Kylian Mbappe said after not starting in Real Madrid’s Spanish league soccer match against Oviedo on Thursday that coach Alvaro Arbeloa told him that he is the team’s fourth-choice striker.
Arbeloa appeared to be caught by surprise by Mbappe’s words and said he never told him that. He said he doesn’t know why Mbappe felt like that.
Mbappe, who had been nursing a left hamstring injury, said he was ready to play from the start against Oviedo but Arbeloa decided not to use him.
“I’m 100% fine,” Mbappe said. “I didn’t play because the coach told me I’m the fourth striker in the squad behind (Franco) Mastantuono, Vini (Vinicius Junior) and Gonzalo (Garcia). I accept it. I was ready to start, it was his decision. You can’t be angry with the coach, you always have to respect the opinion of the coach. I’ll keep working hard and wait to be the starter.”
Arbeloa later said he never told Mbappe he was the fourth striker in the squad.
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“I don’t have four strikers, and I haven’t told anything like that to Mbappe,” Arbeloa said. “He probably didn’t understand me. I don’t really know what to tell you. I wouldn’t tell him that he’s the fourth-choice striker.”
The disagreement between Arbeloa and Mbappe is the latest in a chaotic week for Madrid, which started with an altercation between players in training that led the club to fine Federico Valverde and Aurelien Tchouameni 500,000 euros ($589,000) each.
Then came the 2-0 loss to Barcelona in the clasico on Sunday that allowed its rival to clinch the league title. On Tuesday, an edgy Madrid president Florentino Perez called for new elections after saying he was the victim of an “organized campaign” to unseat him.
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Mbappe was booed by the crowd at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium after coming into the match to replace Garcia in the 68th minute. He assisted in Jude Bellingham’s 79th-minute goal that sealed Madrid’s 2-0 win.
The France star had been criticized by some fans who claimed he was saving himself for the World Cup. During his time off because of the injury, Mbappe reportedly traveled to Italy with actress Ester Exposito, prompting criticism in Spanish media that he may not be taking his rehabilitation seriously.
The striker downplayed the importance of his trip.
“I had the club’s permission to be away from Madrid,” Mbappe said. “I wasn’t the only one, but you have to accept it and move on. I can easily turn this situation around.”
Mbappe has not yet fully met expectations of his high-profile signing with Madrid two seasons ago. The club has not won a major trophy since he arrived.
Jannik Sinner is two victories away from becoming the first home male player to win the Italian Open in half a century. And it doesn’t seem like anybody can stop him – either in Rome or at the French Open that starts in 10 days.
The top-ranked Sinner landed shots on the lines repeatedly in a 6-2, 6-4 triumph over No. 14 Andrey Rublev to reach the semifinals Thursday and move past Novak Djokovic with a record 32nd consecutive victory in Masters 1000 events – the biggest tournaments outside the Grand Slams.
“I don’t play for records. I play just for my own story. And obviously at the same time it means a lot to me,” Sinner said.
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The last Italian man to raise the singles trophy on the red clay of the Foro Italico was Adriano Panatta in 1976. Panatta will present the title to this year’s champion on Sunday, with Italian President Sergio Mattarella also slated to attend the final.
“It’s a special tournament for me,” Sinner said.
Sinner’s semifinal opponent will be 2023 Rome champion Daniil Medvedev, who came back to beat Spanish qualifier Martin Landaluce 1-6, 6-4, 7-5.
The other semifinal will feature Casper Ruud of Norway against Luciano Darderi, an Argentine-born Italian.
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Huge partisan support:
With nearly everyone inside the 10,500-seat Campo Centrale cheering for Sinner, many supporters wore hats and T-shirts in orange – his theme color.
One group of fans held up a sign that said, “Sinner, Facce Sogna” – “Sinner, Make us dream.”
Sinner lost last year’s final in Rome to Carlos Alcaraz, who is now sidelined due to a right wrist injury, while Jasmine Paolini in 2025 became the first Italian woman to raise the trophy in 40 years.
Sinner broke serve in the opening game for a third straight match and never lost control against Rublev, who was once ranked as high as No. 5.
Rublev noticed there were “many points where he played really well or close to the line or in a line. But he’s No. 1 and it’s normal. You need to force him to miss and it takes a lot of focus to be able to play at that level.”
Sinner had only one brief lapse when Rublev broke him late in the second set.
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“It was a bit breezy, a bit windy, so it was very tough conditions,” Sinner said. “I felt we both didn’t play at our best today.”
Sinner said he felt fatigued toward the end.
“I’m going to be all right. It’s normal that one day in the tournament you are slightly tired,” he said. “It has been very long days for me.”
Unbeaten since October Sinner hasn’t been beaten in a Masters event since he retired with cramps in extreme heat against Tallon Griekspoor in Shanghai in October.
Djokovic won 31 straight Masters matches in 2011.
Including all tournaments, Sinner’s winning streak reached 27 matches. He was last beaten by Jakub Mensik in the Qatar Open quarterfinals on Feb. 19 – and he hasn’t even dropped a set since his opening match of his previous tournament, the Madrid Open.
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Sinner is also aiming to become the second man after Djokovic to triumph at all nine Masters events. Djokovic has won each event at least twice.
The Italian Open is the only Masters event that Sinner hasn’t won.
Coco Gauff back in final:
In the women’s tournament, Coco Gauff beat 36-year-old Sorana Cirstea 6-4, 6-3 to reach the final for a second straight year.
Gauff will face two-time Rome champion Elina Svitolina in the final after the Ukrainian beat three-time champion Iga Swiatek 6-2, 4-6, 6-2.
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Gauff saved a match point in a three-set victory over Iva Jovic in the fourth round and then came back from a set down to defeat Mirra Andreeva in the quarterfinals.
Against Cirstea, Gauff got 78% of her first serves in and had only one double fault.
“I’m just happy to be through in straight sets today,” Gauff said. “It’s been a marathon week.”
Gauff was beaten by Paolini in the 2025 Rome final, then went on to win the French Open.
Former Nigerian international Friday Ekpo believes Super Eagles goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali may struggle to regain his first-choice position because of the fine form of Maduka Okoye in Italy.
Ekpo shared his worries about Nwabali’s long absence from club football since leaving Chippa United in February.
The 29-year-old goalkeeper became one of Chippa United’s important players after joining the club in 2020. His performances also helped him earn a regular place with the Super Eagles. However, his recent lack of game time has raised doubts about his sharpness for international matches.
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Speaking in an interview with Completesports.com, Ekpo said Okoye’s strong displays for Udinese have increased competition for Nigeria’s number one shirt.
“There is no doubt that Nwabali is a good goalkeeper, but his absence from regular club football worries me,” Ekpo said.
“It will not be easy for him to return straight into the Super Eagles starting team because Maduka Okoye has been playing very well for Udinese.
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“Okoye has improved a lot and looks more confident now. Nwabali will have to work hard if he wants to win back his place.”
Okoye has enjoyed an impressive season in Serie A, producing several strong performances that have brought him back into the conversation for Nigeria’s first-choice goalkeeper role ahead of future matches.
The battle between both goalkeepers is expected to give the Super Eagles coaching crew a difficult decision as the team prepares for upcoming qualifiers and major tournaments.
A New England Patriots helmet rests on the sideline before preseason action against the Carolina Panthers at Gillette Stadium. The scene captured the atmosphere on Aug. 19, 2022, as the Patriots prepared for another exhibition matchup during training camp season in Foxborough while evaluating roster depth ahead of the regular season. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports.
During the 2021 NFL Draft, the Minnesota Vikings selected an outside linebacker named Janarius Robinson, who never really took off in the Twin Cities. Five years later, he’s getting a look from the Super Bowl runner-ups.
Robinson could turn a June audition into a roster battle if New England wants more depth.
The veteran EDGE will work out for the Patriots this week, and a summer roster spot could be the result.
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Robinson’s NFL Path Has Included Many Stops
Do you remember Robinson from the Mike Zimmer era?
Philadelphia Eagles defensive end Janarius Robinson lines up during preseason action against the Cleveland Browns at Lincoln Financial Field. Robinson continued competing for a depth role on Aug. 17, 2023, after joining Philadelphia following his brief tenure with the Minnesota Vikings organization and practice squad during the early stages of his NFL career. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports.
NE Auditions Robinson
Robinson could make it five NFL teams in five years. NBC Sports‘ Josh Alper wrote Tuesday morning, “The Patriots will be checking out a potential addition to their defense on Tuesday. Ian Rapoport of NFL Media reports that defensive end Janarius Robinson will be working out for the team.”
“Robinson spent last season with the Chiefs, but he did not appear in any games after fracturing his foot in the offseason. Robinson was a Vikings fourth-round pick in 2021 and moved on to the Eagles in 2022, but spent most of both seasons on injured reserve.”
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Through three months of open free agency, Robinson has no known nibbles from EDGE-needy teams. That could change as early as this week.
The Patriots’ EDGEs
Do the Patriots need more pass-rush help? From a role player and fringe roster bubble commodity like Robinson — probably not. Still, here’s the embattled Mike Vrabel’s OLB group in mid-May:
Harold Landry III
Dre’Mont Jones
Gaba Jacas
Namdi Obiazor
Bradyn Swinson
Quintayvious Hutchins
Jesse Luketa
Xavier Holmes
If signed, Robinson would likely slide onto the depth chart behind Jacas, a 2nd-Round rookie, and above Obiazor, a 6th-Round rookie.
Robinson’s Career to Date
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Robinson initially arrived in Minnesota via the 2020 Stefon Diggs trade with the Buffalo Bills. After sending Diggs to Buffalo, the Vikings leveraged the returned draft capital to select several players, including Justin Jefferson, Camryn Bynum, Zach Davidson, Kenny Willekes, and Robinson.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Janarius Robinson and linebacker Amari Gainer greet Chargers defenders Asante Samuel Jr. and Derwin James Jr. after a divisional matchup at SoFi Stadium. The postgame moment unfolded on Sep. 8, 2024, following Robinson’s continued effort to carve out a rotational NFL role after stops with multiple franchises. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images.
Drafted by former general manager Rick Spielman in the 4th Round of the 2021 NFL Draft, Robinson’s tenure with the Vikings was short-lived and unproductive. His rookie season in 2021 was cut short by a season-ending injury, and he failed to make the 53-man roster in 2022, instead being relegated to the practice squad. During that 2022 season, Patrick Jones and D.J. Wonnum served as the primary backup EDGE rushers behind starters Danielle Hunter and Za’Darius Smith.
The Philadelphia Eagles acquired Robinson in September 2022, signing him after defensive end Derek Barnett tore his ACL and was placed on injured reserve. Notably, Barnett himself had a prior connection to Robinson’s former team, having joined the Vikings in 2016 as part of the Sam Bradford trade.
Robinson never played in a regular season game for Minnesota before the Eagles acquired him.
Since entering the league, Robinson has appeared in 16 career games, making 3 starts. His career totals include 13 tackles, 4 quarterback hits, and 1.5 sacks. He has logged 187 defensive snaps and an additional 77 on special teams. His 2024 season was his most active as a professional, despite receiving a stinky 42.6 defensive grade from Pro Football Focus.
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His full work history:
Minnesota Vikings (2021–2022)
Philadelphia Eagles (2022)
Las Vegas Raiders (2023–2024)
Kansas City Chiefs (2025)
ArrowheadAddict‘s Matt Conner on Robinson, “Before the 2025 draft, Robinson sounded excited to join the Chiefs and said he was a ‘perfect fit’ for Kansas City. However, the Chiefs spent two early picks on the defensive front — a second-round choice on Omarr-Norman Lott and a third-round pick on Ashton Gillotte — and Robinson was buried on the depth chart early.”
“From there, a fractured foot landed him on injured reserve before the regular season even began. Robinson will now hope to prove he’s healthy as a journeyman defensive end for a team fresh off of a Super Bowl appearance.”
The Big-Name EDGEs Left in Free Agency
Suppose the Robinson tryout does not net a contract. The Patriots — and other teams that need EDGE rushers — still have an accredited list of alternatives, including these men:
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Denico Autry
Derek Barnett
Joey Bosa
Jadeveon Clowney
Marcus Davenport
A.J. Epenesa
Leonard Floyd
Cameron Jordan
Von Miller
Haason Reddick
Kyle Van Noy
Minnesota Vikings outside linebacker Janarius Robinson watches practice during training camp activities at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. Robinson participated in workouts on Jul. 29, 2022, while attempting to earn a roster spot entering his second NFL season after missing his rookie campaign because of injury rehabilitation and developmental setbacks. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images.
The Vikings, too, may need an OLB3 behind Andrew Van Ginkel and Dallas Turner, depending on the summer performances from Bo Richter, Tyler Batty, and rookie Jake Golday (an inside linebacker).
Robinson turned 28 two weeks ago. New England’s defense ranked 11th in the last year per EPA/Play, a propelling force for their Super Bowl appearance.
Dustin Baker is a novelist and political scientist. His second novel, The Invaders , is out now. So is … More about Dustin Baker
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Tuesday rescheduled the first ODI between India and Afghanistan, just hours after announcing the squads for the upcoming Test and ODI series.The first ODI, which was earlier scheduled to be played on June 14, will now take place on June 13, in Dharamshala. The three-match ODI series will follow the one-off Test starting from June 6 in India.The BCCI also announced squads for both assignments on Tuesday.Shubman Gill will lead India in both formats. KL Rahul has been named vice-captain of the Test side, replacing Rishabh Pant. In the ODI format, Shreyas Iyer has been appointed vice-captain.Senior all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja and pacer Jasprit Bumrah have been rested for the one-off Test and the ODI series vs Afghanistan. Manav Suthar, Gurnoor Brar and Harsh Dubey are the new faces in the Test squad.The squads were selected by the Men’s Selection Committee headed by Ajit Agarkar, along with Shiv Sundar Das, Ajay Ratra, RP Singh and Pragyan Ojha, in the presence of BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia.In the ODI squad, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli return to the top order, while Ishan Kishan has been included as another wicketkeeping option alongside KL Rahul.India have picked three all-rounders in Hardik Pandya, Nitish Kumar Reddy and Washington Sundar. The spin department will be led by Kuldeep Yadav.The pace attack includes Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna, Prince Yadav and Gurnoor Brar.
NEW DELHI: India’s badminton icon PV Sindhu shared a heartfelt message for Virat Kohli after meeting him at the RCB Innovation Lab Indian Sports Summit in Bengaluru. The badminton star posted a picture with Kohli on Instagram and thanked him for always supporting and guiding her during difficult moments in her career.“Every time I’ve needed guidance, you’ve always been there with the right advice and the right words. There is no better example of what a true senior in Indian sport should be: generous, grounded, inspiring, and always willing to lift others. ‘Never back down, PV.’ Advice taken. Keep being the absolute force of a human being that you are. Indian sport is better because of people like you,” Sindhu wrote.Sindhu has been slowly returning to her best after dealing with injuries over the past year. Recently, she reached the quarterfinals of the Thailand Open before losing to Japan’s Akane Yamaguchi. She also performed well during India’s Uber Cup campaign and has taken on a major leadership role off the court as Chair of the BWF Athletes’ Commission.The role gives Sindhu voting rights on the Badminton World Federation Council, marking an important step in her career beyond playing badminton.Meanwhile, Kohli continues to shine for Royal Challengers Bengaluru in IPL 2026. The veteran batter has played a major role in helping RCB qualify for the playoffs, including a match-winning century against Kolkata Knight Riders earlier in the season.Apart from cricket, Kohli was one of the key speakers at the sports summit, where he discussed athlete fitness, leadership, recovery, mental strength, and the future of Indian sports. The interaction between Sindhu and Kohli quickly became a talking point among fans, with many praising the mutual respect shared by two of India’s biggest sporting icons.
My buddy pulled his approach shot pin-high but left of the elevated green. His ball was inside of the bordering cart path in the rough about 20 yards out. He has a clear stance, but his backswing to hit a clean pitch would hit a carved granite slab with the next hole’s number and distance info. I was about to suggest he take relief from this man-made object interfering with his swing when he somehow played a great shot that ended up within inches. When I asked why he hadn’t taken relief, he said it wasn’t possible because that only applied coming up to the green, not once around it — something about “through the green”? Since it wasn’t my ball and he pulled off the shot anyway, I didn’t follow up … but this doesn’t sound right to me.—Tom Enderle, via email
Without wanting to sound at all smug — heaven forbid! — we note that this revolves around a rather amusing misunderstanding of a pre-2019 Rules term. “Through the green” is what today we call the “general area” … and in fact had nothing to do with whether you had reached the green surrounding area or not.
Your buddy was allowed to take free relief before 2019 and was still allowed to do so now with his ball laying in the general area (and not through the green). Please refer to Rule 16.1 for all the specifics.
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For more free-relief guidance from our guru, read on …
A course I play planted several young trees recently but didn’t stake around them. Can I move my ball so as not to potentially damage a tree if it’s in my path to the hole? —Peter Bemis, La Crosse, Wis.
Model Local Rule E-10 treats young trees as no-play zones to protect them from damage, but it is the responsibility of the Committee to enact said rule and decide which trees are protected.
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If the Committee hasn’t done so, nothing in the rules allows you to go rogue. That said, if you are unwilling to risk potential tree damage, you could always declare the ball unplayable and take penalty relief — and maybe win an award from the Sierra Club!
Got a question about the Rules? Ask the Rules Guy! Send your queries, confusions and comments to rulesguy@golf.com. We promise he won’t throw the book at you.
France head into the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup as the top-ranked nation in the world. Even without the validation of the men’s football rankings, the 2018 champions boast an abundance of quality as they pursue a third World Cup title. Missing out from their 2nd consecutive world title last time on penalties against Lionel Messi’s Argentina, Les Blues are coming into this edition with another power-packed squad with them.
This edition will also mark the final tournament for coach Didier Deschamps, one of only three men in history to lift the World Cup both as a player (1998) and as a manager (2018). The two-time champions are drawn in Group I alongside African giants Senegal, Erling Haaland’s Norway, and Iraq, who return to the global stage after 40 years. France’s Group I in FIFA World Cup 2026
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France
Senegal
Norway
Iraq
???????????????????????? ???? ???????? ????????̂???????? ????̀ ???????????????????? ???????????? Voici nos 26 Bleus qui représenteront la France à la ???????????????????? ???????? ???????????????????? ???????????????? ! ????#FiersdetreBleuspic.twitter.com/CqKUzJpSK0
— Equipe de France ⭐⭐ (@equipedefrance) May 14, 2026
Kylian Mbappé to lead star studded Les Bleus
Kylian Mbappé leads France as captain at his third World Cup finals. With 12 goals already to his name, the Real Madrid star is closing in on Miroslav Klose’s all-time record of 16 World Cup goals. He remains the focal point of France’s attack and leadership on the biggest stage.
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France will not rely on Mbappé alone, as he is supported by a wealth of world-class attacking talent. Reigning Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembélé will operate on the flanks, while Ballon d’Or contender Michael Olise adds further creativity and flair. Notably, the two teammates are set to face each other in the Champions League semi-final between Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern München.
France’s squad also features exciting young talents set to make their World Cup debuts after winning Olympic silver at Paris 2024. Désiré Doué is among the most in-form youngsters in world football, while Rayan Cherki continues his rise at Manchester City in his debut Premier League season. France schedule for FIFA World Cup 2026
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FIFA World Cup 2026 France schedule
Date
Match
Time (IST)
Venue
16/06/26
France vs Senegal
17 June, 00:30
East Rutherford, New Jersey (USA)
22/06/26
France vs Iraq
23 June, 02:30
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (USA)
26/06/26
Norway vs France
27 June, 00:30
Foxborough, Massachusetts (USA)
France’s strengths When France comes into the debate, the most reassuring thing about the team is their squad depth. France have a bench strength that is second to none, having world class players waiting on the sidelines to replace any player and produce quality displays whenever the team needs it. For example, the midfield options for the team have N’Golo Kanté, Adrien Rabiot, Manu Koné, Aurélien Tchouaméni, and Warren Zaïre-Emery among them, all of which have world class quality and experience in their tanks. Players like Real Madrid’s Camavinga and Lyon’s Tolisso, who have been part of the France team over the years have had to miss out from the squad as a result. France’s weakness Although a weakness on paper, France don’t have a world class goalkeeper at the helm with Mike Maignan, Brice Samba, Robin Risser. Although Maignan has played in top clubs like AC Milan, this is the only area where France lacks that extra bit of quality. However, with a defence as good as theirs, there is little room for a major threat at France’s goal. France squad for FIFA World Cup 2026: Goalkeepers: Mike Maignan, Brice Samba, Robin Risser
Defenders: Dayot Upamecano, William Saliba, Lucas Digne, Theo Hernandez, Lucas Hernandez, Ibrahima Konaté, Jules Koundé, Malo Gusto, Maxence Lacroix
Optus Stadium will play host to Sunday’s
Round 10 AFL game between West Coast Eagles and
GWS Giants. The game kicks off at 6:15 pm with GWS Giants heading into the game as favourites with the bookmakers. Continue reading for our in-depth preview of the West Coast Eagles vs.
GWS Giants
game and give you our free tips and bets.
GWS will aim to move back to an even record for the season when it travels west to face a struggling Eagles outfit. The Giants showed impressive resilience last week, overturning a 26-point deficit against Essendon to keep their finals hopes alive. While GWS has been inconsistent away from home this year, the matchup against West Coast presents a significant opportunity given the Eagles’ disastrous recent form. West Coast has now lost six straight games by more than 60 points on average and continues to battle badly with defensive structure and contested football. GWS has also dominated recent meetings between the clubs, including a crushing 59-point victory last season led by Finn Callaghan’s outstanding midfield display. Unless West Coast can produce a dramatic improvement defensively, the Giants appear well positioned to continue their climb back towards the top eight.
Jul 17, 2018; Atlanta, GA, USA; Mississippi Rebels quarterback Jordan Ta’amu answers questions from the media during SEC football media day at the College Football Hall of Fame. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
About once or twice per year, VikingsTerritory publishes an article detailing the fruit of Jordan Ta’amu’s labor in the UFL. The 2026 campaign is no different, but there’s a catch: Ta’amu is now hurt.
Ta’amu’s spring football rise added another unfortunate turn before the Defenders’ postseason push.
The man was cooking, but the Defenders must improvise.
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Ta’amu’s Minnesota Stay Was Brief but a Bit Memorable
It’s a blow for the champs.
DC Defenders quarterback Jordan Ta’amu watches the action from the sideline during a road matchup against the St. Louis Battlehawks. The veteran passer continued building his spring-football résumé on Jun. 8, 2025, while leading one of the UFL’s top offenses during the regular season at The Dome at America’s Center in Missouri. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Le-Imagn Images.
Ta’amu Out for Year
NBC Sports‘ Mike Florio wrote Monday, “Even though the UFL has been generating solid TV ratings, it’s had a hard time moving the needle. That’s largely because the NFL continues to dominate the calendar, even in the months when NFL games aren’t being played. Still, certain developments merit a mention.”
“Like this one: D.C. Defenders quarterback Jordan Ta’amu has been lost for the season due to an injury suffered in a Week 8 loss to Louisville. The specific injury was not specified.”
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Defenders head coach Shannon Harris said of the setback, “We never want to lose a quarterback of that caliber, especially a guy who’s been an MVP-level player and championship leader for us. But we still have a really good football team, and we are going to rally behind Spencer Sanders and Jason Bean.”
Time with the Vikings
Just before the 2023 regular season, the Vikings signed Ta’amu to bolster their preseason quarterback depth. He arrived with significant spring buzz, having won the XFL’s 2023 Offensive Player of the Year award five months earlier.
However, his tenure in Minnesota was brief. Ta’amu lasted only a week before being cut, eventually returning to the Defenders on February 22, 2024. The Vikings, already boasting Kirk Cousins, Nick Mullens, and Jaren Hall on their roster for the 2023 season, further solidified their quarterback room during that season by trading for Joshua Dobbs a couple of months later.
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Last Year’s Masterclass
In 2025, the Defenders won the UFL Championship, as Ta’amu passed for 2,153 yards, 17 touchdowns, and 4 interceptions, along with 178 rushing yards and 2 scores, in nine games. Nearing the end of the current campaign, the Defenders have a 5-3 record, so they’re trending toward another championship push. Ta’amu has produced 1,516 passing yards, 14 passing touchdowns, and 9 picks, in addition to 196 rushing yards in 8 games.
Former Mississippi Rebels quarterback Jordan Ta’amu speaks with reporters during SEC Media Days at the College Football Hall of Fame. The dual-threat passer fielded questions from the media on Jul. 17, 2018, before entering his final college football season with Ole Miss and later beginning a professional career across multiple leagues. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports.
Of course, the injury ends his dream of back-to-back titles and MVP awards. A brutal blow.
Pro Football Newsroom‘s James Larsen on the Defenders’ without Ta’amu: “Earlier this year, the Defenders traded for Jason Bean from the Kings. He seems like the perfect prospect to fill in, with his mobility – and ability to push the ball down the field. Through four weeks of play with the Louisville Kings, no QB in the UFL had more big-time throws than Bean, with 10.”
“The clock is ticking on what was shaping up to be another big year for DC. If any team can manage this instability – it’s the Defenders. Shannon Harris has chartered strange waters before, and now will have to lead DC to success without their signal caller of the past four seasons.”
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Bean might be the meal ticket sans Ta’amu.
Larsen concluded, “Hopefully, this isn’t the last we’ll see of Jordan Ta’amu. He has been one of spring football’s best over the past several years, with two Championship appearances (and a win) in DC. The veteran is, no doubt, on the Mount Rushmore of spring football.”
Lucky Jackson Thriving
Another former Viking has stood out in the offshoot league: Jackson. He plays for the Louisville Kings, a club with a 4-4 mark through eight games, and has tabulated 27 receptions for 341 yards and 2 scores in eight games. Much in part due to his first name, Jackson is well-known in recent Vikings lore as a summer attraction and preseason stud.
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UFL owner Dany Garcia hands the championship MVP trophy to DC Defenders quarterback Jordan Ta’amu after the title game victory over the Michigan Panthers. Ta’amu earned the honor on Jun. 14, 2025, following a standout performance that helped deliver a league championship at The Dome at America’s Center in St. Louis. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Le-Imagn Images.
And he’s been associated with the Vikings for a while, beginning around the time that Ta’aum initially entered the mix. Jackson signed with the Vikings in May 2023, sticking around for the whole summer and later reaching the 2023 practice squad. He earned active roster placement in late 2023 and signed a futures contract at the start of the 2024 offseason.
Then, he encountered the same arrangement from the summer prior in 2024 — an August cut, followed by a practice squad assignment. In 2025, Jackson actually flirted with becoming the team’s WR4 due to a notable training camp and preseason. But in the end, Minnesota dropped him on September 23, 2025. He signed with Louisville on February 18th — three months ago.
Overall, he’s known for his 4.36 speed coming out of college (Western Kentucky) in 2020.
The Ta’amu-less Defenders’ next game is Friday at the Orlando Storm. Ta’amu will turn 28 in December.
Dustin Baker is a novelist and political scientist. His second novel, The Invaders , is out now. So is … More about Dustin Baker
San Jose landed a pro women’s hockey franchise on Tuesday with the PWHL completing its ambitious four-team expansion process with a first entry into California.
The league now has 12 teams entering its fourth season, and has doubled in size since the PWHL was established in June 2023. In selecting San Jose, the PWHL adds a region with a population of about 7.6 million, strengthens its geographic footprint with a third Pacific Coast-based franchise, and enters a market with a strong history of supporting women’s sports and girls hockey development.
The team will play out of the NHL home of the San Jose Sharks, the SAP Center, with the bid to land the franchise led by the city and Sharks Sports & Entertainment.
“Between a deeply rooted hockey culture, rapidly booming women’s sports scene, and a community known for growth and innovation, San Jose offers a dynamic stage for the PWHL to expand its reach and build lasting momentum,” said Amy Scheer, PWHL executive vice president of business operations.
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San Jose’s selection closes the league’s second expansion process, which began with the addition of Detroit two weeks ago followed by Las Vegas and Hamilton, Ont., a week later. They join Seattle and Vancouver, who were added last year, and the PWHL’s original six markets of Boston, New York, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto and Minnesota.
Scheer has previously said league officials are exploring splitting in either two conferences or multiple divisions. All four newcomers help fill geographical voids in reducing travel time between markets.
San Jose has also become a hockey hotbed in ranking sixth in the nation in girls hockey participation.
“From its humble beginnings with an NHL expansion team in 1991, San Jose is now truly a ‘hockey city,’” Sharks Sports & Entertainment president Jonathan Becher said.
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The yet-to-be-named team’s colours will be orange — in a nod to the Sharks — blue and white, representing the coastline and sky.
The PWHL team will be the third major women’s professional franchise to come to the Bay Area in recent years, following Bay FC of the National Women’s Soccer League in 2024 and the Golden State Valkyries of the WNBA in 2025.
Bay FC ranked third in the NWSL in attendance last season and drew 40,091 fans to a game at Oracle Park in San Francisco for the third largest crowd in league history.
The Valkyries made the playoffs as an expansion team when they led the league in attendance with more than 18,000 fans a game at Chase Center. The team was recently valued at a league-high $850 million by Sportico after the ownership paid an expansion fee of $50 million in 2023.
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The PWHL controls all of its franchises, and is privately financed by Los Angeles Dodgers owner Mark Walter and his wife Kimbra.
The fast-paced growth represents the surge in attention the league anticipated women’s hockey would enjoy following the Milan Cortina Olympics in February. Another factor is the league preparing for a bumper-crop of high-level talent declaring for this year’s draft.
The 235-player prospect class includes five collegians who won Olympic gold representing the United States, and headed by Wisconsin defender Caroline Harvey, as well as a growing number of Europeans making the jump to North America.
By growing to 12 teams, including seven in the U.S., the PWHL is also in better position to secure a national broadcast partner. Scripps Sports is the likely candidate with the broadcaster taking the first step this season by airing PWHL playoff games on ION, which reaches 126 million American households.
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