tackles (through 11 regular-season games) marks a career high for the 2019 fifth-rounder. Cashman will look to add to his tackling total Christmas Day against the Lions, whose offensive line is dealing with injuries to starting offensive linemen Taylor Decker (shoulder), Graham Glasgow (knee) and Christian Mahogany (lower leg).
