The Vikings have opened Blake Cashman's 21-day practice window, Head Coach Kevin O'Connell announced Monday.

The linebacker suffered a hamstring injury against the Bears in Minnesota's season opener and was placed on short-term Injured Reserve on Sept. 11. He recorded three tackles at Chicago.

"Will be great to get 'Cash' back on the practice field," O'Connell said. "He's done a heck of a job getting himself ready to go, and we'll give him the week of preparation and see where he's at toward the tail end of the week."

O'Connell later noted returning Cashman is "critical" for the team.

"We have just seen since we got Blake, when he's out there, and we're playing the type of defense that we've been accustomed to seeing, Blake's got a lot to do with it," O'Connell said.

Cashman started 14 games for the Vikings last season and led the team in tackles with 112 (68 solo). He also totaled 4.5 sacks, 11 QB hits, eight tackles for loss, a fumble recovery and eight passes defensed.

Cashman typically quarterbacks Brian Flores' defense, wearing the "green dot" helmet. Eric Wilson has filled in admirably during Cashman's absence, having recorded 35 tackles, two tackles for loss and two forced fumbles so far this season.

Should Cashman return to game-day action this weekend, it would mark his third career contest against the Eagles. The Vikings are sure to play it safe with the dynamic defender, though, and worth remembering is Minnesota's short turnaround before playing the Chargers next week on Thursday Night Football.

Players do not count against the 53-man limit while in their 21-day evaluation window, but a roster move would need to occur in order for the player to be activated.

O'Connell also shared that J.J. McCarthy (ankle), Donovan Jackson (wrist), Michael Jurgens (hamstring) and Brian O'Neill (knee) also will be participating in practice this week "in different capacities" as they work their way back from respective injuries.

Carson Wentz also will continue practicing this week despite getting banged up against the Browns prior to the bye. Wentz injured his left (non-throwing) shoulder during the Week 5 game in London but played through it the second half to help Minnesota come away with a victory.

"He was sore coming out of the game," O'Connell said. "He's gotten to a good place where he can participate, as well, take part in the preparation. And the biggest thing for him is it's a non-throwing shoulder, so it's a matter of working through that soreness as it comes to him."

O'Connell also provided an update on Andrew Van Ginkel, who has missed time with a neck injury, but was unable to give an exact timetable.

"He's doing better. He's going to be working on a side field early on this week," O'Connell explained. "And then what I see is, you know, his workload hopefully picking up as we go. I don't really have an update on his availability for Sunday yet. Want to kind of see how he does with some of that side-field work.

"He'll be a critical guy to get back in there when we can, for the nucleus of our core defensive group," O'Connell added of Van Ginkel. "He does so many things that help make a lot of the calls go with versatility, allowing other guys to be back in their sweet spot for their role within the defense."

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