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VT Chats with DT Domonique Orange: “Don’t Get it Twisted: I Can Pass Rush”

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NCAA Football: Iowa at Iowa State
Sep 6, 2025; Ames, Iowa, USA; Iowa State Cyclones defensive lineman Domonique Orange (95) celebrates after a play against the Iowa Hawkeyes during the second half at Jack Trice Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reese Strickland-Imagn Images

DT Domonique Orange is a charming, energetic guy.

He and I had a quick chat following the Vikings and Ravens joint practice at TCO Performance Center. Along the way, Orange talked about his power as a defensive tackle, his impression of joint practices, and whether the scouting report about his pass rush (or lack thereof) was warranted.

VT Chats with Domonique Orange

Domonique Orange’s “Big Citrus” moniker is well earned. The Vikings list him as being 6’2″ and 322 pounds (numbers I won’t dispute).

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Obviously, there’s a game taking place with the young fella’s last name: Orange = Citrus. But then there’s his hulking size. Even against NFL linemen Orange stands out as being particularly large and rugged. As it turns out, Orange can get into the backfield, as well.

“I know I’m a run stuffer,” Orange said, “but don’t get it twisted: I can pass rush.” Not long afterwards, the DT clarified that a lot of his college responsibility was to “take on triple teams, double teams, and I take that with pride.” And then a great quote: “Yeah, I’m going to push against that scouting report a little bit. Of course I’m going to take pride in playing the run but I can rush the passer.”

NCAA Football: Iowa State at Texas Christian
Nov 8, 2025; Fort Worth, Texas, USA; TCU Horned Frogs running back Kevorian Barnes (2) is tackled by Iowa State Cyclones linebacker Cael Brezina (9) and linebacker Rylan Barnes (41) and defensive lineman Domonique Orange (95) during the first half at Amon G. Carter Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images – Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Check out the play Mr. Orange and I discussed:

He chatted for a bit about his various pass rush moves, bringing things back to power by describing his bull rush. Playing off that is a double-swipe move to get an o-lineman’s hands off of him.

In fact, I asked Orange to physically show me how the swipe is done. I put my arms out and asked him to swipe them away. Reader, I’m not embarrassed to admit that I prefaced my participation with the caveat that he please not hurt me or throw me to the ground. Anybody who has played or coached ball knows that physically doing the rep can be very illuminating.

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So, too, can he integrate a swim into the mix for his bull rush: “It’s hard, but it’s definitely possible.” He’s probably not going to remind onlookers of Everson Griffen but it’s in there.

Oh, and maybe a touch late, but check out what Lance Zierlein had to say in his scouting report: “Orange is a sturdy nose tackle capable of muddying the middle of the field with his first-step quickness and take-on power. His reaction time makes it hard to reach-block him in zone and he has the anchor to play landlord over the A-gaps against double-teams. He gets bounced around on contact but is excellent in recovery and winning the final phase of the rep. Orange is a non-factor as a pass rusher, but his value versus the run should attract teams.”

NCAA Football: Iowa at Iowa State
Sep 6, 2025; Ames, Iowa, USA; Iowa State Cyclones defensive lineman Domonique Orange (95) reacts after a play against the Iowa Hawkeyes during the second half at Jack Trice Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reese Strickland-Imagn Images

Across four seasons in college, Domonique Orange picked up just a single sack. Not great, right?

Sacks are wonderful but the single number is precisely that: a single number. A defensive tackle who drives the center directly back into the QB’s lap — think back to when Akiem Hicks would push Garrett Bradbury directly into Kirk Cousins — is offering a fantastic pass-rush rep even if there’s not an added “1” in the player’s sack column.

Moreover, Domonique Orange raised a good point when clarifying that he was tasked with playing a specific role in his college defense. Soaking up blockers isn’t glamorous but it allows the team more broadly to shine since linebackers can run free.

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Asked about his impression of joint practices, Orange began with the admission that there was “a lot more fighting than I thought.” More broadly, Orange felt as though he “did really well” while still insisting that he’s looking to improve.

Domonique Orange will take the field yet again tomorrow as he looks to build off a solid day of work.

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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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Maltese Cross wins Great Voltigeur for Haggas & Marquand

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20 August 2026

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Maltese Cross (9/4) turned the tables on the Ballydoyle-trained colts in the Group 2 Sky Bet Great Voltigeur at York on Wednesday afternoon.

Trained by William Haggas, Maltese Cross was second to Christmas Day in the Betfred Derby at Epsom in June, on ground that did not suit him.

This afternoon, with underfoot conditions more to his liking, the Sea The Stars colt beat Pierre Bonnard (100/30), third in the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby in June, and his conqueror at Epsom, Christmas Day (6/4 favourite), by two lengths and two-and-a-quarter lengths respectively.

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The winner, ridden by Tom Marquand, made smooth progress three furlongs from home, and then challenged the race leader, Christmas Day, the mount of Ryan Moore.

Pierre Bonnard was soon pushed to lead at the two-furlong pole by Wayne Lordan, as the race favourite, Christmas Day, began to weaken.

The George Waud-owned Maltese Cross was staying on best of the field inside the final furlong to run out a decisive winner, to add to his Group 1 Cygames Grand Prix de Paris success of last month.

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Hockey Hall of Fame hosting George Springer display

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20 August 2026

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Any Toronto Blue Jays fans looking to relive one of the biggest moments of the 2025 World Series run will now get their chance, it just might not come where you’d expect.

The Hockey Hall of Fame announced Wednesday that it will be hosting a George Springer display, with his custom Hartford Whalers-themed batting gloves that he used last season as the main attraction.

The blue and green gloves pay homage to Springer’s since-departed childhood team, as he grew up in New Britain, Conn., about a 20-minute drive from Hartford.

Springer had a resurgent 2025, hitting 32 home runs in the regular season to help the Blue Jays win their first AL East title since 2015.

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But by far his most iconic moment wearing the gloves came in Game 7 of the ALCS, when Springer launched a three-run, go-ahead home run in the seventh inning against the Seattle Mariners that propelled the Blue Jays to the World Series.

It was one of the most iconic moments in Blue Jays history, and now a little piece of it will be on display in Toronto.

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NFL fans react as Jayden Higgins tears ACL during Texans vs. Raiders joint practice

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20 August 2026

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The Houston Texans have lost one of their most important weapons for the 2026 season.

On Wednesday, second-year wide receiver Jayden Higgins was revealed to have torn his ACL during joint practice with the Las Vegas Raiders the previous day. He had landed awkwardly while trying to catch a pass during red-zone drills, then was spotted limping off the field.

Sources: #Texans WR Jayden Higgins suffered a torn ACL yesterday during the joint practice against the #Raiders. A tough blow to the Houston receiving room.

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Reaction to the development was rife:

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@RapSheet All they have left is Nico Collins. Their season is over
@RapSheet Tank Dell is about to go NUCLEAR if he stays healthy

@RapSheet Hey @HoustonTexans, call @Browns and ask for Jeudy! Please

@RapSheet It’s time for @DeAndreHopkins to come home!

@RapSheet Here come the skeptics saying Stroud has no help.

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@RapSheet They should trade for Hollywood brown, would give them that deep treat that they will be missing now

Higgins was stellar in his NFL debut, catching 41 of 68 targets for 525 yards and six touchdowns. In June, Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer had mentioned him as a potential breakout star after OTAs:

“Higgins certainly has looked that part in the spring. His frame is nearly identical to Nico Collins’, and while Collins is the physically stronger player, Higgins is a smoother, looser athlete than the Texans’ incumbent No. 1 — one staffer illustrated it as having a power forward (Collins) and small forward (Higgins) at the position.”

With him gone, the Texans find themselves needing a new no. 2 beside Nico Collins.

Xavier Hutchinson looks like the leading in-house candidate after posting career highs of 35 receptions for 428 yards and three touchdowns in 2025. 2023 batchmate Tank Dell is looking to return from a devastating knee injury that sidelined him for nearly the past two seasons, while Jaylin Noel, another 2025 draftee, has been battling multiple injuries throughout training camp.

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ALSO READ: “He hasn’t played ball in over 2 years”: Texans HC Demeco Ryans reveals stance on Tank Dell as star WR returns to practice after major injury

ALSO READ: “Is Davis Mills the best QB on the Texans?”: NFL insider raises question on C. J. Stroud’s future after backup Houston QB impresses

Former Texans WR DeAndre Hopkins posts cryptic message in aftermath of Jayden Higgins’ season-ending ACL tear

Losing Jayden Higgins for the 2026 season is definitely a major blow for the Texans, especially as they look to reclaim the AFC South. However, a familiar face has offered his services to help the team: DeAndre Hopkins.

Also on Wednesday, sometime after the nature of Higgins’ injury was revealed, the veteran wideout took to Instagram Stories to post this old image of himself greeting his mother:

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Hopkins spent the first seven seasons of his NFL career with the Texans, evolving into one of the league’s top wide receivers. With them, he was a four-time All-Pro and Pro Bowler, led the league in receiving touchdowns in 2017, and set the franchise single-season receptions record in 2018.

He was traded to the Arizona Cardinals in 2020 and lasted three seasons there, making another All-Pro and Pro Bowl. After being released in May 2023, he bounced around three teams before becoming Georgia Tech’s WRs coach at the end of last month, though he has insisted that he is not retired.