When the kickoff occurred at New York’s 3-yard line, Cashman sprinted downfield and struggled with a double-team block from Jets wide receiver Irvin Charles and linebacker Marcelino McCrary-Ball. As Jets running back Isaiah Davis flew past Cashman, the Vikings’ bottom half linebacker was accidentally hit by teammate Kamu Grugier-Hill; he staggered away from the scene, hesitant to put his weight on both feet.

Incredibly, Cashman didn’t miss a beat, playing all of the Vikings 19 snaps on defense for the rest of the first half. He was even involved in three tackles, including a solo stop of Jets running back Braelon Allen on the first play after the injury, and helped rookie Dallas Turner thwart Allen on a fourth-and-2.

During the break, his gritty inner monologue was activated.

“We’re going to get the ball, it’s the second half,” he recalled thinking to himself. “Worry about this later.”

Cashman by definition clenched. He made five tackles and didn’t leave the field in Minnesota’s 23-17 win.

On second-and-10 on New York’s 14, with 6:19 left in the third quarter, he made a viral individual effort – by all the verbs; darting and spinning and twisting and diving, eventually disrupting Rodgers mid-throw and forcing a key incompletion. Cashman looked very much like an action hero.

In retrospect, he looked more like a superhero. He literally launched himself off an injured big toe.

It’s the kind of play the Vikings have missed from Cashman over the past three weeks with losses to the Lions and Rams and an eight-point win over the Colts. Their usual green dot is the recovery from one of the most feared injuries for NFL players. Unfortunately, Cashman is back in action today in Jacksonville, ready to resume his role as the heartbeat and communications center of Minnesota’s menacing defense. But his return does not mean he is 100% cured. Turf toe can be chronic.