The Minnesota Vikings may or may not have a hole at the OLB3 position in 2026, depending on the maturation of young in-house candidates like Bo Richter, Tyler Batty, and Chaz Chambliss. The club could also utilize second-year defensive tackle Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins in an EDGE capacity or bring rookie off-ball linebacker Jake Golday along sooner than expected in a hybrid OLB function.

Or — the club could sign Za’Darius Smith for cheap, who stopped by Minnesota in 2022 and reached the Pro Bowl that year.

Vikings Could Use Another Proven Rotational Rusher

Smith Out in PHI

The Philadelphia Eagles parted ways with Smith earlier this month, as PennLive‘s Johnny McGonical wrote, “The Philadelphia Eagles made a flurry of moves on Wednesday, signing edge rusher A.J. Epenesa and guard Michael Jordan while cutting ties with a pair of reserves. But one more move might have been lost in the shuffle. The Eagles released edge rusher Za’Darius Smith from the reserve/retired list.”

“That makes Smith a free agent, months after abruptly retiring from football. There’s no word on if Smith will keep playing. But now the three-time Pro Bowl edge rusher is free to sign with another team and continue his career, if he so chooses.”

Smith is 33 and could have a season or two left in the tank, especially as a situational pass rusher. Some Vikings fans have thought since his release: Why not Minnesota?

Career Stats and Recent Downturn

Smith remains a viable option for an OLB3, so long as expectations are tempered and folks are not anticipating his 2022 performance.

His career statistics are impressive: 145 games, 98 starts, 70.5 sacks, 87 tackles for loss, 176 quarterback hits, 16 passes defensed, 10 forced fumbles, and 3 Pro Bowl selections. He was particularly effective with Green Bay and Minnesota, accumulating 36 sacks in three full seasons between 2019 and 2022.

His tenure with the Vikings was notably strong, featuring 44 tackles, 15 tackles for loss, 24 quarterback hits, and 10 sacks, earning him consideration for Comeback Player of the Year.

Concerns now primarily revolve around his age. His 2023 stint with the Eagles yielded only 1.5 sacks in five games. Nevertheless, Pro Football Focus still assigned him a favorable pass rush grade — 77.7 — which is obviously crucial for the would-be Vikings role.

As an OLB3 supporting Andrew Van Ginkel and Dallas Turner, Smith is a sensible choice, especially as an economical rotational rusher.

A Wise Fit in Minnesota?

Smith knows the Vikings — and even most of the current coaching staff, stopping by Minnesota after his Packers chapter in 2022. He curiously asked for a ticket out of town after just one productive season, but in all likelihood, he has a positive opinion of Kevin O’Connell.

And let’s face it — what else is he going to do? He’s winding down his career, and NFL teams won’t bang on his door in full force. He’d also have the perk of joining a Top 3 defense, led by Brian Flores, over the last few years.

For Minnesota, it might just need a seasoned pass rusher who can get after quarterbacks on 3rd Down and be in line for spot starting duty if Van Ginkel and Turner miss time. Smith isn’t unfathomably old; he can likely still start in a pinch.

Overall, a reunion angle makes sense, and Smith can likely be signed for a few million bucks.

SI.com‘s Will Ragatz wrote this week, “On paper, Smith has the kind of skill set that should work in a Flores defense. He can line up on the edge or present a blitz look in the A gap. He’s always been a solid run defender, even if that’s not the most notable part of his game. The three-time Pro Bowler has all kinds of experience in various schemes from his 11 seasons with six different teams.”

The Other Options in Free Agency

Suppose Smith does not move the needle for the Vikings in summer free agency, but they still want a veteran OLB. The options are plentiful:

• Derek Barnett
• Haason Reddick
• Jadeveon Clowney
• Joey Bosa
• Kyle Van Noy
• Leonard Floyd
• Marcus Davenport
• Preston Smith
• Von Miller

Bosa and Clowney, for example, will be more expensive than Smith, but the moral of the story is that a litany of EDGE options remains.

Smith will turn 34 in September. New Vikings general manager Nolan Teasley has about $13 million to spend on free agents, more than enough to sign Smith if he’s in the mood.

For cheap, the guy seems like a wise choice for OLB insurance. Why not?

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

Group G remains the most finely balanced group at the FIFA World Cup 2026 after Belgium and Iran played out a goalless draw in Los Angeles. With both teams now on two points and New Zealand and Egypt still set to play their second group-stage fixture, the race for the Round of 32 remains completely open.

Belgium were forced to settle for a point despite entering the match as favourites, while Iran produced a disciplined display to remain firmly in contention for qualification.

Belgium: Qualification Still In Their Hands

Despite failing to score against Iran and finishing the match with 10 men, Belgium remain well-positioned.

The Red Devils know that victory over New Zealand in their final group game would take them to five points, a tally that would put them in a strong position to qualify either as a top-two side or potentially as one of the best third-placed teams.

However, another draw would leave Belgium vulnerable depending on the result between Egypt and Iran.

Iran: One Win Could Be Enough

Iran have quietly put together two solid performances and remain unbeaten after consecutive draws.

A victory against Egypt in their final group match would move them to five points and likely secure qualification to the Round of 32.

Even a draw could leave them in contention if Belgium fail to beat New Zealand.

Having already avoided defeat against both New Zealand and Belgium, Iran have given themselves an excellent chance of progressing.

New Zealand: Opportunity Knocks

The All Whites have played only once so far, drawing 2-2 with Iran.

A win over Egypt would send New Zealand to four points and put them in pole position ahead of their final clash against Belgium.

With two matches remaining, New Zealand arguably hold the strongest position in the group despite currently sitting outside the top two.

Egypt: Must Capitalise

Egypt also remain very much alive after their opening draw with Belgium.

A victory over New Zealand would move the Pharaohs to four points and significantly boost their chances ahead of the final-day meeting with Iran.

However, another draw would leave them needing a result in their final match and potentially relying on goal difference.

Can Any Team Qualify After Matchday Two?

No team can mathematically secure qualification after Belgium’s draw with Iran.

However:

• 
  A New Zealand win over Egypt would take them to four points and leave them needing only a draw against Belgium on the final day.
• 
  An Egypt win would put the North Africans in a similar position.
• 
  A draw between New Zealand and Egypt would leave all four teams separated by just one point heading into the final round of fixtures.

Unlike several other groups where favourites have already begun separating themselves from the pack, Group G remains impossible to predict. With Belgium yet to win, Iran unbeaten, and both New Zealand and Egypt still capable of moving to four points, qualification may not be decided until the final whistle of the last group-stage matches on June 26.

The battle for the Round of 32 is shaping up to be one of the most dramatic races of the tournament.

INGLEWOOD, Calif. — By the time Iran goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand faced a who’s who of Belgium attackers midway through the second half on Sunday, he and his teammates had already gone through an unusual set of circumstances to start their World Cup. The USA’s war with Iran wreaked havoc over their travel schedules, first shifting them from a previously planned base camp in Tucson, Ariz. to one in Tijuana, Mexico. Then came the domino effect — quick trips in and out of Los Angeles for their opening games, visa issues and modified training sessions to account for their travel woes. Compared to their opponents, Belgium, a squad used to preparing for games in peak physical condition, Iran were as classic an underdog as one might expect. Once Leandro Trossard combined with Kevin de Bruyne before Maxim De Cuyper had the ball at his feet, the fact that the game was goalless seemed certain to end.

Beiranvand, though, made the save.

It was one of several notable moments from the shot-stopper, ensuring Iran would hold Belgium to a scoreless draw at SoFi Stadium that would keep them firmly in the mix for a knockout berth with one game left in Group G. They were no ordinary underdogs considering the geopolitics surrounding their World Cup journey but that is not the only reason why – and why the day was not full of silver linings.

“To be honest, the feeling in the dressing room is that we could have [gotten] even more than what we [got] today,” forward Alireza Jahanbakhsh said after the game.

Belgium may have been the favorites but early on in the game, it was clear they were not overwhelmingly in charge of the game. They ultimately outshot Iran 23-7 but seven shots on target and 1.79 expected goals, while an effective tally, is not exactly a sign of efficiency. Beiranvand’s heroics played a big role – midfielder Saman Ghoddos, who was wearing Beiranvand’s jersey post-match because “I didn’t have a shirt,” called him ” the best goalkeeper in the history of our country.” The two teams did not feel all that far apart, though. Iran had their chances and thought they had a goal in the first half before it was called off for offside, while Iran played a man up after Nathan Ngoy‘s 66th-minute red card. A draw, then, felt fair for all.

That was especially true given the circumstances. Before their first game, a 2-2 draw against New Zealand on Monday, Iran spent hours stuck in immigration despite the trip from Tijuana to Los Angeles taking just 45 minutes via plane, leading Mehdi Taremi to declare that “everything is a disaster.” Before Sunday’s game, they had a different type of travel issue – head coach Amir Ghalenoei said FIFA offered to fly them out at 6 p.m. local time on Friday but the plane never turned up, only to then be told midway through their training session on Saturday that they had to leave. Entry to the U.S. was smooth from there but it meant preparation was far from ideal.

“We came into the World Cup under the worst possible conditions,” he noted, “and still we got a result against a great team and a great manager. We played a beautiful game.”

The journey is not necessarily slated to get easier. Ghalenoei said they have received permission to travel earlier for Friday’s game against Egypt at Seattle’s Lumen Field considering the distance from Tijuana, though he continued to complain about their exit from the Los Angeles area on Sunday. The Iran team left the stadium shortly after 4 p.m. local time to return to Tijuana and though same-day travel for games that kick off as early as noon is not uncommon – the U.S. men’s national team left Seattle for their base camp in Irvine, Calif., after the 2-0 win over Australia on Friday – Ghalenoei did not find it to be ideal.

“We need to recover and then … we have to fly back,” he said. “We don’t even have enough time to recover. Tomorrow we will look at [today’s] game and look at the game with Egypt. Right now, we need recovery. Sixteen hours, two flights and a heavy game. I don’t think anyone could have endured this. And our players have given everything. What we need the most now is to recover.”

Sunday’s game, though, offers a certain amount of optimism that they just might be able to keep their World Cup going despite the circumstances around it. They and Belgium both tied their opening games, meaning top spot in Group G will still be up for grabs when all four teams – including Egypt and New Zealand – hit the pitch in simultaneous kickoffs in Seattle and Vancouver, British Columbia on Friday. A second or third place finish could also get them into the round of 32, optimism the prevailing sentiment as Jahanbakhsh and Ghoddos made their post-match remarks.

Iran’s team have also found solace in Tijuana, Mexican fans supporting the players in both games in the Los Angeles area so far at the World Cup. The players have been quick to heap praise on the community around them at their base camp, as well as those who made their way to SoFi Stadium from the border city.

“Since we are there, we keep hearing: Iran, hermano, ya eres mexicano,” Jahanbakhsh said while comfortably slipping into Spanish briefly, quoting a phrase that translates to “Iran, brother, you are Mexican now.”

“Wherever we go, we hear this,” he added. “It shows how much love they give us and that makes it a lot easier and I think for everyone of us, it feels kind of [like] home when we are there in Tijuana and them coming all the way over here to support us, it means a lot to us. At least we are [there for] another four, five days.”

Jahanbakhsh was also thankful for the fans of Iran’s team, who once again filled out a stadium in the focal point of the nation’s diaspora. Sentiment remains mixed as an oppressive regime in Iran continues to reign, fans once again bringing to SoFi Stadium the Lion and Sun flag that has become a visible signal of opposition to the country’s rulers. Jeers could also be heard during the national anthem, Jahanbakhsh the latest in a string of players to take a neutral tone on the clashing opinions that surround the team.

“There are a couple of things that we have in common with all the Iranians everywhere in the world. One is Team Melli,” Jahanbakhsh said, citing the team’s nickname, before name-dropping two regional culinary delights, “one is ghormeh sabzi and one is tahdig”

If, in the end, things go sideways at quarterback, then the Vikings will need to hit reset going into 2027. Quite possibly, that will involve moving on from Kevin O’Connell, but that’s a bit of speculation for a different day.

Who would the passer be to compete for the job if things fizzle?

Right now, Kyler Murray is looking to overcome J.J. McCarthy for the QB1 job. Next up is Carson Wentz, an elder statesman who is in town as an ideal QB3. Wentz can get inserted with essentially zero preparation before doing a nice job; Minnesota values that reality. Otherwise, Max Brosmer is the young fella being developed slowly, but his likeliest spot is on the practice squad.

A future where none of these passers are around beyond the current year is unlikely but not impossible.

Seattle’s Jalen Milroe as The Passer to Watch in 2027

In March of 2025, Minnesota said goodbye to Sam Darnold; Seattle then said hello to Sam Darnold. The rest is history (as they say).

The old GM got canned. The new GM came to town after doing tremendously well with the Seahawks. Already, the effort to improve the roster has involved bringing over talent from the Seahawks. Most of that has occurred around the edges of the roster, but do note that three of the four new players have a connection to The Emerald City.

Does that path back to the Pacific Northwest involve snagging Jalen Milroe?

The backup passer for Seattle isn’t going to usurp Darnold. The 29-year-old quarterback led his team to a Super Bowl victory while pushing Jaxon Smith-Njigba into the conversation for best WR in the NFL. He’s close to untouchable. Milroe can continue hanging around as an upside backup but that may not be the best use of the young arm for more than just another year or two.

Quite possibly, a trade will occur.

Chosen at No. 92 in the 2025 NFL Draft, Milroe is far from a lock to develop into a strong QB1 in the NFL. Part of what he has going for him is the history of soaking up wisdom from a strong starter while getting coached up by Mike Macdonald’s impressive staff.

Consider what was said about Milroe going into his draft by Lance Zierlein of the NFL’s website: “Milroe is an explosive athlete who is very capable outside the pocket, but he lacks accuracy, touch and decision-making when he’s inside the pocket. A lack of anticipation and timing leads to interceptions and contested throws to intermediate areas of the field. He has an NFL arm, but he might need to fine-tune his footwork and delivery to improve accuracy on all three levels. He can get through his reads when he’s confident and feels protected but becomes predictable and easier for defenses to manipulate when he’s rattled.”

More: “He’s built like a Will linebacker, runs like a receiver and is a threat to hit the home run on called runs and scrambles. Milroe was a much better deep-ball passer in 2023, but his 2024 regression makes it harder to project success from the pocket at a high enough rate to become a capable NFL starter. A strong arm and elite speed will have teams intrigued, but if he doesn’t make it as a starter, it’s incumbent upon his team to find a way to get the ball in his hands with packaged plays.”

Talented but raw, Jalen Milroe will have benefited from watching and learning without the starter’s spotlight. Maybe that will serve him well.

Nolan Teasley will know the passer well. So, too, will he be getting a good understanding of the in-house talent in Minnesota. There’s essentially zero chance of a swap during 2026. What could occur, though, is a future trade.

Seattle doesn’t appear likely to keep Milroe over the long-term since Darnold has worked out so well. Trading Milroe is a way to recoup value from the QB-starved NFL.

Minnesota doesn’t have much certainty beyond the reality of promise. The current quarterbacks are talented and are in the midst of a battle. If anyone emerges from the passers to put the starting position into a stable spot remains to be seen.

Jalen Milroe, 23, is going into his sophomore season. Teams will be calling to see if he’s available before too long.

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

SOUTHAMPTON, N.Y. — Wyndham Clark arrived at Shinnecock Hills on Sunday knowing that his name would be etched in history. Either he would capture his second U.S. Open title in the last four years or he would join an infamous list of players to blow a massive lead at the 54-hole mark in a major championship as he entered the deciding day a half dozen clear of his closest competitor.

There was no in between with Clark, and perhaps that was always the point.

Much has been made about Clark the person this week as he slept on the lead on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. He will sleep with the U.S. Open trophy on Sunday. But when one gets put into that position, they got put under a microscope. It’s part of the deal. For better or worse, almost everything is revealed and people latch on.

The smashed and destroyed locker at Oakmont Country Club after last year’s U.S. Open. The thrown driver that damaged a sponsorship sign at the PGA Championship and came close to hitting a volunteer. Some eyebrow raising rulings, head-scratching quotes and apology attempts. 

There’s more than a few to latch onto.

All of them put Clark’s character at the forefront of the conversation. All of it overshadowed Clark the golfer and what the American was accomplishing around a brutally tough Shinnecock Hills. All of it came to a boiling point as he made the slow stride from the driving range to the first tee Sunday afternoon. 

2026 U.S. Open prize money, purse: Payouts, breakdown for Wyndham Clark, field from record $22.5 million pool

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Robby Kalland

A long embrace with his mental coach and a deep breath ensued, and then Clark entered the arena knowing he’d be up against it, knowing it would all be used against him.

There was no mistaking who those lining the fairways of Shinnecock Hills were cheering for on a picture perfect New York summer day. It was not Scottie Scheffler. It was not Sam Burns. It was not Tom Kim. 

It was anybody but Clark. Anybody who would make this tournament interesting. 

“Man, they definitely didn’t want me to win,” Clark said with the trophy shining right next to him in the champions press conference. “It’s pretty rare in an Open Championship or a major to have fans kind of boo against your shots or cheer for bad shots.

“That was tough, but sometimes being the underdog is nice. I was in ’23, and I kind of did the same thing. Anytime someone said something negative to me, I replaced it with something positive. You know, some of it’s self-deserved. I kind of brought it on myself, but I also get it, too. Scottie was going for the career Grand Slam, and it hasn’t happened very often.

“It was tough, but I’m proud of myself that I battled through. Things really could have gotten away from me. I stood tough. I would have liked to have won by more, but as long as you win, it doesn’t matter.”

Around every turn and in between every hole, those outside the ropes let him have it. A constant barrage of jeers, with cheers being produced only when he took a misstep. A tunnel of naysayers felt suffocating to walk through as excitement rose with the dust only when a ball would fall off line.

It reached the point on the back nine that fans summoned others away from the golf course to lend a helping hand. Those on site turned to their phone to FaceTime friends so that they could get in on the action. Additional insults were hurled from miles away.

Clark heard them all.

“I was kind of making jokes about it with Dave where if we heard someone cheer for me, I’d go, ‘Oh, there’s one person that likes me.’ So we would kind of make jokes and make it maybe a little light-hearted,” Clark said. “But it’s tough, man. I’ve played now a Presidents Cup and Ryder Cup on foreign soil, and it kind of had that atmosphere a little bit.

“I also got good prep last week in Canada. They were pretty harsh on me the last day, so I think that all of that combined kind of led to this moment where, all right, I’ve been in this position. It sucks being the underdog or getting rooted against, but I can pull through, and there’s nothing like winning kind of an away game, if you will.”

Clark took his fair share of punches on Sunday — some self-inflicted, others not. He made a horrible bogey on the par-5 5th and turned in 3 over on the front nine alone. He helped make this a golf tournament as much as Burns and the other pursuers. 

But he also threw some, too. 

Clark landed a body blow on No. 10 after Scheffler rolled in a birdie bid before him. Little applause it caused.

The fans countered a few holes later as it felt as if the grandstand behind the 13th hole willed his ball off the green. It stopped and started to trickle away from the pin only when the noise around the surface started to reach new levels. This back-and-forth was continuous.

It was relentless.

It was nonstop.

It kept coming wave after wave, hole after hole.

Groans for good shots. Claps and high fives for the bad.

But Clark had the last laugh as he threw the last punch in the form of an uppercut on the par-5 16th. Out of position off the tee and without the best look for a birdie, Clark summoned his putter again to drain a 24-footer, as he would a couple holes later for his championship-sealing two-putt par.

Clark emerged from the ringer and came out the other side as a two-time U.S. Open champion. Something only Tiger Woods, Bryson DeChambeau, Retief Goosen and Brooks Koepka have accomplished in the 2000s. Cheers and applause were muted for Clark’s addition to this list, but the few were more than hard-earned. 

He climbed up the path towards the sun and the clubhouse and was greeted by his peers — players, caddies, members of the traveling circus that is professional golf. The respect was apparent.

All week, Clark has voiced his regret for his past actions. He has been peppered again and again about his past indiscretions. 

On Friday, he said this:

“I’m hoping I can win back the fans that I had or some new fans because it was a terrible incident. You know, I really feel like I can show people that I’m fun and outgoing, I’m fierce, competitive, love the game, respect the game, and I just had a bad moment. 

“Hopefully I can win those people back. I definitely feel like I’m in a better place. Hopefully a great weekend and great rest of the year, maybe I’ll gain all those fans back.”

Whether you believe in his contrition is not really the point. You can like Clark. You can dislike him. You can wish that he did not win. You can hope it is his last major championship victory. This is sport after all. Opinions about those in the arena are half the fun. If everyone was vanilla, the game would lose its taste.

But after a performance like that in an environment like that — one few if any of his peers have experienced en route to a major championship — you have to respect him. 

It’s the other part of the sports equation, and much like Clark himself, there’s no in between on that.

“I sure hope it closes the door on it,” Clark said. “I figured in my mind that this would maybe be the last time just because it’s one year removed. I’ll probably always get them, but I hope I don’t become the heel of the PGA [Tour]. 

“I guess if I am, any press is good press, right?”

Ivory Coast striker Elye Wahi has been denied entry to Canada ahead of the “Elephants’” World Cup game against Germany in Toronto on Saturday due to match-fixing allegations.

Wahi, who is under contract at German Bundesliga club Eintracht Frankfurt but was on loan at French Ligue 1 side OGC Nice last season, is currently being investigated by authorities in Marseille in connection to allegations of “organized fraud, organized sports corruption, handling of proceeds of crime and money laundering,” according to a statement provided to The New York Times (NYT).

Ivory Coast: What is Elye Wahi alleged to have done?

The allegations concern in particular a Ligue 1 fixture between Nice and FC Metz (0-0) on May 17 in which the 23-year-old is alleged to have intentionally picked up a yellow card.

In a statement, the French Football League (LFP) said they had been made aware of “an unusual volume of bets relating to a booking involving the player Elye Wahi.”

According to the NYT, Wahi was arrested on by French police on May 29 – just hours after scoring two goals in a play-off win against AS St. Etienne, which kept Nice in Ligue 1 – but was released without charge as investigations continued.

Having not been charged with a crime, Wahi’s entry into the United States, where Ivory Coast are based and where Wahi started in a 1-0 win over Ecuador in Philadelphia on Sunday, was deemed unproblematic.

Elye Wahi: Ivorian federation express support

But Canadian authorities have taken a stricter line, with the Ivorian Football Federation (FIF) confirming on Thursday that the “necessary administrative authorization for [Wahi’s] entry into Canadian territory could not be obtained at this stage.”

They said Wahi would therefore “remain in the United States pending the team’s return” ahead of Ivory Coast’s third Group E game against Curacao in Philadelphia on Thursday.

“At this particularly delicate time, the FIF extends its full support to the player and reaffirms its confidence in him,” concluded the statement, adding that “Elye Wahi remains an important element of the Ivory Coast national team.”

Canada: Ghana’s Partey also denied entry

Wahi is not the first player to be denied entry to Canada due to ongoing investigations abroad.

Last week, Ghana‘s Thomas Partey was refused a Canadian visa due to rape and sexual abuse charges in the United Kingdom, to which he has pleaded not guilty.

Wahi was born in Paris and represented France at youth level before opting to play for Ivory Coast. He has since made three appearances for the Elephants.

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The allegations could also have ramifications for Eintracht Frankfurt who, following the season-long loan to Nice and the World Cup, would have been hoping to sell Wahi in order to fund the permanent signing of French striker Arnaud Kalimuendo from Nottingham Forest.