Ivan Pace Jr.’s Return Comes into Focus

Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images Barring a sudden setback or lingo change, Minnesota Vikings linebacker Ivan Pace Jr. should return to the club in Week 17 for a game at home against the Green Bay Packers. Ivan Pace Jr.’s Return Comes into Focus The starting inside linebacker has missed the last three games on injured reserve due to a hamstring injury, and incidentally, Minnesota has won all games without him. However, his presence will be needed sooner rather than later, so his positive prognosis is just what the doctor ordered. Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images. Head coach Kevin O’Connell sounded optimistic this week about Pace Jr.’s return in Week 17. “He’s doing well. He’s right on schedule. He’ll go through some simulated work with the trainers this week, simulating what we would do in practice this week. The timeline of that designation would be, I believe, next week, so hoping he’s on schedule with that,” O’Connell told reporters on Tuesday. That’s exactly the style of update that would cue Pace Jr.’s return after an IR trip. Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images. O’Connell previously said about Pace Jr.’s health last weekend, “He’s doing really well. Probably ahead of the timeline we maybe initially thought. He’ll be ready to roll when he’s available to come off, I believe.” Sans Pace Jr. in the last month, the Vikings have leaned on replacements Kamu Grugier-Hill and Jamin Davis, who have filled in admirably. Something is going right when the team is undefeated without Pace Jr. Kirby Lee-Imagn Images Pace Jr. does a little bit of everything on defense, logging 59 tackles in 9 games, with 6 quarterback hits, 6 tackles for loss, 3 sacks, a forced fumble, and a touchdown. His only deficiency in Year No. 2 is pass coverage — opposing quarterbacks have a 122.0 passer rating when targeting Pace Jr. Minnesota found Pace Jr. via undrafted free agency 20 months ago. Because of his height — 5’10” — general managers shied away from his draft stock when he possessed the talent profile that should’ve netted a 3rd- or 4th-Round draft pick. The Vikings brushed aside the height concerns and signed him to a lucrative UDFA contract. Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images. Their efforts were rewarded. Pace Jr. started immediately in Minnesota, and no suitor has threatened his job since. Minnesota will roll with Grugier-Hill and Davis for one more week this Sunday at Seattle, but fans can tentatively pencil Pace Jr. in for a Week 17 duty at home versus the Packers. Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. The show features guests, analysis, and opinion on all things related to the purple team, with 4-7 episodes per week. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band). He follows the NBA as closely as the NFL. All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.