Blake Cashman’s return leads to another change in Vikings defense: benching Ivan Pace Jr.

Linebacker Blake Cashman’s return to the starting lineup during the Vikings’ 28-22 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday came with another change.

Linebacker Ivan Pace Jr. was benched in favor of veteran linebacker Eric Wilson, who had replaced Cashman for the previous four games. Pace had started all five games entering Sunday, when coaches instead opted for a trio of Cashman, Wilson and safety Josh Metellus at inside linebacker.

Pace, a third-year defender, had a team-worst 10 missed tackles through five games, according to Pro Football Focus. He maintained roles on special teams, like kickoff and field-goal block units, but did not play much, if at all, on defense against Philadelphia.

Defensive coordinator Brian Flores is known to adjust roles based on game plans, and Pace said he’s hoping his involvement returns.

“Probably a week-to-week thing,” said Pace, whose 1,358 defensive snaps rank sixth since joining the team as an undrafted free agent in 2023. “Just going to see what happens next week and go from there.”

Cashman — playing for the first time since Sept. 8, when he suffered a hamstring injury at Chicago — returned to his spot in the middle of the defensive huddle, relaying play calls from Flores to the rest of the group. He finished with four tackles and a hit on Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts.

Cashman also had some encouragement to offer Pace before kickoff.

Coach Kevin O’Connell said the run defense was “a real positive,” as Eagles running back Saquon Barkley, who was briefly evaluated by Philadelphia’s medical staff in the second half, managed just 44 rushing yards on 18 carries.

Safety Harrison Smith got his 200th career start (including the playoffs), and his first start this season, as Flores deployed a three-safety grouping that often had Metellus at linebacker.

“It was nice having Cash back on the field,” Metellus said. “This was a game where we knew ... they were going to try to run the ball because of what we were giving up on tape. We needed people in the box, so it was one of those games where my role looked a little different.”

Both Vikings starting tackles have knee injuries to monitor entering a short week before Thursday night’s road game against the Los Angeles Chargers. Right tackle Brian O’Neill, who was listed as questionable entering the game, played with a brace on his right knee that was initially injured Sept. 28 against Pittsburgh in Dublin.

O’Neill was asked how his knee felt after he played every snap against the Eagles.

Left tackle Christian Darrisaw played the full game after his surgically repaired left knee forced him out of the Oct. 5 victory over Cleveland during the second half. Darrisaw said the bye week left his knee feeling “really great,” but he knows he’s only got four days between games this time.

“We’ll see how my body reacts,” Darrisaw said, “and move from there.”

Darrisaw, a Maryland native who grew up an Eagles fan, said he had a cheering section of 12 relatives and friends at this game.

Two members of the Vikings backfield, fullback C.J. Ham (left hand) and running back Zavier Scott (right wrist), underwent further medical evaluation after the game, O’Connell said.

The Eagles lost four players to injuries during the game: center Cam Jurgens, outside linebacker Azeez Ojulari, linebacker Jeremiah Trotter Jr. and cornerback Adoree’ Jackson.

Reichard has made 26 of 27 kicks this season, including 14 of 15 field goals. His only miss came on the 51-yard field-goal try in London, after which the Vikings sent the play to the league appealing for a review when it appeared the ball hit a camera wire.

There was no wire impeding Reichard’s 59-yard field goal in the first quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium.

“I like it a lot,” Reichard said. “Obviously, it’s indoors and the doors were open today, so maybe a little wind, but it didn’t affect anything at all.”

Former Vikings and Eagles linebacker Jordan Hicks, who retired in August, and Olympic gold medal-winning gymnast Suni Lee, a St. Paul native, were among an announced crowd of 66,899.