Ivan Pace Jr. spent the early part of the 2026 NFL season looking like a linebacker who was sliding out of the Vikings’ plans. His role kept shrinking, and at one point it seemed as if defensive coordinator Brian Flores was moving on from the former starting interior linebacker.
Then Week 3 changed the tone.
Against the Buccaneers on Sunday, Pace was on the field for just 16 defensive snaps, but he made those reps count. He finished with three tackles, half a sack and two quarterback hits, and Pro Football Focus gave him an 80.6 pass rush grade for the game.
That kind of production is exactly why Pace still has a path to more work. He is not going to jump Eric Wilson or Blake Cashman on the depth chart, but he did enough in Tampa Bay to make the coaching staff more comfortable using him in rotation.
That fits what Minnesota wants to do defensively. The Vikings are built to pressure quarterbacks and force mistakes, and Pace has shown he can deliver when asked to rush the passer.
The timing is notable, too, because Minnesota drafted Jake Golday in the second round this year, and it seemed as though Golday would absorb many of the snaps that might otherwise have gone to Pace. Instead, Golday played only two defensive snaps in Week 3, a clear sign of how much trust the coaches still have in the veteran.
The downside remains the run game. Pace is not as effective there, and his 27.0 PFF tackling grade reflected that. Two missed tackles dragged that number down and highlighted the issue.
Even so, the Vikings do not need to pull him off special teams to make use of him. Pace has become a regular there, playing 85% of all special teams snaps this season after playing 75% last season.
That gives Minnesota a useful backup who can rush the passer and contribute in the third phase, adding value to both Flores’s defense and special teams coordinator Matt Daniels’s unit.
A lot of players fade once they lose a starting job. The Vikings have taken a different approach with Pace, staying patient and finding ways to use him where he helps most.
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Vikings Fans Are Already Reopening A Quarterback Debate Too Soon
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Around the fan base, the discussion has already turned back to the quarterback spot, with some pointing to Carson Wentz after he guided the team to its first two wins. Murray is still in the adjustment phase, and the comparison many are making is to Sam Darnolds own run with the Vikings, where early uncertainty eventually gave way to more comfort. For now, the question is not whether Murray can flash, but how quickly the offense can become his in a way that quiets the debate. [Read more 🡒]