It appears that linebacker Blake Cashman has a chance to make his return when the Vikings play the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday afternoon at EverBank Stadium.

After missing the past few games with a toe injury, Cashman was spotted at practice on Wednesday afternoon at TCO Performance Center. Asked for an update on his prognosis, head coach Kevin O’Connell said he expected Cashman to be listed as a limited participant.

“Hopefully we’ll pick up that workload as he goes,’ O’Connell said. “He’s absolutely dying to get back out there with the guys.”

Though it’s unclear when exactly Cashman will be ready to go, the fact that he is finally back on the field with his teammates is a step in the right direction. He hadn’t practice in any capacity since  suffering a toe injury during the Oct. 6 game against the New York Jets in London.

In the absence of Cashman, linebacker Ivan Pace Jr. has served as the main communicator on defense.

McQuaide brings experience

After placing veteran long snapper Andrew DePaola on injured reserve, the Vikings signed veteran long snapper Jake McQuaide as his replacement in the short term.

The experience that McQuaide brings forth is among the biggest reason the Vikings targeted him. He has played 190 games across more than a decade in the NFL, spending time with the Los Angeles Rams, Dallas Cowboys, Detroit Lions, and Chicago Bears.

It will be an almost completely new operation for the Vikings this week in the kicking game.

Not only did they sign McQuaide, they have also signed veteran kicker John Parker Romo after placing rookie kicker Will Reichard on injured reserve. The only holdover in the battery is punter Ryan Wright serving as the holder.

“You’re trying to remove any and all uncertainty,” O’Connell said. “I feel really confident in those guys coming in here and doing their job and helping us win.”

Murphy getting closer

There was a lot of optimism surrounding undrafted edge rusher Gabe Murphy during in training camp. That was halted by a knee injury that landed him on injured reserve.

Now it appears that Murphy is getting closer to making his NFL debut.

After the Vikings officially opened the practice window for Murphy, they will now try to get him up to speed with hopes of activating him sooner rather than later. He could eventually add some depth to a group of edge rushers that has already succeeded at a high level.

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