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3 Up and 3 Down with Ravens in Town

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Brian O’Neill waits with Levi Drake Rodriguez and Blake Cashman before facing the Packers.
Minnesota Vikings offensive tackle Brian O’Neill waits with teammates Levi Drake Rodriguez and Blake Cashman near the tunnel at Lambeau Field before facing Green Bay. On Nov. 23, 2025, the group prepares to take the field as Minnesota completes its final pregame routine ahead of the NFC North road matchup that afternoon. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images.

Some do a stock report. Allow me to pivot in a minor way toward a baseball metaphor.

Vikings training camp involved a well-attended day of work under blue skies and warm sun. At times, the practices got chippy as both sides jostled to win reps. Consider some of the players to have played well versus those who weren’t so impressive. Do so with the understanding that the Vikings had a ton going on, meaning I missed much.

Moreover, I’m not a trained scout or coach, so my take on things isn’t nearly as significant as what the Vikings’ decision makers think. Oh, and another thing: even if I’m bang on with a correct take, what took place earlier was just a single day of work. The Vikings will be assessing the totality of the work.

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Vikings Training Camp Update After Debut Ravens Day

Up No. 1 — LB Blake Cashman

Blake Cashman and Jonathan Greenard force a fumble by Bears quarterback Caleb Williams during a game at U.S. Bank Stadium.
Minnesota Vikings defenders Blake Cashman and Jonathan Greenard converge on Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams during NFC North action at U.S. Bank Stadium. The Minnesota pass rush created havoc throughout the contest, forcing a key turnover that helped swing momentum early. The play occurred on Dec. 16, 2024, during a divisional showdown in Minneapolis. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images.

He was a menace out there. Has he been lost in the shuffle somewhat?

Recently, so much of the discussion has focused on the draft haul, the perceived lack at edge rusher, and then Chuck Demmings proving capable of playing corner and rapping (don’t forget those quarterbacks, either). Blake Cashman has remained. Better yet, he played well, proving to be quite frisky in a day full of feisty moments. Seeing today’s trend continue means that the veteran has a great contract year.

Down No. 1 — DT Caleb Banks

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To begin, consider a caveat: there’s a lot going on when a pair of teams are battling. Oftentimes, my focus was on watching whichever side was rolling with the starters and Banks was mostly with the backups.

What I did see, though, wasn’t super encouraging.

He looks long out there, which is a good thing. He can long-arm the offensive tackle with a stab move but is too often slowed down before driving his man back or shaking free of the blocker’s hands. Indeed, he looks a hair slow getting off his blocks. Maybe that’s to be expected but there’s room for growth here. Being just okay isn’t good enough for a No. 18 selection.

Up No. 2 — Levi Drake Rodriguez

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Levi Drake Rodriguez in 2024. Vikings DT.
Vikings defensive tackle Levi Drake Rodriguez celebrates with Bo Richter in 2024 after an impactful play. Mandatory Credit: Alli Rusco, Vikings.com

He’s a jack-in-the-box just waiting to explode out of his 3-point stance. Mr. Rodriguez is going to earn a nice workload.

He got through for a sack at one point when I was watching (or, at least, what counts for a sack in a training camp setting). Seeing him work off Jalen Redmond means boasting two DTs entering their prime NFL years who have the capacity to create plays behind the line of scrimmage. I like him and you should, too.

Down No. 2 — WR Dontae Fleming

In some ways, Fleming is working against the clock. I didn’t see him do anything egregiously bad but the huge plays weren’t there.

What was sometimes apparent was that Minnesota was leaning on Jeshaun Jones, Tai Felton, and Myles Price a lot when rolling out 11 personnel with the backups. That’s not a good outcome for a player who is looking to snatch away a WR5 or WR6 job. He’s down to less than two weeks before there’s a roster cut, so plays are precious.

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Up No. 3 — CB James Pierre

NFL: Minnesota Vikings at New York Giants
Aug 15, 2026; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. (3) is tackled by Minnesota Vikings safety Jacob Thomas (39) and cornerback James Pierre (23) during the first half at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images – Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

At one point, James Pierre had a chance for a kill shot on Zay Flowers. Wisely, the veteran corner pulled up rather than wallop Baltimore’s WR1 in a hospital ball over the middle.

Later on, Pierre had a great rep in one-v-one special teams. He’s long and speedy. So, too, does he offer some snarl. Good pickup who looks like he’ll make the corner crew more well rounded.

Down No. 3 — QB J.J. McCarthy

To be sure, the kid QB wasn’t all bad. Nor, for that matter, was every tough rep solely on him. He may have nevertheless desired a better day of work.

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The QB1 job isn’t coming back before Week 1. The Vikings are going to go with Kyler Murray when hosting Green Bay. Maybe something opens up down the road but that’s where the Vikings find themselves.

Some are now questioning whether the third-year 1st-Round passer slides down to QB3. Count me among those who doesn’t think it makes sense but he hasn’t been great.

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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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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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18 minutes ago

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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.