PurplePTSD works in partnership with Vikings Territory, similarly doing their utmost to offer top-notch coverage of the Minnesota Vikings. As a result, we’re promoting five of their top articles of the past month in “The P/PTSD Perspective.” Take a peek at some of their best stuff.

The P/PTSD Perspective: May 23rd, 2026

1) Check Out the Vikings’ 4 New Starters on Defense: Nothing is certain until it’s certain, so the educated guess is precisely that: an educated guess. Assuming good health, Caleb Banks should have his hand in the dirt for the opening snap of Week 1. Who joins him remains to be seen.

2) Kevin O’Connell is Bringing a Heavyweight to Vikings Camp: The Baltimore Ravens are a fantastic football team. Seeing them win the Super Bowl in February of 2027 won’t be at all surprising. The Vikings will therefore get a good test in the August practices.

3) Bleacher Report Offers Glorious Vikings Prediction: At the end of the day, nobody truly knows how the season is going to unfold. How many correctly anticipated a Seahawks v. Patriots Super Bowl? Football can often be an unpredictable sport, making it well worth following.

4) A Late Vikings Signing Deserves an A+: Very few are against the deal for Jauan Jennings. What should be remembered is that he makes the team better. Indeed, the singular player is going to allow those around him to shine, meaning he could punch above his weight class.

5) Vikings Have 1 Player in All-Breakout Team: Major year upcoming for Dallas Turner. The edge rusher was ultra costly. The problem is that he’s closer to Leonard Floyd than Danielle Hunter. In other words, Mr. Turner is good but not great, which needs to change.

Enjoy the extra reading, Vikings fans.

Senior Editor for Vikings Territory & PurplePTSD . Twitter & Bluesky: @VikingsGazette. Email: k.joudry[at]vikingsterritory[dot]com. Canadian. Jude 1:24-25.

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Ukraine’s Valentyna Davidova and Anhelina Khmil celebrate during a game against Australia at the Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour Nuvali.–PNVF PHOTO

SANTA ROSA, Laguna — Valentyna Davidova and Anhelina Khmil of Ukraine survived a tough second-set battle to eliminate Australian Olympian Taliqua Clancy and partner Stefanie Fejes, 21-13, 24-22, and advance to the semifinals of the Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour Nuvali Challenge on Saturday at Nuvali Sands Courts.

The ninth-seeded Ukrainians dominated the opening set before overcoming a late rally by Clancy and Fejes in the second frame.

READ: ‘Si-Pons’ tandem to stay focused on Asiad beach volley pro

Ukraine’s Anhelina Khmil and Valentyna Davidova talk about their entry to the Beach Pro Tour Nuvali Challenge Final Four. @inquirersports pic.twitter.com/ClPDw3MJON

— Lance Agcaoili (@LanceAgcaoilINQ) May 23, 2026

Trailing 13-16, the Australians unleashed a 5-1 run behind Clancy, a silver medalist in the Tokyo Olympics, to grab an 18-17 lead.

Australia held a 20-19 set point, but Khmil responded with consecutive conversions to restore Ukraine’s advantage at 21-20, but Clancy and Fejes saved two match points to extend the match.

Khmil delivered a drop shot before Fejes misjudged the next attack, which sailed long.

“It was a hard battle from both sides. We knew who we were going to play against,” Khmil said after finishing with 24 points.

“They’re such great players, and we knew it wasn’t going to be easy. But it was a great performance from us, and we had so much fun.”

Davidova and Khmil will face Americans Madelynn Anderson and Alaina Chacon in the semifinals on Sunday at 8 a.m.

READ: Alexis Durish, Audrey Konig stay alive in Beach Pro Tour Nuvali

The American pair earlier defeated Brazil’s Andressa Ramalho and Taina Bigi, 21-16, 21-19.

In the other women’s semifinal, top-ranked Lithuanians Monika Paulikiene and Aine Raupelyte will take on Dutch pair Emi van Driel and Mila Konink.

Paulikiene and Raupelyte swept Ukraine’s Tetiana Lezerenko and Sofiia Kurnikova, 21-7, 21-17, while van Driel and Konink beat fellow Dutch players Nigella Negenman and Floor Hogenhout, 21-9, 21-14.

In the men’s division, Swiss tandem Julian Friedli and Jonathan Jordan arranged a semifinal duel with Aussies Thomas Hodges and Ben Hood.

Friedli and Jordan outlasted Austria’s Paul Pascariuc and Alexander Horst, 17-21, 28-26, 18-16, while Hodges and Hood swept Latvia’s Ardis Bedritis and Arturs Rinkevics, 21-18, 21-11.

Another Swiss pair, Adrian Heidrich and Yves Haussener, pulled off the biggest upset of the quarterfinals after beating top seeds Eylon Elazar and Kevin Cuzmiciov, 21-18, 21-13.

They will face Germans Philipp Huster and Sven Winter, who rallied past compatriots Maximilian Just and Lui Wust, 18-21, 21-16, 15-10.

It’s been exactly a month since the first round of the 2026 NFL draft, and new Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Jermod McCoy’s injury has been a hot topic of discussion ever since. However, we still don’t really know what McCoy’s status is for this season and beyond. It’s been reported that the Tennessee product will likely need a second surgery that could threaten his career, but it seems like the entire situation is still very much up in the air.

The ambiguity is what caused McCoy, who was widely considered a top-15 talent heading into last month’s draft, to fall to the fourth round and into the Raiders’ laps. Granted, Las Vegas did have to move up one spot to get him, and that was because the former Volunteer wasn’t going to be on the board much longer, according to the California Post’s Vincent Bonsignore, who also shed some light on the injury situation.

“I’ve talked to a couple of general managers around the league who shared what their intel was on [McCoy], and by the way, he was not lasting very much longer in the fourth round. People were ready to pounce,” Bonsignore said while guest hosting on Raider Nation Radio’s “JT the Brick”.

“They took the red flag off of him by that point in the draft across the league. So the Raiders did a good job of beating everybody to the punch and the way it’s been explained to me is it’s not a ‘right now’ issue. It’s a potentially long-range issue, the longevity of it. And Todd Gurley was a name that was brought up. He had suffered that devastating knee injury at Georgia, but he was recovered from it, was fantastic for a period of time in the NFL.”

“But then the longevity issue came into play [for Gurley]. People are looking for all these signs about the knee. Is it good? Is he good to go? It’s not that. It’s the longevity issue.”

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Gurley tore his ACL in mid-November of his last College Football season. Unlike McCoy, the injury didn’t impact the running back’s draft status, as he was still taken 10th overall by the then-St. Louis Rams. Gurley had to sit out the first two games of his rookie season but bounced back quickly, winning Offensive Rookie of the Year, making three All-Pro teams in four years and becoming the 2017 NFL Offensive Player of the Year.

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However, the former Bulldog’s injury in college caused him to suffer from severe inflammation and arthritis in the knee. That led to the Rams releasing Gurley two years after signing him to a record-breaking contract extension, and him spending one season with the Atlanta Falcons before his career ended after just six seasons and at just 26 years old.

Of course, Bonsignore is not necessarily making a one-for-one comparison, and every situation is different when it comes to medicals. But if McCoy does follow the same path as Gurley, the Raiders would be looking at getting three to four years of really high play from the cornerback before the long-term knee issues start to kick in.

In Other Raiders’ Links:

• Emmitt Smith shades Jeanty, Raiders: “Just like kryptonite is Superman’s weakness, a poor offensive line can be a running back’s weakness, especially if you have jail breaks,” Smith told Heavy Sports’ Austin Boyd. “You talk about Ashton Jeanty coming out of college and doing the things that he did in college, but he went to the Raiders. He went to the Raiders.”

The Minnesota Vikings’ roster is fully stocked in late May, but before the end of the summer, the club could swap a few players, depending on what happens at training camp. As always, the team could call on some former Vikings, and here’s a look at the most likely candidates.

Minnesota’s roster may still have room for old friends at running back, cornerback, center, and safety.

Ranked in ascending order of likelihood, here’s who makes sense for reunions (No. 1 = most likely reunion candidate).

Familiar Names Who Could Reenter the Mix for Vikings

To get the band back together …

4. Cam Akers | RB

Akers wouldn’t find an easy path to playing time in Minnesota. The Vikings’ current running back room includes Aaron Jones, Jordan Mason, Demond Claiborne, Zavier Scott, and Kejon Owens. With Jones, Mason, and Claiborne appearing to be solid roster locks, Akers would likely compete with Scott for the RB4 position if he were to return.

Despite the apparent limited opportunity, Akers has a history of securing roster spots against expectations. The Seahawks released him earlier this month, and while the Vikings don’t have an urgent need for him, Akers has previously landed in Minnesota even when not an obvious priority. It’s kind of a running joke — Minnesota cannot quit Akers.

Despite being only 26, Akers’ six-season career includes 2,044 rushing yards on 507 carries, 17 total touchdowns, and 52 receptions for 388 yards. His most compelling story is his bouncebackability. Two Achilles tears typically derail a running back’s career, yet Akers has consistently fought his way back onto NFL rosters.

In short, the Vikings don’t need Akers, but his potential return shouldn’t come as a surprise. They always find a way to get him.

3. A Garrett Bradbury Trade

The Vikings’ center position presents a clear choice: either Blake Brandel solidifies his role, or the team seeks a more familiar option. Brandel is poised to be the starting center in 2026 if the Vikings maintain their current roster. He stepped in last season following injuries to the starting center and steadily improved throughout his tenure.

Minnesota also has Michael Jurgens, a late-round selection from the 2024 NFL Draft, and Gavin Gerhardt, a 7th-Round rookie whom the Vikings reportedly view as more than just a developmental prospect. They specifically scouted Gerhardt as a potential center solution, opting for him over other prospects like Logan Jones and Jake Slaughter.

Which brings us to Bradbury.

Chicago acquired him in March, sending a 5th-Rounder to New England. However, the Bears’ subsequent drafting of Logan Jones last month significantly altered their plans. Jones’ age and draft position indicate he was likely selected to contribute sooner rather than later, potentially even starting in 2026. He’s 25 as a rookie.

This move diminished Chicago’s leverage with Bradbury. The Bears cannot realistically expect to trade Bradbury for more than they paid only months later. A team in dire need of a center could likely acquire him for a 5th or 6th-Round pick, a consequence of Chicago signaling its intentions in the draft.

For the Vikings, the decision is straightforward: send a late-round pick from a potentially deep 2027 draft class to Chicago for a player they know intimately, or proceed into the season with Brandel, Jurgens, and Gerhardt. The only significant hurdle is the NFC North rivalry; Minnesota would need to overcome the unusual hurdle of trading within the division.

2. Fabian Moreau | CB

Last season, the Vikings didn’t require Moreau to be a star; they simply needed him to stabilize a skimpy secondary. Why? Minnesota’s shaky cornerback depth. Byron Murphy Jr. was a known quantity, Isaiah Rodgers offered upside, and Jeff Okudah was a reclamation lottery ticket. Dwight McGlothern and Zemaiah Vaughn were largely unproven, meaning a single injury could have created weekly headaches at the position.

When Okudah suffered an early concussion, followed by another, and struggled, in general, Minnesota turned to Moreau over McGlothern, a move that proved successful. Moreau earned a 70.9 Pro Football Focus grade and allowed a mere 47.4 passer rating on 19 targets. The performance was precisely what the Vikings needed: a disciplined, veteran outside corner capable of preventing breakdowns and stabilizing the entire cornerback unit.

The question for 2026 is whether Minnesota wants to bring him back as a depth piece.

At 32, Moreau isn’t a long-term solution, nor does he need to be. A dependable CB3 or CB4 still holds significant value, particularly for a team acutely aware of how quickly cornerback depth can erode. If the Vikings seek one more outside corner behind Murphy, Rodgers, James Pierre, and rookie Charles Demmings, Moreau’s proven reliability is undeniable. They can even sign Moreau to the practice squad. He’s used to that.

1. Harrison Smith | S

This one is as straightforward as it gets: Will Smith return or retire?

The Vikings treated his final game in 2025 as a retirement send-off, but then Smith hasn’t expressly retired. If he wants to play one more year, that will be in Minnesota, making him the most obvious reunion candidate for the summer of 2026.

Smith Watch has lasted over four months.

Dustin Baker is a novelist and political scientist. His second novel, The Invaders , is out now. So is … More about Dustin Baker

LSG vs PBKS IPL 2026 live score, toss winner, winning probability, result and highlights from Ekana Stadium, Lucknow originally appeared on Cricket News. Add Cricket News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

KEY MATCH DETAILS:

• Venue: Ekana Stadium, Lucknow

• Captains: Rishabh Pant (LSG), Shreyas Iyer (PBKS)

• Toss result: PBKS won the toss and chose to bowl first

• Live Telecast: JioHotstar (India), TBD (Bangladesh), No Broadcast (Pakistan), CricLife Max, StarzPlay (UAE), Willow TV, Fubo, Willow TV app, Sling TV (USA & Canada)

• Umpires & Match officials: Arjan Kripal Singh (Match referee), Kaushik Gandhi, Vinod Seshan (On-field Umpire), Ajitesh Argal (TV Umpire), Tanmay Srivastava (Fourth Umpire)

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IPL 2026 HUB:Latest IPL News | IPL Points Table | Team Stats | IPL 2026 Squads

Lucknow Super Giants vs Punjab Kings Live Scorecard from IPL 2026

Follow along with the latest live scorecard here as the match unfolds, or click here for key text commentary updates from the action.

LSG vs PBKS IPL 2026: Predicted playing XI

LSG predicted playing XI: Mitchell Marsh, Josh Inglis, Nicholas Pooran, Rishabh Pant (c) (WK), Aiden Markram, Akshat Raghuwanshi, Himmat Singh, Mohammed Shami, Mohsin Khan, Avesh Khan, Prince Yadav

Impact Player: Digvesh Rathi

PBKS predicted XI: Priyansh Arya, Prabhsimran Singh (wk), Cooper Connolly, Shreyas Iyer (c), Nehal Wadhera, Shashank Singh, Marcus Stoinis, Marco Jansen, Xavier Barlett, Arshdeep Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal.

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Impact Player:Vijaykumar Vyshak.

MORE: What happens if an IPL match is cancelled due to rain? Rules and refund details

LSG vs PBKS IPL 2026 Updates

Hello everyone, and welcome to the live blog for the Lucknow Super Giants vs Punjab Kings clash at the Ekana Stadium, Hyderabad.

Toss result: PBKS to bowl first after winning the toss

LSG vs PBKS: Win Probability

Key highlights and reactions: LSG vs PBKS IPL 2026

Lucknow weather update: Chances of rain interrupting play

Let’s take a look at the hourly temperatures and the probability of rainfall in Lucknow on Saturday.

• 6:00 PM: 41°C (0% chance of rain)

• 7:00 PM: 41°C (0% chance of rain)

• 8:00 PM: 39°C (0% chance of rain)

• 9:00 PM: 38°C (0% chance of rain)

• 10:00 PM: 36°C (0% chance of rain)

• 11:00 PM: 35°C (0% chance of rain)

IPL 2026 Points Table: Latest updated standings with live LSG vs PBKS result

To keep up to date with all the latest cricket news and share your opinion on the biggest topics visit our Facebook, Instagram and X (Twitter) pages.

Jacob Fearnley has played only two tournaments in the past two months because of a rib injury, while Francesca Jones has endured a “tough” season in which she suffered a head injury in the gym.

Emma Raducanu delayed the start of her season because of the bruised foot which cut short her 2025 campaign, then has been set back in the past two months by a viral infection.

Katie Boulter has avoided injury this season, although she arrives at Roland Garros having recently been laid low by flu, while French Open qualifier Toby Samuel has been racking up victories on the Challenger tour after missing most of 2024 with an arm injury.

The Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) internally audits the injuries suffered by British players and says there is no repeat pattern.

Jones said the flurry of issues is simply “bad luck”, pointing to the injuries suffered across the tours and suggesting the packed calendar is the root of the problem.

“I don’t necessarily think there’s one reason for all,” said Boulter.

“Everyone is an individual case. It just seems to be that everything has happened at once.”

Ravena brothers Kiefer (right) and Thirdy during a B.League game in 2021.–Photo from San-En NeoPhoenix

MANILA, Philippines—The idea may seem far-fetched now, but the thought of the Ravena brothers being teammates again still crosses Kiefer’s mind.

“I’m not sure if one day that’ll happen. We’ll see if the rules change about eligibility and asian quota imports but I’ll be more than happy to be able to do that,” said Ravena at SM Megamall on Saturday for the B.League Final Week in Manila.

“It’s been more than 10 or 12 years since we were able to do that. I’m getting old, so hopefully, we have a chance to play professionally together,” added the 32-year-old guard.

READ: Kiefer Ravena to stay in B.League but with new team

Unfortunately for that dream, the B.League has a rule where only one Asian Quota Player (AQP) is allowed per team.

With its tenth year, however, the B.League can make some changes along the way when it comes to player restrictions.

Whether that happens or not, though, Kiefer is confident with Thirdy’s decision-making as they both try to navigate their ways into the next steps of their career.

“He handles his own stuff. I just want to make sure everything happens accordingly for him.”

“It’s not fun not having a team but at the same time, with all the experiences he’s had over the years, he became a better person and player. If ever a time comes that he returns to the B.League, he won’t need a lot of adjustments to go back to his bearings.”

READ: Kiefer Ravena sees Filipino playing in B.League Finals ‘very soon’

The Ravena brothers were the first Filipino talents to take their acts to the B.League.

Thirdy blazed the trail when he signed with the San-En Neophoenix in 2020 before Kiefer followed suit when he joined the Shiga Lakes the following year.

The two were part of the Gilas Pilipinas team that settled for the silver medal at the 2021 Southeast Asian Games in Hanoi, Vietnam.

Thirdy is currently a free agent after playing for Dubai Basketball in the ABA League and EuroLeague.

Oleksandr Usyk has responded to Derek Chisora’s bold prediction that Rico Verhoeven will pull off a monumental upset in Egypt.

The Dutch kickboxer is considered an almighty underdog as he attempts to dethrone Usyk, the bona fide heavyweight king, at Egypt’s Pyramids of Giza.

Having had just one professional boxing match, against an opponent who retired with an 0-6 record, it is clear to see why Verhoeven is such an outsider.

Still, he managed to score a second-round finish over Janos Finfera in 2014, but this came at a level that the likes of Usyk are hardly familiar with.

Instead, the Ukrainian is far more accustomed to facing world-class opposition, with his last six outings involving two victories over Tyson Fury, Anthony Joshua and Daniel Dubois, respectively.

His consistency at the highest level can therefore explain why he has become a three-time, two-division undisputed champion, considered by many as the sport’s No.1 pound-for-pound operator.

Yet somehow, heavyweight veteran Chisora has backed Verhoeven to climb Mount Everest without an oxygen mask, or indeed the relevant experience to tackle such a formidable challenge.

In response, though, Usyk has told Boxing King Media that his former opponent, who he unanimously outpointed in 2020, is merely going against the grain in an effort to stir up trouble.

“Derek, you’re crazy. [These are] only words – blah, blah, blah.”

Some have credited Chisora for giving Usyk one of his toughest tests, applying non-stop pressure in an attempt to disrupt the masterful southpaw’s rhythm.

Since then, though, the former cruiserweight king has only gone from strength to strength, progressively establishing himself as a fully-fledged heavyweight champion.