EAGAN, Minn. (AP) — Blake Cashman faked a blitz at the line before dropping a couple of yards into coverage for the Minnesota Vikings and darting to his right and lunging to break up a third-and-short throw, forcing the Indianapolis Colts to punt.
Cashman nearly picked off the first down pass by Daniel Jones on that drive, too, setting the tone for a remarkably productive afternoon by the eighth-year veteran linebacker who has been the heartbeat of the most dominant defense in the NFL this season. Cashman had 12 tackles, a career-high two sacks for a loss of 25 yards, three quarterback hits and four passes defensed in the 16-10 victory last week, the first player in the league to hit those thresholds for sacks and passes defensed since 2005.
But Cashman, who's in his third year with his home-state team, quickly identified the room for improvement when he reviewed video of that game, another sign of how driven this Vikings defense is toward overall excellence.
The Colts ran double slant routes on the left side of the formation on that third down play in the first quarter, and Cashman said afterward Josh Downs was the likely intended receiver. Had he moved toward Downs without hesitation instead of first checking on Laquon Treadwell, that pass could've easily turned into an interception return for a touchdown.
“I started looking at the film as, ‘OK, what are the good plays that we made, but how can they be great?’” Cashman said.
Finding flaws in his game — or any of his teammates on defense — is difficult these days. The Vikings, the only undefeated team remaining in the NFL, have allowed a league-low 74 points in six games. They also have the best interception rate, sack percentage and red zone touchdown allowance, among several other statistical highlights as defensive coordinator Brian Flores continues to cement his acumen in play-calling and player development.
Cashman, who played for Eden Prairie High School in the Twin Cities area and in college for Minnesota, is second on the team with 10 quarterback pressures despite playing an off-the-ball position. He leads the Vikings with 54 tackles.
“Whenever you can be a player who spends time in the system now a third year and understanding not just what the scheme is but what ‘Flo’ is trying to accomplish in each situation, it allows you to just go play ball,” Cashman said. “It just allows you to play your best, play faster, play with a little bit more confidence."
Cashman, who was voted by his peers as one of the team's eight captains for 2026, wears the green dot on his helmet signifying the embedded headset that receives the calls from Flores before each play. His teammates marvel at how well he handles the traffic direction before the real chaos begins at the snap.
“Dudes are yelling at him all game, ‘What’s the call? What’s the call?’ What personnel?’” safety Harrison Smith said. “He’s got so much going on, and for him to be able to quiet that when the ball’s snapped and play with a lot of intelligence and a lot of violence all at one time, he’s playing lights-out.”
Cashman is also playing on an expiring contract, as new teammate Kyle Van Noy noted after the game. Drafted by the New York Jets in the fifth round in 2019 and traded to the Houston Texans in 2022, Cashman was sidetracked by injuries earlier in his career before signing with the Vikings in 2024 and finally blossoming under Flores.
“I’m happy to see him continue that," Van Noy said. "Hopefully he gets compensated correctly.”
See AP’s full NFL coverage here
Indianapolis Colts running back Seth McGowan (20) is tackled by Minnesota Vikings linebacker Blake Cashman (51) during the second half of an NFL football game in Minneapolis, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn)
Minnesota Vikings linebacker Blake Cashman (51) reacts after a blocked pass during the first half of an NFL football game against the Indianapolis Colts in Minneapolis, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn)
DETROIT (AP) — The Detroit Red Wings have suspended Dylan Larkin without pay and taken him off the roster after they said his agent told the team the center will no longer play for the franchise, growing frustrated by its inability to move him months after he asked for a trade.
“We are disappointed by his decision, particularly given his obligations to the organization and his teammates,” interim general manager Shawn Horcoff said in a statement Thursday, shortly before Detroit hosted Chicago.
Detroit coach Todd McLellan told reporters earlier in the day that Larkin would not play against the Blackhawks, adding that Horcoff was expected to address the move.
Larkin asked for a trade in the offseason after the franchise extended its postseason drought to a decade, but he started the season still on the team but stripped of the captaincy.
“We’ve talked to the teams on Dylan’s list and we’ve taken calls from other teams around the league that have expressed interest in Dylan," Horcoff said. "We just continue to try to find a solution that fits for both sides.”
Messages seeking comment were left with Larkin's agent, Pat Brisson.
Larkin is the second NHL player suspended without pay this fall after requesting a trade during the offseason. Winnipeg did that with goaltender Connor Hellebuyck — a U.S. Olympic teammate of Larkin's — before sending him to New Jersey last week.
Now it's Larkin, who will forfeit roughly $41,000 a day while suspended.
The 30-year-old center has two goals and six assists in 10 games, giving him 278 goals and 649 points in 818 games since making his debut with his hometown Red Wings during the 2015-16 season. Larkin, who is from Waterford, Michigan, was drafted by Detroit No. 15 overall in 2014 after playing for the Wolverines in college.
He was a key player for the United States when it won Olympic gold last February at the Milan Cortina Games.
After missing two games with an upper-body injury, he scored in his season debut — after being booed when he touched the puck on his first shift — to help Detroit beat Ottawa. He scored again on Monday night in a win at Edmonton.
“I wanted to try to do what I could to keep Dylan here in a Red Wings jersey,” Horcoff said. “Clearly, I was unsuccessful doing that.”
Larkin has a full no-trade clause as part of his eight-year contract, which has five years remaining with an annual salary cap hit of $8.7 million. He initially told the Red Wings he would accept a trade to Florida, Minnesota and Vegas before reportedly adding more possibilities in recent weeks.
Horcoff said his goal is to acquire players that can help right away, adding he's open to deals for prospects and draft picks that give the franchise a fair return for someone of Larkin's caliber.
“With the teams that Dylan has on his list, it’s difficult to get something done in a trade like this,” Horcoff said.
Nearly a month into the season, standout defenseman Simon Edvinsson remains unsigned as a restricted free agent. The 23-year-old Swede had nine goals and 25 points in 72 games last year, his second full season in the NHL. Detroit drafted him No. 6 overall in 2021 and he has 19 career goals and 60 points in 175 games.
The Red Wings want him on the team and have no interest in signing and trading him.
“Nothing’s changed," Horcoff said.
In desperately need of good news two weeks ago, the Red Wings signed two-time All-Star forward Alex DeBrincat to a seven-year contract worth $13 million per season.
See AP’s full NHL coverage here
Detroit Red Wings head coach Todd McLellan, standing left, talks with defenseman Justin Faulk, right, during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Jose Juarez)
Detroit Red Wings center Dylan Larkin reacts after his attempt was blocked by Seattle Kraken goaltender Philipp Grubauer for a Kraken win during a shootout in an NHL hockey game Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Edmonton Oilers goaltender Tristan Jarry (35) defends the net against Detroit Red Wings' Dylan Larkin (71) during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Edmonton, Alberta, Monday, Oct. 26, 2026. (Codie McLachlan/The Canadian Press via AP)
