Ivan Pace Jr. entered the preseason needing to make a statement. Instead, Saturday’s 13-10 win over the New York Giants only made his spot with the Minnesota Vikings look shakier.
Pace finished with four tackles, including three solo stops and one tackle for loss, but the box score did him a favor. The bigger story was how the snaps unfolded. He took a bad angle on Devin Singletary’s 40-yard screen conversion on third-and-23, then two plays later, 6-foot-4 rookie Malachi Fields won a contested touchdown over the 5-foot-10 linebacker.
Minnesota’s lineup usage sent its own message. Pace was not part of the top two off-ball linebacker groups, with Blake Cashman and Eric Wilson opening with the first-team defense while Pace lined up with the second unit next to rookie Jake Golday.
That’s a sharp turn from the linebacker who became a breakout name in 2023. Pace stormed in as an undrafted rookie, started 11 games and put up a career-high 102 tackles, 2.5 sacks, one interception and one forced fumble. Through three seasons, he has 236 tackles, 6.5 sacks, two interceptions, two fumble recoveries and three passes defensed.
He added a career-high three sacks in 2024, but injuries held him to 11 games. Then came 2025, when his role shrank to six starts and 62 tackles with one sack. The burst still shows up, but the missed tackles and coverage issues have made him tougher for Brian Flores to trust.
Jamal Adams’ knee injury against New York opened another path for Pace, at least in theory. Adams had already cut into the linebacker rotation before leaving, and he recorded a tackle for loss in 11 snaps. Pace, though, didn’t take advantage of the chance, and his most damaging coverage snap ended with Fields securing the ball in the end zone.
Golday’s presence matters here too. As a second-round pick, he gives Minnesota a younger, longer option to develop behind Cashman and Wilson.
Pace also carries a $3.52 million restricted-free-agent salary, and a release or trade would clear that full amount in cap space with no dead money. For a team trimming down to its final roster, that’s about as clean as it gets.
Pace still has two preseason games to change the picture, beginning with the Baltimore Ravens at U.S. Bank Stadium.
Minnesota also hosts Baltimore this week for joint practices, giving him another chance to sharpen the angles and coverage reps that hurt him in New Jersey. If that doesn’t happen, Aug. 30 could bring a very different ending.
In Other News...
Vikings Suddenly Have A JJ McCarthy Problem They Can't Ignore
The Vikings got the preseason off to a win over the Giants, but the more interesting part of the night came in the first half, when Kyler Murray started and then handed things over to JJ McCarthy. McCarthy got most of the opening half work and finished 4 of 7 for 34 yards, which was enough to keep the offense moving in a controlled setting, but not enough to quiet the noise that has followed him into August.
Around the league, McCarthys name is already starting to circulate in trade chatter, and that is the problem Minnesota cant really brush aside. His market is believed to be muted right now, but if the situation keeps drifting in the wrong direction, the Vikings may have to deal with the possibility that other teams are watching closely and waiting for the price to come down. [Read more 🡒]
Vikings Get Their First Look At Cam Skattebo After Long Recovery
Cam Skattebos return to game action was the kind of preseason moment that carries a little extra weight, even in August. After working his way back from a serious right leg injury last season, the rookie finally got another chance to put himself back on the field, and it gave observers a first real look at how far he has come since that setback.
There was also some off-field attention around the comeback, with girlfriend Chloe Rodriguez showing public support on social media during the game. Skattebos story has had plenty of buzz attached to it already, including a viral backflip clip and the conversation it sparked with coach John Harbaugh about taking unnecessary risks, so his return adds another layer to a player who already seems to attract notice whenever he steps into the spotlight. [Read more 🡒]
Vikings Face An Early Backup QB Debate After Preseason Opener
The Vikings opened the preseason with a 13-10 win over the Giants, but the box score did not do much to settle the mood around the offense. Several players left room for more, including undrafted receiver Dillon Bell, defensive lineman Domonique Orange and quarterback J.J. McCarthy, who completed 4 of 7 passes for 34 yards and took a sack in limited action.
What stood out more for Minnesota was the contrast behind McCarthy, where veteran Carson Wentz looked sharper and immediately nudged the conversation toward the backup quarterback job. It is early, of course, but for a team trying to sort out depth and rhythm before the games count, the first preseason outing gave the Vikings a real decision point to monitor. [Read more 🡒]