CHICAGO – The Vikings escaped Soldier Field with a 30-27 win on Sunday, but they lost three players to injuries during the game.
Linebacker Ivan Pace Jr. and left tackle Cam Robinson were both injured and exited during the first quarter. Pace suffered a hamstring strain on the fourth defensive snap. Robinson left because of a foot injury, but it’s unclear whether it’s the same foot he hurt Nov. 10 in Jacksonville.
Safety Jay Ward, a special teamer, was sidelined because of an elbow injury in the second half.
Pace and Ward will undergo further testing on Monday at team headquarters, coach Kevin O’Connell said. Robinson declined comment in the visitor’s locker room.
Linebacker Kamu Grugier-Hill and safety Josh Metellus helped replace Pace for the rest of the game. Linebacker Blake Cashman’s flexibility helped the Vikings defense navigate the injury.
“I was just communicating with [Grugier-Hill and Metellus] like, ‘Hey, let me know where you’re comfortable at and we’ll switch spots depending on the call on the field,’” Cashman said. “We really feel for [Pace]. Hate to see one of your guys get injured. We gotta lean on him, be there for him, and we’re going to need him to get right because we have playoff football ahead.”
“It’s a weird role, because best-case scenario is I don’t play,” Quessenberry said. “You want to see your boys be healthy, but when the time comes, I take a lot of pride in being ready.”