Defensive tackle Caleb Banks boasts massive potential, in no small part due to his massive abilities and massive frame. The 6’6″ young fella comes in quite close to 330 pounds, meaning he’s unusually large even for within NFL trenches.

The Vikings’ 1st-Round selection therefore boasts ample potential.

Standing in his way has been a foot injury that he’s still working to fully overcome. Head coach Kevin O’Connell took on the issue when chatting with a media a few days ago, bringing things around to his usual optimism. Coach O’Connell has been quite consistent in the insistence that training camp is the preferred timeline for seeing Banks return to the field. Apparently, that broad outlook remains.

The Vikings’ 1st-Round Selection is Gaining Ground

“We’ve received really, really positive reviews,” O’Connell clarified.

He then offered a few more thoughts: “Had the offseason continued, he probably would’ve started to get some work in some of the individual drills and then progress him into some of the team stuff.” Banks, in other words, has been taking good steps forward. O’Connell said that things are looking so good that seeing OTAs and minicamp continue would have involved Banks getting into the on-field work rather than just focusing on his recovery.

And then there’s the football end of things. Banks appears to be understanding everything at a really nice level, which is never a sure thing for a young lad who is moving into one of the most complicated defenses in the NFL.

“I will say this,” O’Connell said when pivoting off the health update, “the feedback I’m getting from the coaches — Ryan Nielsen, Flo, Pat Hill — has been phenomenal as far as his ability to hear information, retain it, and apply it. There’s a lot of different ways we can be activating Caleb’s brain and the above-the-neck challenge of learning Flo’s intricate system.”

“I’m excited about where he’s at, and that’s not even talking about the big reason to be excited about Caleb is the physical ability and presence of a guy that big, that strong, that fast in the middle of your defense,” O’Connell concluded.

— READ MORE: Kevin O’Connell Did Clarify a Key Detail in Vikings’ QB Battle —
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— READ MORE: A Vikings Lineman Has Been Gaining Ground for Job Opening —

Kevin O’Connell, as is his wont, is laying down a pile of different thoughts within the update.

For starters, Banks is doing well within his recovery. A foot injury robbed him of most of his 2025 season before another foot injury at the NFL Combine further diminished his shot at getting picked super high. Minnesota’s leadership felt like they got great value at No. 18 since a fully healthy Caleb Banks would have gone in the top ten picks of the 2026 NFL Draft (so they say, at least).

There’s then the word about Banks offering a strong understanding of the scheme. Crushing the classroom component of things is important. Players can play fast when the brain is quiet; conversely, players play slow when there’s too much thinking. Banks would therefore do well to continue showing off his high football aptitude.

But then there’s the intersection of those two things — injury and the mental workload — for the Vikings’ 1st-Round selection: Caleb Banks needs to get on the field before too long. He can do so by being physically healthy and by having a mental understanding of his job.

O’Connell’s answer swerves toward what’s missing at the end. Banks is a hulking, incredibly-imposing person. Soon enough, Banks needs to put his physical gifts to work by getting onto the field so that he can create a ruckus at the line of scrimmage.

The best way he can do so is by A) getting healthy and B) mastering the scheme. Per O’Connell, both are well underway. He can then C) capitalize on his massive ability to be a presence from 2026 onward.

Caleb Banks is 23.

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

On an annual basis, the Vikings inspire hope for what the batch of UDFA talent is capable of accomplishing. The 2026 haul is no different, but it’s helpful to shrink things down to the Vikings’ top 3 names to know.

Prior to hiring GM Nolan Teasley, Rob Brzezinski was getting the final call on roster decisions. He continued the longstanding pattern of being aggressive once the 7th Round finished off (PurplePTSD offers the full tally of UDFA deals). Check out a trio of youngsters — one for each offense, defense, and specials — to track in the offseason competition.

The Vikings’ Top 3 UDFA Talents to Know

No. 1 — WR Dillon Bell

Already, Mr. Bell has inspired plenty of optimism.

Spending some time watching him at minicamp clarified why there’s so much buzz. The rookie receiver boasts good size and knows how to cut violently. Athletic trainers are going to need more tape to fix up the broken ankles of the poor defensive backs trying to slow Bell down.

Best case for him in 2026 is a job as the WR4. So, too, does he have a shot to play a large role on special teams. The kickoff returner job is wide open and he’s battling with Myles Price to be the PR1 (but appears unlikely to overcome Price).

Expect lots of highlights of Dillon Bell during the offseason. Lots of potential.

No. 2 — P Brett Thorson

If the only criteria were punting the ball, then Brett Thorson would have a better chance of making the final roster. What’s a touch uncertain, though, is his ability as a holder.

Consider what special teams coordinator Matt Daniels had to say: “I watched over 300 snaps of this guy at practice and there’s no issue with the holding.” More broadly, Daniels did say that Thorson has good hands.

Now, the obvious caveat: practice isn’t a game (cue the Allen Iverson video). Holding becomes much more difficult when there are massive linemen trying to disrupt the play as 65,000 Minnesota fans go berserk in the stands. Can Thorson do well in that environment? What about when the wind is swirling at Soldier Field or when there’s a blizzard at Lambeau?

Thorson offers a booming punt, capable of giving his team healthy field position. He’s operating under a UDFA contract that sees $90,000 guaranteed, per OTC. Not a bad payday for an undrafted punter but not a hindrance for cutting him.

No. 3 — S Jacob Thomas

In April, the Vikings added a young safety named Jakoke Thomas in the 3rd Round. He is 22 and is listed as being 6’1″ and 211 pounds. After the draft concluded, there was then a move to add Jacob Thomas. The 22-year-old safety is listed at 6’1″ and 212 pounds.

So, a touch confusing.

The UDFA safety was listed as the 131st overall safety among 937 who qualified for the PFF ranking last year. He boasted a healthy 77.9 grade for James Madison. Most impressive is his 86.3 pass rush grade.

The safety played 320 snaps in the box, 250 as a free safety, 156 in the slot, 57 along the d-line, and 4 as a wide corner. Consider, as well, that he offered his team a pile of snaps on specials, playing a substantial role on kickoff coverage, punt coverage, punt return, and FG/XP block.

Minnesota gave the young lad $160,000 guaranteed to become a Viking.

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

A potentially heavy track at Flemington has prompted Michael Kent Jnr to divert Bustling’s racing comeback to Sydney for Saturday’s engagement.

The former Perth galloper is now third-up in this preparation after an extended period away from the racetrack, which spanned more than 18 months.

Now a four-year-old, Bustling was initially entered for a comparable 1100-metre race at Flemington. However, he will now compete in the Cactus Imaging Handicap (1200m) at Randwick. Currently, the lightly raced gelding is second favourite at $4, trailing Bjorn Baker’s Amazing Eagle, according to leading Aussie betting sites.

“We made the decision after I spoke to (track manager) Liam O’Keefe at Flemington and they are expecting a Heavy 8 and then I spoke to Mike Woods at the ATC and they are expecting a Soft 5 or maybe a touch better at Randwick,” Kent Jnr explained.

“He’s a Perth horse and he wants to get on top of the ground. All our feedback from whether it was Mark Zahra at the trials or Craig Williams last start is that he is better on top of the ground.”

After finishing unplaced in the Group 2 Run To The Rose (1200m) at Rosehill in September 2024, his subsequent start at Caulfield on May 9 was followed by a second-place finish in the Listed Bel Esprit Stakes (1100m) contested on heavy going three weeks later.

Drawing on the success of other horses that have undergone lengthy spell periods, a more substantial Bustling presented a challenge for Kent Jnr and co-trainer Mick Price to prepare the winner of four races from eight starts for his return.

“We’re very happy with the horse and he’s had a perfect preparation,” Kent Jnr stated.

“We were working off two years of fat and he’s a big, impressive sprinting type now and has been making natural improvement in his races.

“He never had any major injury but more so it was frustrating that every time we would bring him in, a different minor wheel would fall off so he had to go back out again. He just got out of shape but he this time has been 100% sound the whole way through.

“I’m looking at horses like Jigsaw and Giga Kick who had similar long layoffs and they’ve come back and performed at a very high level.”

Further afield, the stable has Naifah entered for the Listed Gai Waterhouse Classic (1200m) at Ipswich, following her fifth-place finish in the Listed Helen Coughlan Stakes (1200m) at Eagle Farm on May 30.

Naifah is currently assessed as a $7 chance in the final race at Ipswich on Saturday, according to popular betting apps Australia. She has drawn barrier 14, which effectively becomes barrier 12 after scratchings.

“It was a pretty decent listed race last time, a strong race,” Kent Jnr commented.

“If you could bet in the run and you could imagine that she gets across into a good spot from that awkward gate, and down with the 53.5 kilos, she’s quite well in.”

Bustling is a strong contender in the Cactus Imaging Handicap at Randwick, and those interested in the race can find competitive sports betting options.

The second round of Group C fixtures at FIFA World Cup 2026 could have a major impact on the race for the Round of 32 tonight. Scotland and Morocco meet in a clash between two sides that impressed in their opening matches, while Brazil will look to kick-start their campaign against a determined Haiti side in Philadelphia. With qualification scenarios beginning to take shape, both fixtures carry significant weight.

Scotland vs Morocco: Group Leaders Face Tournament Dark Horses

Scotland head into their second Group C match full of confidence after ending a 28-year wait for a World Cup victory with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Haiti. Steve Clarke’s side currently sit at the top of the group, but they face a far sterner challenge against a Morocco team that looked one of the most impressive African sides in the opening round.

The Atlas Lions earned a 1-1 draw against Brazil and arguably deserved more after producing a disciplined and energetic performance against the five-time world champions. Having already proved their credentials with a historic semifinal run in 2022, Morocco appear determined to show that success was no one-off achievement.

Scotland will need to withstand Morocco’s fast starts and attacking threat, particularly down the right flank where captain Achraf Hakimi and Brahim Diaz have developed a dangerous partnership. Young midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi has also emerged as one of the breakout performers of the tournament, while Ismael Saibari arrives with confidence after scoring against Brazil.

Brazil vs Haiti: Pressure Mounts on Selecao in Philadelphia

Brazil enter their meeting with Haiti knowing that three points are essential after a disappointing 1-1 draw against Morocco in their tournament opener. Carlo Ancelotti’s side remain among the favourites for the title, but their first performance raised questions about their sharpness and creativity.

The clash at Lincoln Financial Field promises an intriguing tactical battle. Both teams enjoyed strong possession numbers in their opening matches and completed over 85 percent of their passes, suggesting midfield control could be decisive.

Brazil generated 12 shots and five efforts on target against Morocco, with Vinicius Junior providing the standout moment. Haiti, despite losing 1-0 to Scotland, produced 15 shots and showed plenty of attacking intent, although only two of those attempts tested the goalkeeper.

Defensively, Brazil will again rely on the experience of Marquinhos and Gabriel Magalhaes, who were heavily involved in build-up play during the opener. Haiti’s backline also impressed on the ball, with Ricardo Adé and Hannes Delcroix helping the Caribbean side maintain possession and launch attacks from deep.

The starting XIs

Scotland will start with five defenders, compared ​to four in their opening Group C win against Haiti, with Nathan Patterson and ​Kieran ‌Tierney being brought into ⁠the side as coach Steve Clarke bolstered his backline.

The Moroccans are unchanged from their opening match, with ​a four-man defence and striker Brahim ​Diaz up front.

Scotland: Angus ​Gunn; Kieran Tierney, Andy Robertson, Grant Hanley, Jack Hendry, ​Nathan Patterson; Scott McTominay, John McGinn, Ryan Christie, Lewis Ferguson; Che Adams

Morocco: Yassine Bounou; Achraf Hakimi, Issa Diop, Chadi Riad, ⁠Noussair Mazraoui; Ayyoub Bouaddi, Azzedine Ounahi, Ismael Saibari, Bilal ⁠El ​Khannouss, Neil El Aynaoui, Brahim Diaz.

Read moreWorld Cup 2026: All the fixtures

(FRANCE 24 with AFP, Reuters, AP)

Betfred Super League

Hull KR (10) 22

Tries: Burgess, Hiku, Whitbread, Leyland Goals: Martin 3

Leigh (4) 8

Tries: Alick-Wiencke, Hodgson

Reigning Super League champions Hull KR battled to a deserved win over Leigh Leopards.

The home side took the lead through Joe Burgess’ 17th try of the season and Peta Hiku’s score added to their advantage before Jacob Alick-Wiencke got the away side on the scoreboard to make it 10-4 at the break.

The Robins lost Burgess to what looked like a shoulder injury in the opening minutes of the second half.

Further tries from Jai Whitbread and Bill Leyland moved the game away from the visitors to leave Bailey Hodgson’s late effort nothing more than a consolation.

Victory moved Willie Peters’ men two points behind second-placed Warrington.

Leigh, who had won their past three since losing to Rovers last month, remain seventh.

More to follow.

Hull KR: Broadbent, Davies, Hiku, Martin, Burgess, Lewis, May, Sue, Lawton, Amone, Hadley, Batchelor, Minchella.

Interchanges: Luckley, Whitbread, Leyland, Pangai Junior.

Leigh: Armstrong, Senior, Niu, Hanley, Hodgson, Cook, O’Brien, Ofahengaue, Ipape, Mulhern, Halton, Alick-Wiencke, Liu.

Interchanges: Brogan, Pene, Davis, Horne.

Referee: Chris Kendall.

Akwa Ibom’s rising tennis stars, Etoro Bassey and Favour James, have continued to make the state proud with impressive performances at the ongoing CBN National Tennis Open in Abuja.

Etoro Bassey booked her place in the women’s singles semi-finals after a series of dominant displays. The talented youngster, who won a silver medal at the NDDC Games in Benin earlier this year, produced one of the standout results of the tournament by defeating Plateau State’s Suwa Nenrot, the NDDC Games gold medallist, 6-1, 6-0 in the quarter-finals.

Her journey to the last four began with a convincing 6-1, 6-0 victory over Kadijat Salami of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in the opening round. She followed that up with a hard-fought 6-3, 6-4 win against Mary Azi, also from the FCT, to secure her place in the quarter-finals.

The success story has not been limited to the singles event. In the women’s doubles category, the Akwa Ibom duo of Etoro Bassey and Favour James have also advanced to the semi-finals. The pair defeated Gloria Samuel and Daisy Ukechukwu 6-2, 7-5 in the quarter-finals to continue their impressive run in the competition.

The semi-final matches are scheduled to take place on June 19, 2026, at the Tennis Complex of the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja.

Etoro Bassey’s rapid rise in Nigerian tennis continues to attract attention from stakeholders and followers of the sport. Her consistent performances on the national stage have strengthened hopes that she could soon earn opportunities to represent Nigeria in international competitions.

The achievements of Bassey and James also reflect the growing development of tennis in Akwa Ibom State, where support from the state tennis association has played a key role in nurturing young talents and providing them with opportunities to compete at the highest level.

The U.S. men’s national team and Australia kicked off at 3 p.m. ET from Seattle Stadium.

The United States’ second World Cup match once again got off to a dream start when Australia’s Cameron Burgess scored an own goal in the 10th minute, giving the Americans an early lead in the group stage matchup.

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Folarin Balogun and Antonee Robinson celebrate after Australia’s Cameron Burgess scored an own goal, giving the United States the first goal in Seattle, Washington on June 19, 2026. (Troy Wayrynen/Imagn Images)

Fans inside the packed Seattle stadium roared as the USMNT seized the early 1-0 advantage.

Benefiting from an own goal at the World Cup is rare. But capitalizing from one in back-to-back matches is unprecedented. Friday’s match against Australia marked the first time in FIFA men’s World Cup history that the same team gained an advantage from own goals in consecutive games.

Across the tournament’s history, only France has benefited from more own goals than the United States.

United States fans celebrate at the U.S. Soccer House in Venice, California, on June 19, 2026, after Australia’s Cameron Burgess scored an own goal giving the United States its first score in a FIFA World Cup Group Stage – Group D match. (William Navarro/Imagn Images)

In the 42nd minute, Alex Freeman scored to increase the American’s lead to 2-0.

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How to Watch United States vs Australia

When: Friday, June 19, 2026, at 3 p.m. ET

Where: Lumen Field, Seattle, Washington

TV: FOX

Stream: Watch on FOX One and FOX Sports.

This is a developing story, check back for updates.

New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart is preparing for his second season with the team after a strong rookie year. During his offseason preparations, Dart and his girlfriend, Marissa Ayers, watched the New York Knicks win their historic NBA title.

Dart and Ayers attended the Knicks’ NBA Finals series against the San Antonio Spurs earlier this month. Following the Knicks’ championship parade on Thursday, Ayers shared behind-the-scenes moments of the couple’s trip to San Antonio for Game 5.

“My New York rookie year is off to a great start,” Ayers captioned her post.

The carousel post featured pictures of the duo in Knicks jerseys at Frost Bank Center. A picture also featured the pair on a private plane.

Ayers and Dart reportedly started dating last season and the duo confirmed their relationship on social media in January. Ayers also shared in a TikTok video in February that she planned to move to New York to support her career as a content creator.

Also Read: Jaxson Dart’s gf Marissa Ayers celebrates Knicks’ 50-year wait for an NBA title with cheerful 4-word message

Also Read: “Acting like he already won Super Bowl”: NFL fans react as Jaxson Dart & GF Marissa Ayers get spotted at USA’s FIFA WC game

Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart spends time with girlfriend Marissa Ayers in offseason

Jaxson Dart and his girlfriend Marissa Ayers witnessed the Knicks end their 53-year-long championship drought by defeating the Spurs 94-90 in Game 5 in San Antonio.

Following the Knicks’ first title in more than five decades, Ayers shared a four-word message in her Instagram story.

“Knicks in 5 babyyyyy!!!!” Ayers wrote in her story.

Apart from the NBA Finals, Dart and Ayers also attended the USA’s first game of the 2026 FIFA World Cup against Paraguay at Los Angeles Stadium earlier this month.

Dart attended the Miami Swim Week to watch his girlfriend make her runway debut earlier this month. Dart was seen filming Ayers as she strutted down the runway in a purple bikini.