Vikings get brutal news ahead on Sunday’s game vs. Buccaneers, and it could impact every phase of their operation
The Minnesota Vikings could be without a key special teams contributor against the Buccaneers, and it might finally mean defensive snaps for a rookie.
The Minnesota Vikings could be without linebacker Ivan Pace Jr. for Sunday’s game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after the team announced he did not travel due to personal reasons. Pace is listed as questionable, joining punter Brett Thorson (hamstring) and center Nick Samac (knee) as players designated to miss or potentially miss the Week 3 matchup.
Samac, whom the Vikings claimed off waivers after cutdown day, hasn’t played over the first two games, so his absence isn’t a major blow. Thorson, however, had been proving himself as a strong punter for Minnesota. Pace’s situation adds another layer of concern, particularly on special teams.
The circumstances behind Pace’s absence remain unknown. Because he is listed as questionable rather than ruled out, it could be a situation where he wasn’t able to travel with the team but could still get on a plane within the next 24 hours and make it to the game.
Why Pace’s absence matters
It would be huge for Pace to be with the Vikings on game day. He is a massive part of their success on multiple special teams units, and he’s been mixing in with the defense after essentially being benched last year. Defensive coordinator Brian Flores has done a great job using Pace as a blitzer, which is his specialty.
If Pace can’t go, however, this could finally be where rookie linebacker Jake Golday gets some defensive snaps. Golday hasn’t played a single defensive snap yet despite being active for the first two games. That’s a product of how much the coaching staff trusts Blake Cashman, Eric Wilson, and Pace above him. It says more about that group than it does about Golday.
Fans have been waiting for Golday to get snaps, but it makes sense that they are playing the long game with him. How the Vikings choose to deploy him will be worth monitoring throughout the next 24 hours as the team determines whether Pace can make it to Tampa Bay in time for kickoff.
It’ll be something to watch throughout the next 24 hours as the Vikings determine whether Pace can make it to Tampa Bay in time for kickoff.
