Congo’s famous living statue finally made his World Cup debut on Tuesday.
Michel Nkuka Mboladinga, who gained fame during the Africa Cup of Nations for posing as a statue of Congo’s assassinated independence leader Patrice Lumumba for the entirety of games, attended Congo’s 1-0 loss to Colombia after missing its opener against Portugal because of Ebola quarantine requirements.
Lumumba Vea, as the sharply dressed supporter is known for his resemblance to the slain leader, was at his seat about an hour before the game at Estadio Akron. He wore a bright red jacket and tie, yellow shirt and blue pants. When the game began, he stood motionless on a pedestal behind the Congo bench with his right arm raised.
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Nkuka Mboladinga was a few minutes late back to the pedestal after halftime, but he stood there until the end and even a few minutes after the final whistle.
He did not want to be interview but nodded and smiled when asked if he was happy to have finally made it to the World Cup.
Congo played Portugal to a 1-1 draw last week in Houston.
Nkuka Mboladinga also missed Congo’s World Cup playoff match against Jamaica earlier this year – when his nation secured a return to the tournament after 52 years – because he was unable to get a visa in time. He had traveled to Kenya and then Ethiopia in a bid to get a visa for the game, which was also played in Guadalajara.
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Nkuka Mboladinga became a social media sensation at the Africa Cup for posing as a statue of Lumumba on a pedestal with his right hand raised and standing still throughout games.
Lumumba was an activist who helped to end Belgium’s colonial rule over Congo in 1960. He became the newly independent country’s first prime minister and was seen as one of Africa’s most promising leaders, but he was assassinated within a year during a struggle against a Belgian-backed secessionist movement in the mineral-rich Katanga region.
A Belgian court in March ordered a 93-year-old former diplomat to stand trial for the slaying. Etienne Davignon, who previously denied wrongdoing, is the last living among 10 Belgians suspected of involvement in the killing and has been charged with “participation in war crimes” for his role in the “unlawful detention and transfer” of Lumumba.
Northern Ireland’s upcoming Nations League campaign and EURO 2028 qualifiers will be broadcast live on the BBC.
The free-to-air agreement between the broadcaster and Uefa will see an extension of the current deal until June 2028, and will also include Scotland and Wales internationals as the BBC maintains its commitment to make international football accessible to all.
In the build-up to the 2028 Uefa European Championship, hosted by the UK and the Republic of Ireland, there will be around 60 live games available between the three nations, while the tournament itself will be broadcast live on the BBC.
The extension builds upon a hugely successful partnership that has made the BBC the home of international football for Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales since the initial deal was struck in March 2025, with live action available on BBC television, BBC iPlayer and BBC Sounds.
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Audiences have reflected the appetite for live international football, with an average UK-wide audience of 1.11m tuning in for Northern Ireland’s World Cup qualifier against Germany, with 121,000 people watching in Northern Ireland alone.
Wales’ exit and Scotland’s dramatic qualification win over Denmark also saw audiences over 1m, while Steve Clarke’s side’s recent World Cup opener against Haiti drew a peak audience of 2.8 million viewers on BBC One and iPlayer, despite a 02:00 BST kick-off.
“Extending this agreement is fantastic news for football fans across Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, ensuring every match is available live and free-to-air on the BBC,” said Rhuanedd Richards, Interim Director of BBC Nations.
“These fixtures bring communities together and deliver some of the biggest shared moments in our sporting calendar. We’re proud to continue telling these stories and showcasing our nations’ teams.”
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Alex Kay-Jelski, Director of BBC Sport, added: “International football creates moments that unite communities, spark national pride and generate huge audiences across every platform.
“We’re delighted to extend our partnership with Uefa and continue bringing every Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland men’s international match to fans free-to-air.
“Whether watching on television, streaming on iPlayer or following through the BBC Sport website, app or our social channels, audiences can be sure the BBC will be there for every crucial moment on the road to Uefa Euro 2028.”
BBC coverage of the Fifa World Cup continues throughout the tournament, including Scotland’s match against Brazil this evening at 23:00 BST on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
The Dianna Russini-Mike Vrabel scandal continues to shock the NFL world, even months after it began. The NFL reporter and the New England Patriots coach were photographed together at a luxury resort in Sedona, Arizona. While she shrugged off the rumors at first, she resigned from her job at The Athletic a few days later after the company launched an investigation.
The Athletic’s parent company, The New York Times, revealed details of the investigation on Wednesday. Russini is believed to have violated the firm’s strict journalistic codes.
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“The Athletic’s editorial guidelines include language addressing relationships between its journalists and the people they cover,” the report read. “Under a section titled ‘Transparency,’ the publication says reporters should avoid even the appearance of a conflict of interest and reveal those sources or affiliations that may put into question our ability to be credible.”
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“Ms. Russini did not alert editors to any conflicts of interest, according to the Times Company spokeswoman.”
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Kelly McBride, the chair of the Newmark Center for Ethics at the Poynter Institute, added that if a journalist has a close platonic relationship with a source, they should bring in their bosses to discuss how that would look to the public. According to her, Russini could have told the news outlet that she was friends with Vrabel and gotten another assignment.
Tony Farmer raises questions about Dianna Russini’s role in Mike Vrabel’s Patriots arrival
Podcaster Tony Farmer sparked debate on Tuesday by suggesting that former reporter Dianna Russini may have played a part in creating tension between Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots, leading to Vrabel taking up the coaching role in 2025.
“Did Dianna Russini and Mike Vrabel work together to create tension in the media and nudge Bill Belichick out of New England to create a job opening for Mike?” Farmer tweeted. “IDK, but this might explain Jordon Hudson’s shade toward Russini recently. If the Pats were the destination all along, it would explain why Mike took a year off from coaching too.”
Farmer also pointed to reports suggesting that some Patriots players favored hiring Vrabel immediately after Belichick’s exit, despite the team’s plans to move forward with Jerod Mayo.
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He attached a November 2023 article by Russini discussing a potential split between Belichick and the Patriots. Vrabel arrived in New England in January 2025 and guided the franchise to a Super Bowl appearance in his first season.
DR Congo’s hopes of reaching the World Cup knockout stage suffered a major setback after a 1-0 defeat to Colombia in Guadalajara.
A deflected strike from Colombia wing-back Daniel Munoz in the 76th minute proved enough to separate the two teams in a closely contested Group K encounter.
The result secured Colombia’s place in the last 32 after their second consecutive win, while DR Congo dropped to third place in the group standings.
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DR Congo worked hard to keep Colombia at bay for much of the game, with goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi making several important saves. However, they were finally beaten when Juan Fernando Quintero’s pass found Munoz, whose shot took a slight deflection before finding the net.
The Congolese side pushed for an equaliser in the closing stages but could not break through Colombia’s defence.
The defeat means DR Congo must now beat Uzbekistan in their final group match on Saturday and hope other results go their way to keep their World Cup dream alive.
Play at Wimbledon qualifying at Roehampton was suspended for over an hour due to a power outage that caused the tournament’s Electronic Line Calling (ELC) system to fail amid extreme heat.
ELC replaced replaced line judges at Wimbledon last year, but the system was accidentally deactivated during the match between Anastasia Pavlyuchenkov and Sonay Kartal, due to “human error”.
Wimbledon qualifying takes place away from the All England Club, at Roehampton (PA)
Speaking ahead of this year’s Wimbledon, chief executive of the All England Club Sally Bolton said there was confidence in the system – but the extreme heat is likely to have played a part in this latest outage.
“There was a temporary loss of power to part of our Qualifying venue, which meant that the electronic line calling system could not function,” a spokesperson for the All England Club said. “Power has now been restored and play is expected to resume shortly.”
The tournament is operating under an extreme heat weather warning, with the first priority being the welfare of players and guests. Although it is understood it is likely the heat was a factor in the outage, a full investigation will be undertaken in due course.
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On the BBC, presenter Annabel Croft said it had been a “very challenging day”, with temperatures expected to rise to 37C later in the day.
Britain’s Dan Evans, looking to reach a final Wimbledon before his planned retirement, was one of those impacted by the delay as he lost in the second round of qualifying against Tristan Schoolkate, the Australian 28th seed closing out a 7-5 6-0 win when play resumed.
Schoolkate said of the issues in his post-match interview on the BBC: “It is not usually this hot in London, so it was unexpected – it usually rains a bit.
“I don’t think it was a heat thing, maybe it had something to do with the electronics and all that, but you get time to gather your thoughts. It was a bit strange, but I was just glad I came out of the gates pretty hot there.”
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Wimbledon has a heat rule in place for this year’s tournament and players are allowed to request a 10-minute break when the heat stress index is at or above 30.1C.
The heat stress index accounts for air temperature, humidity and surface temperature – creating a ‘feels-like’ reading that is also known as the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature [WGBT].
The heat stress index will be measured 30 minutes before the start of play, then at 2pm and then at 5pm. The 10-minute break would take place between the second and third sets for women’s singles matches and between the third and fourth sets for men’s matches.
A rare red weather warning for extreme heat has come into force across large parts of the county, as Britons have been told to stay out of the sun for a four-hour period.
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Record-breaking temperatures of 40C are expected on Wednesday, with the Met Office alert stretching from London across to Somerset and Swansea, and up towards Birmingham, until 9pm on Thursday.
People have been warned to stay out of the sun between 11am and 3pm as the severe heat is expected to cause a danger to life, while Network Rail has advised passengers to only travel if “absolutely necessary”.
Extreme heat has played a part in both of this season’s tennis grand slams, with temperatures of 46C at the Australian Open and a heatwave hitting the French Open, too.
Defending Wimbledon champion Jannik Sinner has at times struggled in the heat, and was knocked out of the French Open during a sweltering second round.
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Wimbledon recorded its hottest opening day at last year’s Championship and the heat could be a significant factor once again across the fortnight, which begins on Monday 28 June.
France have looked like the team to beat so far. Kylian Mbappe looks in great shape and seems driven by the memory of the 2022 final, when his hat trick wasn’t enough to prevent defeat. With his current form, even Messi’s newly set World Cup scoring record may not be out of reach.
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2
Argentina
What more can be said about Messi? Five goals in two games, a new World Cup record with 18 goals, and another masterclass on the biggest stage. He’s carrying Argentina once again, but as the tournament progresses, they’ll need his teammates to start contributing more as well.
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3
Spain
After the disappointing draw against Cabo Verde in their opening match, they showed exactly why they are considered one of the favorites to win the World Cup. Scoring four goals against Saudi Arabia was a statement of intent. Now, they face a tougher challenge against Marcelo Bielsa’s Uruguay.
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4
Portugal
We were waiting for Cristiano Ronaldo and he finally delivered two goals that led Portugal to their first World Cup win this summer. He also became the first player to score in six different editions of the World Cup.
1
5
England
Such a disappointing performance and 0-0 result against Ghana on Tuesday. There are already some questions about Thomas Tuchel and his decisions ahead of the tournament, such not including Cole Palmer in the squad traveling to the World Cup.
1
6
Brazil
Beating Haiti is exactly what we expected from them after their opening draw against Morocco. Now comes the real test: Scotland.
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7
Norway
If some people were confused by their position in the rankings, those doubts may start to fade after the first two games. Now they face France, and we’ll get a much clearer picture of their true potential in this tournament.
1
8
Morocco
What a team and what a World Cup so far! Ismael Saibari needs to be considered among the best players of the tournament so far.
1
9
Netherlands
Winning 5-1 against Sweden was a big statement from them and they needed it after a disappointing debut against Japan.
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10
Germany
They won both matches against Ivory Coast and Curacao. They also won the group stage, but I’m still not 100% convinced about their performances so far.
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11
Colombia
Two games, two wins, Round of 32 clinched and Luis Diaz is one of the best players of the tournament. They are a dangerous underdog.
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12
United States
Despite the absence of Christian Pulisic, Mauricio Pochettino’s USMNT delivered another convincing performance. Surprising? Not really. This is why they are still in the position I ranked them ahead of the World Cup.
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13
Japan
I’m in love with this team. After drawing against Netherlands, they won 4-0 against Tunisia. They play incredibly well and this is only helping.
1
14
Mexico
Another solid performance and clinched round of 32 qualification with one game to go. Their dream continues.
3
15
Sweden
Won 5-1 against Tunisia and lost 5-1 to Netherlands: Which is the real version of this team? We will figure it out against Japan.
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16
Uruguay
One of the biggest disappointments so far. Two games, two draws against Saudi Arabia and Cabo Verde. Things might get tricky now, considering they need to face Spain in the last match.
3
17
Switzerland
They are back. After drawing the first match against Qatar, they bounced back and won against Bosnia-Herzegovina pretty easily.
2
18
Ivory Coast
They lost against Germany, but they showed why they are a strong team and now they need a win against Curacao.
4
19
Egypt
Mo Salah scored, because of course he did, this is the World Cup of stars. Up next: Iran.
6
20
Croatia
Winning against Panama was what we expected from them: It’s now time to show what they are capable of against Ghana, who drew against England.
Maybe we overestimated their experience, but facing England, this team especially, was a big task. It was sad to see a legend like Luka Modric making a crucial mistake that led to the first goal.
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21
Senegal
Disappointing. Yes, they were drawn into a tough group with France and Norway, but coming away with zero points is still a disappointing return for the 2025 AFCON finalists. Now, everything comes down to the final match against Iraq.
5
22
Scotland
Everything will be decided in the last match against Brazil after losing to Morocco in the second game of the group.
4
23
Ecuador
The draw against Curacao was a historic result for the other team and now they need to beat Germany in their final group match to have a chance of advancing. That’s a very tough task.
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24
Iran
Despite all their struggles and the tensions between their country and the United States, they’ve handled enormous pressure extremely well. It’s possible, though unlikely they could end up facing the U.S. in a round of 16 match.
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25
Belgium
What is going on here? I wasn’t expecting this roster to set the world on fire, but I figured they could at least manage one win.Belgium’s golden generation is nearing its end, and it showed in their opening match. While Romelu Lukaku made a difference off the bench and played a key role in Egypt’s own goal, a draw is simply not the statement Belgium needed to make.
4
26
Canada
We should praise them and Jesse Marsch. Now it’s time to make history and qualify for knockout phase for the first time ever.
3
27
Korea Republic
They are where we expected to be, in contention for a second place in the group with Mexico, Czechia and South Africa.
1
28
Austria
Yes, they could have done better against Argentina, but let’s be honest: What can you do against this version of Lionel Messi?
1
29
Ghana
What a performance against England. They looked solid against one of the favorites to win the tournament.
2
30
Paraguay
If people thought they’d roll over against Turkiye, they were all wrong. Paraguay is now in a good spot for a place in the round of 32.
6
31
Czechia
Despite having a pretty solid team, they will probably just be able to play one round of the knockouts before getting sent home by better opposition.
1
32
Algeria
By far, one of the most impressive performances of the second round. After losing to Argentina at the debut, they bounced back and made a comeback against Jordan.
11
33
Cabo Verde
If we thought that the first draw against Spain was a miracle, the second one against Uruguay told us much more about this national team and their impressive debut at the World Cup.
5
34
Bosnia-Herzegovina
After a convincing debut against Canada, they lost to Switzerland in the second game, but they still can make it to the round of 32 in the last game against Qatar. Advance and the USMNT likely awaits.
2
35
DR Congo
Their first time at the World Cup since 1974. After a historic draw against Portugal, they only lost by one goal to Colombia, one of the best teams of the tournament. They can actually make history and advance with a result vs. Uzbekistan.
4
36
Saudi Arabia
Their opening draw against Uruguay means they’re alive ahead of the last game of the group against Cabo Verde. They have a chance to play in the knockout stages despite a heavy loss against Spain.
1
37
Qatar
After their last-minute draw against Switzerland we couldn’t expect such a downfall, but a horrible leg-breaking tackle and two red cards contributed to a 6-0 loss to Canada.
4
38
Australia
We probably had too many expectations after their win against Turkiye, but the United States exposed them in the second game of the group phase.
4
39
Curacao
What a story! They might be eliminated this week when they face Ivory Coast, but who cares? First goal at the World Cup against Germany, first draw against Ecuador. They made history.
9
40
New Zealand
Losing to Egypt in their second match of the group stage makes it much more difficult to hope for a historic qualification to the knockouts.
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41
South Africa
They started off badly and lost to Mexico in the opening match of the tournament but bounced back and drew 1-1 against Czechia. They still have a little chance to advance.
5
42
Iraq
Conceded seven goals in two games against France and Norway, but aren’t technically eliminated. Next up: Senegal.
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43
Uzbekistan
They don’t have much chance to play in the round of 32. The side coached by 2006 World Cup winner Fabio Cannavaro had their tournament all but ended by losing 5-0 to Portugal.
4
44
Panama
ELIMINATED — Despite playing against Ghana and Croatia, not easy opponents, they were able to show why they were back at the World Cup for a second time since 2018.
1
45
Tunisia
ELIMINATED — They made history at this World Cup by sacking Sabri Lamouchi after the defeat against Sweden and replacing him with Herve Renard in the middle of the tournament. Didn’t help much
8
46
Haiti
ELIMINATED — They were just unlucky to meet Brazil, Morocco and Scotland in what was probably the most challenging group of the World Cup.
5
47
Jordan
ELIMINATED –They played their first ever World Cup and they have already made history. At least they will have a chance to face Lionel Messi’Argentina in their last match of the group phase.
3
48
Turkiye
ELIMINATED — I’ll be completely honest: I thought they could become one of the surprises of this tournament, with so many talented players. They registered 62 shots in two games and failed to score a single goal: The most shots without a goal by a team in a single World Cup since 1966.
The final Signature Event of the year begins Thursday when the 2026 Travelers Championship tees off from TPC River Highlands in Cromwell, Conn. The event’s signature status and proximity to last week’s U.S. Open lead to a loaded 2026 Travelers Championship field that features all the top-ranked players on tour with the exception of Rory McIlroy. Scottie Scheffler is the +440 favorite (risk $100 to win $440) in the 2026 Travelers Championship odds via FanDuel Sportsbook.
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SportsLine’s proprietary model, built by DFS pro Mike McClure, simulated every PGA Tour event 10,000 times and reveals golf betting picks that have a history of being extremely profitable.
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This same model has also nailed a whopping 17 majors entering the weekend, including the 2026 Masters — its fifth Masters in a row — as well as last year’s PGA Championship and Open Championship. Anyone who has followed its sports betting picks could have seen massive returns on betting sites.
One major surprise the model is calling for at the Travelers Championship 2026: Young, who is one of the favorites at +2200, stumbles and finishes outside the top 10. He’s a golfer to fade in Travelers Championship best bets. He was arguably the hottest player on tour earlier in the spring, but he’s cooled off in the last few events. He’s finished outside the top 25 in his past three events, including a T43 at the U.S. Open, so the model isn’t confident in him as a top contender this week. See who else to fade here.
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Another surprise: Justin Thomas is a top-5 contender on the projected leaderboard despite never having won a major and having slightly longer odds at +2500. Thomas has been steady recently, finishing no worse than T19 in any event since the start of May. He was one of the few golfers with two sub-70 rounds at Shinnecock Hills last week, and he has three top-10 finishes at the Travelers Championship. See who else to pick here.
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San Francisco 49ers quarterback Mac Jones loosens up before a road game against the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The former first-round passer prepared for action on November 2, 2025, as his future role remained a topic of discussion around the league entering the second half of the season. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-Imagn Images.
Before Kyler Murray signed with the Minnesota Vikings in March, some fans and media members believed Minnesota could swing a trade for San Francisco 49ers QB2 Mac Jones as the quarterback insurance behind J.J. McCarthy in 2026.
Jones to Minnesota became moot in a hurry when Murray signed on the Vikings’ dotted line, but now, thanks to Bleacher Report, the Jones rumor mill has resurged.
Bleacher Report Says Vikings Could Revisit the Jones Option
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Mac Jones delivers a pass against the New Orleans Saints during action at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans. The veteran passer made plays through the air on September 14, 2025, while handling starting duties for San Francisco during the early portion of the regular season. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images.
BR: Vikings Should Consider Trading for Jones
Teams like the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Cleveland Browns made the cut on Mo Moton’s list that detailed trade destinations for Jones, and the Vikings were not excluded.
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He wrote, “The Minnesota Vikings made a low-risk, high-reward move in signing quarterback Kyler Murray, who’s only under contract for the 2026 season. He’s the favorite to win the starting job over J.J. McCarthy, according to ESPN’s Kevin Seifert.”
“Though even if Murray has a bounce-back year, the Vikings may not keep him around for the long term. Remember, they allowed Sam Darnold to walk after his first Pro Bowl campaign. Minnesota can get ahead of the rising cost of the quarterback market by acquiring Jones and signing him to an extension after the 2026 term if Murray does enough to spike his 2027 market value.”
Jones played marvelously in 2025 when Brock Purdy got hurt.
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“Jones will also be a free agent next year, but he won’t be able to demand as much as a starting quarterback with decent passing numbers. The Vikings could make the playoffs with Murray, which would likely push them out of range for a top 2027 quarterback prospect,” Moton continued.
“Instead of earmarking significant cap space for him or hoping for a trade-up in next year’s draft, they can acquire and extend Jones to stabilize their quarterback room.”
Jones’ Career Production
Jones’s career has unfolded in three distinct chapters. His rookie season in New England suggested a very promising future as a long-term starter, as he amassed 3,801 yards and 22 touchdowns, even leading the Patriots to the playoffs. But subsequent seasons saw a decline in both his performance and the team’s success. Over the 2022 and 2023 seasons, he registered a less impressive 24 touchdowns against 23 interceptions — so, a sophomore slump that didn’t end.
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A fresh start arrived in 2024 with the Jacksonville Jaguars after the Patriots moved on, where Jones started 7 games and stabilized his play enough to remain relevant. The true test, however, arrived in San Francisco. In 2025, he started 8 games while Brock Purdy was injured, going 5-3. During that period, Jones completed an impressive 69.6% of his passes, throwing for 2,151 yards, 13 touchdowns, and six interceptions.
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Mac Jones fires downfield against the Arizona Cardinals during the first half at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara. Jones directed the offense on September 21, 2025, while making another start for San Francisco and continuing a productive stretch during the middle portion of the regular season. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images.
Across five seasons, Jones has accumulated 12,741 passing yards, 67 touchdowns, and 50 interceptions. While he may not fulfill the “franchise savior” expectations once held for him, his displayed solid play that emulated Malik Willis last year in Green Bay.
Moton thinks the Vikings are an option for that tale.
Probably a 2027 Free Agency Idea if Vikings’ QBs Fail
Moton’s article outlines teams that should trade for Jones by November’s trade deadline. By then, Minnesota will know the early returns from the Murray experiment or how McCarthy is trending in Year No. 3. Depending on quarterback injuries around the league, San Francisco will likely price-gouge Jones, only selling if it can grab a 2nd- or 3rd-Rounder, for example. He’s one of the best backup passers in the league, and Purdy isn’t necessarily Iron Man. The 49ers won’t sell short.
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Meanwhile, Minnesota has a new general manager, Nolan Teasley, who probably isn’t eager to peddle his draft picks before selecting a single rookie. Teasley took over a few weeks ago; Rob Brzezinski steered the ship during April’s draft.
If Murray and McCarthy wholly fail in 2026, Jones is a talker for the Vikings during the 2027 offseason — when he will be “free” in free agency. Why donate a handsome draft pick to San Francisco in November when Minnesota could, theoretically, sign Jones outright in March?
Another Sam Darnold in the Making?
A team will give Jones a shot at the QB1 job before too long. Based on his 2025 production — 8 starts — he’d bank 4,570 passing yards, 28 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions when scaled to 17 games.
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Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Mac Jones and New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers meet after their game at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville. The two veteran passers shared a moment on the field following the December 15, 2024 matchup, with Jones closing his season in Jacksonville before later joining the San Francisco 49ers. Mandatory Credit: Morgan Tencza-Imagn Images.
In a league that re-empowered Sam Darnold and Baker Mayfield to thrive — the aforementioned Willis may be next in Miami — Jones won’t be excluded from second chances. One could argue that he played just as well as Purdy last season.
It may not be the Vikings, especially via trade in 2026, but Jones’s story is far from over. He could be the go-to guy via trade this season when a QB1 from a Super Bowl contender inevitably gets hurt.
Jones will turn 28 in September.
Dustin Baker is a novelist and political scientist. His second novel, The Invaders , is out now. So is … More about Dustin Baker
Man Utd are in the market for a Casemiro replacement this summer, but face competition to sign Mateus Fernandes.
It’s a skill to know when to walk away from a transfer target and Manchester United may be getting close to that point with Matues Fernandes.
United identified an opportunity with Fernandes following West Ham’s relegation, but Tottenham have come to the table, and the noise from the capital suggests they are willing to meet the £85million asking price.
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Tottenham can offer higher wages to Fernandes. United are not out of the running for the midfielder, and the player’s preference will be decisive, but a sensible club must have a contingency plan.
That’s how United landed on Fernandes as a target this summer in the first place. Elliot Anderson was the priority, but it became clear that Nottingham Forest’s valuation would make a deal impossible to do.
The numbers from last season alone show Fernandes would be a decent second choice to Anderson. He won more tackles and made more accurate switches of play. He wasn’t far behind Anderson on ground duels won, possessions won, and possessions won in the defensive third.
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The data boffins will have to crunch the numbers again if Fernandes cannot be signed, though, and perhaps Borussia Dortmund’s rising star Felix Nmecha should be in the running to make a switch to United.
Nmecha has started both of Germany’s games at the World Cup this summer, making a strong impression. He scored and assisted against Curacao, and assisted against the Ivory Coast.
“The more he plays like he did the other night, the more expensive he’ll get,” said Gary Neville after Germany’s win over the Ivory Coast. “He looked outstanding the other night. It looked like he had absolutely everything.”
Ian Wright praised Nmecha, saying: “When you look at him, he breaks lines, he gets into the box, he’s got Kimmich to come in and fill in for him. He can play as a No.8 or No.10, we can see he can finish, you can see why teams are interested in him. He’s got everything.”
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Nmecha’s varied skillset in midfield makes him an attractive option. He predominantly played as a defensive midfielder for Dortmund last season, but as Wright observed, he has the quality to go forward.
Fernandes has a varied skillset as well. He excelled playing in a deeper midfield role for West Ham, but he played as a No.8 for Southampton and played as a No.10 during his time in Portugal.
You should never make a move for a player on the back of a few positive performances at the World Cup, but Nmecha’s quality has been obvious in his displays for Dortmund in the Bundesliga and the Champions League.
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If United do seriously consider Nmecha as an alternative to Fernandes, they will be drawn to the fact that he’s a homegrown player, as Premier League rules require at least eight players in a 25-man squad to be homegrown.
The Premier League’s definition of a homegrown player is any player who has been trained by a club in the United Kingdom for at least three years before their 21st birthday.
The Champions League’s definition is slightly different, as UEFA requires clubs to register eight homegrown players, however, four of those have to be ‘club-trained’, while the other four can be trained by other English academies. A club homegrown player is someone who has been in the club for three years between the ages of 15 and 21.
Nmecha came through Manchester City’s academy before returning to the country where he was born, Germany, in the summer of 2021 on a free transfer. He impressed for Wolfsburg and joined Dortmund two years later.
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City can sometimes allow talent from their academy to slip through their net. Nmecha was viewed as a decent prospect, but the extent of his improvement may surprise staff at the club.
The City link with Nmecha means Jason Wilcox is familiar with him. Wilcox is currently United’s director of football, but he previously spent almost six years working as City’s academy director.
The homegrown status and having a link with Wilcox are two big ticks in Nmecha’s box with a view to a potential transfer to Old Trafford. Those will not be the factors United solely base a decision on, but they are advantageous.
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Nmecha knows Manchester well, having spent his formative years in the city, and joining United from Dortmund would be a step up. It’s also worth noting that his older brother Lukas returned to Germany after progressing through City’s academy, then came back to England.
Lukas Nmecha scored six Premier League goals for Leeds last season. Felix would obviously be nearer his brother, with who he has a strong relationship, if he moved to Manchester this summer.
The move would make a lot of sense for United, and a lot of sense for Nmecha should Fernandes move out of reach.
Manchester United land ownership latest after Old Trafford project update – Manchester Evening News
Need to know
Man Utd announced they had reached a deal to acquire a key plot of land for their new stadium project on Monday.
What the new Old Trafford could look like.(Image: Manchester United)
All you need to know about Manchester United’s land ownership around Old Trafford…
The Manchester Evening News contacted United to confirm which land the club now owns, and a graphic has been included at the bottom of this article to highlight that land, and the Freightliner-owned land behind the Stretford End.
After striking a deal with Indurent, who have sold the land in the top left corner of the graphic, United now own a significant portion of land around Old Trafford to accommodate a 100,000-seater stadium.
The plot of land acquired is a 25-acre triangle, located between Wharfside Way, Europa Way and John Gilbert Way. United have acquired the majority of the plot, but there is still some to purchase – although club sources have said no problems are expected.
Now that the land has been secured, Foster + Partners can resume design work after sharing initial impressions last year.
United estimated that a new stadium alone would cost £2billion, but an updated estimate in 2026 could double costs. The club is already saddled with a record level of £1.3bn debt.
The project will be financed privately, and “positive conversations” with potential investors and stakeholders are ongoing. United will sell the naming rights of the new stadium to raise capital.
Earlier this year, The Sponsor compiled a European stadium naming fair market value report, which outlined that United could bank around £15m per season, equating to £150m over 10 years.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe initially floated the idea of taxpayers partly funding the project, but that notion was rejected by politicians.
United have earmarked July 9 to announce more stadium details, including further details of the stadium site, and to reveal the formal consultation period.
Man Utd must have eight homegrown players in their Premier League squad if they want to submit a 25-man list.
Manchester United will likely have to sign another homegrown player if they want to submit a 25-man squad to the Premier League for next season.
United submitted a 21-man squad to the Premier League last summer, bolstered by several first-team regulars being named in the Under-21 section (U21s do not need to be registered).
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The list that was resubmitted after January was extended to a 23-man squad, but United are expected to name a maximum of 25 players for 2026/27, in which the club could play 60 games or more across all competitions.
Premier League rules require at least eight players in a 25-man squad to be homegrown. The Premier League’s definition of a homegrown player is any player who has been trained by a club in the United Kingdom for at least three years before their 21st birthday.
A club’s U21 players are not included on the 25-man squad lists. These players are also eligible to play in the Premier League.
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The Champions League’s definition is slightly different, as UEFA requires clubs to register eight homegrown players, however, four of those have to be ‘club-trained’, while the other four can be trained by other English academies. A club homegrown player is someone who has been at the club for three years between the ages of 15 and 21.
The members of United’s squad who are eligible for Premier League homegrown status are Tom Heaton, Dermot Mee, Harry Maguire, Luke Shaw, Kobbie Mainoo, Toby Collyer, Mason Mount and Amad.
That makes up eight homegrown players, but Collyer’s future is uncertain after spending a season on loan in the Championship. The 22-year-old wants to play regular football at this stage of his career, and all options for a departure are on the table this summer.
If Collyer leaves, which is likely, United would have to add another homegrown player to the squad, which partly explains why the Reds are interested in goalkeepers Karl Dalow and Sam Johnstone. Goalkeeper Radek Vitek would qualify as homegrown but he looks like he could leave this summer.
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Mainoo and Dorgu were both U21 players last season, but they have since turned 21. Ayden Heaven and Leny Yoro do not have to be included on the list because both defenders are still below the age of 21.
United’s potential 25-man Premier League squad
Goalkeepers: Tom Heaton*, Dermot Mee*, Senne Lammens, new signing.
Defenders: Harry Maguire*, Luke Shaw*, Kobbie Mainoo*, Patrick Dorgu, Diogo Dalot, Matthijs de Ligt, Lisandro Martinez, Noussair Mazraoui, new signing.
Midfielders: Mason Mount*, Toby Collyer*, Bruno Fernandes, Manuel Ugarte, Ederson, new signing.
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Forwards: Amad*, Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo, Benjamin Sesko, Joshua Zirkzee, new signing.
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