Vikings rookie safety Jakobe Thomas runs through minicamp work on the practice field in Eagan. The young defensive back continued learning Brian Flores’ system while competing for a roster spot and possible special teams role before training camp. June 2026. Mandatory Credit: YouTube.
The Minnesota Vikings will shave their roster from 90 players to 53 in two months and reveal a depth chart for 2026 around the same time. So, it’s time to contemplate some players who could shock the world and beat the odds, sneaking into the starting lineup.
Of course, the following three men are long shots for starter’s duty in 2026, but they cannot be ruled out.
Possible Vikings Starters You’re Not Thinking About
Cincinnati offensive lineman Gavin Gerhardt answers questions from reporters during Big 12 Football Media Days on July 8, 2025, at The Star in Frisco, Texas. The interior blocker represented the Bearcats in front of assembled media members while discussing the upcoming season and continuing his pre-draft profile before his eventual NFL opportunity. Mandatory Credit: Raymond Carlin III-Imagn Images.
1. Gavin Gerhardt | C
After the draft, the Vikings claimed that they had zeroed in on Gerhardt as “their guy” at center all along during the build-up to the event. That must be true because Rob Brzezinski and Kevin O’Connell turned down four opportunities to draft Jake Slaughter, Logan Jones, Sam Hecht, and Connor Lews — the “Big Four” from the class.
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The Vikings, in need of a new center after Ryan Kelly’s retirement, also opted against pursuing high-profile free agents at the position. Instead, they are entrusting the starting role to Blake Brandel, whose impressive performance as a fill-in last season convinced coaches he earned the first opportunity.
The decision, in theory, could create an opening for Gerhardt.
Given that 7th-Round picks rarely become starters, training camp will reveal whether Gerhardt is a legitimate contender or simply another late-round hopeful who doesn’t secure a spot.
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There’s a chance, though slim, that Gerhardt balls out as a natural center, dethroning Brandel, who is a little good at a lot of OL positions. Sometimes, mid- and late-round interior offensive linemen are easier to identify and scout than other positions.
2. James Pierre | CB
Based on his 2025 numbers — an absolutely phenomenal 86.8 Pro Football Focus grade — Pierre should start as one of the Vikings’ main two cornerbacks, ousting Isaiah Rodgers from his spot. But the way that the depth chart is currently set up, Pierre profiles more as the CB3.
Rodgers authored a fantastic game in 2025 — the win over the Cincinnati Bengals when Rodgers turned in one of the best individual performances in Vikings and NFL history — and generally played well during Year No. 1 with the Vikings.
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It’s just that Pierre was better in Pittsburgh in a slightly smaller sample.
This one would be a huge upset, but before 2025, no one knew if Rodgers would pan out in Minnesota. He has and deserves to start. Pierre, though, might be too good to bench.
If Pierre wins the job over Rodgers, it will be because he’s flat-out a better cover corner.
Houston Texans wide receiver Christian Kirk (13) turns upfield against Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback James Pierre (42) during the second half on Jan. 12, 2026, at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh. The veteran wideout worked through AFC Wild Card contact while trying to extend Houston’s postseason offense on the road in elimination football. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images.
Zone Coverage‘s Trevor Ripley noted on Pierre last week, “Pierre likely projects as that CB3, with some opportunity to also affect the game on special teams. His age, plus a track record of only half a season of elite production, bode poorly for a significant workload increase. Something like 400 snaps or so, similar to last season with the Pittsburgh Steelers, is probably a good starting point for Pierre, who could rotate in and out with rookie linebacker Jake Golday as that 11th defender.”
“Still, Pierre will be a valuable addition, even in a modest role, compared to what the Vikings threw out at cornerback last season. He’s shown he has the capabilities, and it wouldn’t be shocking to see Isaiah Rodgers lose some footing to Pierre at some point.”
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3. Jakobe Thomas | S
Remember the Jonathan Greenard trade on the second night of the draft? The Vikings used the first pick from that transaction to select Thomas, a brand new safety.
If Harrison Smith does not return — that verdict is up in the air — the safety room has question marks, leaving fans to wonder who might start on Sundays: Josh Metellus, Jay Ward, Theo Jackson, or Jakobe Jackson. It’s been a while since a rookie defensive back barnstormed the summer to start in September, so much so that one could argue it’s overdue.
Miami Hurricanes defensive back Jakobe Thomas (8) works against the Indiana Hoosiers during the College Football Playoff National Championship Game on Jan. 19, 2026, at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. The defensive back competed on the sport’s biggest college stage while continuing to build his profile for NFL evaluators. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images.
Thomas starting will be moot if Smith returns, but there remains a chance if Smith retires or simply never returns. The Athletic‘s Dane Brugler on Thomas: “Thomas is a passionate competitor, which can lead to missteps but will also put him in position to play fast and make plays. He has the floor of a special-teamer and the potential to earn a starting role.”
And on his skill set: “Adequate frame for the position with room to add more bulk. Fast and physical attacking gaps in the run game. Runs the alley with conviction and fearless throwing his body around. Sticks his hat into the midsection of his target and drives through. Understands spacing in zone looks where he can track the quarterback’s eyes. Finished interceptions he got his hands on. Miami liked to blitz the safeties, and Thomas flourished in this area.”
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No matter what, Thomas will get playing sooner rather than later.
Dustin Baker is a novelist and political scientist. His second novel, The Invaders , is out now. So is … More about Dustin Baker
Perhaps the defining component of J.J. McCarthy‘s NFL career has been injury. That central facet of his pro career has contributed to a pile of issues, inconsistent play foremost among them.
Is that going to change? The Vikings certainly hope so.
Sometimes, the focus within the conversation surrounding McCarthy has been reasonably general in its assessment of the kid’s health problems. He’s just injury prone. Taking a step back to get a tiny bit more specific can be helpful. Scroll down to see a goofy visual to offer a reminder of what he hurt, where he got hurt, and the time missed.
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The J.J. McCarthy Injuries Across 2024 & 2025
Get right into it. The visual made by yours truly:
Allow me to begin by talking directly to all medical doctors, those with computer skills, and none other than J.J. McCarthy: I send an apology for this visual. The point above is to function as a reminder of what his injuries have been alongside the time missed.
In particular, that right side has been a problem. Nobody wants any other injuries to arise for the Michigan man. If they do, the first question will be if it’s along the right side of his body.
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Jan 4, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy (9) talks with a referee before the game against the Green Bay Packers at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images
A sneaky detail to remember is that he has had the first normal offseason for the first time in a couple years.
Turning the clock back to 2024 would mean recognizing that he was preparing for the 2024 NFL Draft. The Combine isn’t totally detached from real football but it’s not the same. Worse, he had the knee injury after impressing in his debut NFL preseason game.
Last year, McCarthy was coming off that injury. He was also being tasked with fixing his wonky mechanics. And then Week 2 arrived. He missed practice time due to the birth of his child — reasonable — and then got walloped in that Falcons game. His ankle sprain led to missing five games afterwards.
His two full seasons in the NFL should have involved thirty-four games. He has played in just ten, missing time within some of those ten games.
Chelsea have completed the signing of Strasbourg midfielder Valentin Barco on a seven-year deal.
The 21-year-old becomes Chelsea‘s sixth signing of the summer after the arrivals of Morgan Rogers, Danny Welbeck, Emmanuel Emegha, Maxence Lacroix and Marco Palestra.
The midfielder will join the remainder of Chelsea‘s pre-season tour, with the Blues set to face Italian side Juventus in Hong Kong on 5 August.
Lonnie Andrews III was gearing up to push for his third straight championship at the helm of Oscar Smith High School (Chesapeake, VA). Now, the Tigers will have to play without the three-star quarterback, as the Virginian-Pilot reported that Andrews will miss his entire senior season due to an injury.
Over the last two years, Oscar Smith has gone a combined 30-1 behind Andrews. As a sophomore, he led the Tigers to an undefeated 17-0 season, and last year, they repeated as champions as Andrews threw for about 3,300 yards and 43 touchdowns to 11 interceptions, according to the Virginian-Pilot. As a dual-threat quarterback, he also rushed for over 550 yards, he posted to social media platform X.
With a number of graduations, the injury to Andrews, and the transfer of three-star defensive lineman Lincoln Halliday to IMG Academy (Bradenton, FL), assistant coach Jahvoni Simmons told the Virginian-Pilot that the team is going “back to the drawing board.”
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“It’s put us back at the rebuilding stage. But the goal is still going to be the goal, regardless,” he said to the outlet. “I believe in my guys and I believe in our coaches. It’s going to be a journey ahead of us. We might take some lumps here and there, but the goal is still the same.”
The injury was not disclosed to the Virginian-Pilot.
Andrews, a Virginia commit, is ranked the No. 19 player in Virginia and No. 48 quarterback in the class of 2027, according to the 247Sports Composite. He is listed at 6-foot tall and 180 pounds. He’ll graduate as a highly accomplished high school quarterback, going the last two seasons with just one loss.
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In his place at quarterback is expected to be incoming freshman Justice Culler, who Simmons said has “a big arm and has some speed.”
Virginia outfielder AJ Gracia (29) swings for the ball during an NCAA Baseball Regional game between Southern Miss and Virginia at Pete Taylor Park in Hattiesburg, Miss., on Saturday, May 30, 2026.
AJ Gracia, the Atlanta Braves’ top pick in the 2026 MLB Draft, underwent labrum surgery and will miss seven to 10 months, The Athletic reported Sunday.
An outfielder, he was the No. 9 overall pick of the draft out of college at Virginia. The 21-year signed with the Braves for just under $4 million, well below the slot value of nearly $6.7 million.
Gracia hit .354 with 14 home runs and 48 RBIs in his only season with the Cavaliers. He is known for his exceptional eye at the plate.
In 176 college games split between Duke (2024-25) and Virginia (2026), he walked 152 times compared to 129 strikeouts.
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Per The Athletic, the surgery was performed in Los Angeles by Dr. Neal ElAttrache.
The Braves have not announced the procedure yet.
A left-handed hitter, Gracia has compared his playing style to Cody Bellinger of the New York Yankees.
Jockey Tim Clark celebrated his birthday with a memorable performance at Rosehill, clinching a riding treble and taking an early lead in the Sydney jockeys’ premiership.
His earlier wins aboard Funshow and Steel Strike preceded a polished ride on Carbonados to secure victory in the NSW Jockeys Association Handicap (1300m).
Clark had to exercise patience, finding himself momentarily held up behind the leaders before seizing an opportunity in the straight.
“Carbonados travelled up well,” Clark said. “But then coming into the straight I had to figure out how well the horse (Gatsby’s) was going outside the leader. It looked like the leader was going better so I was happy to stay where I was. I had the horse to make a run when the slightest of gaps appeared and he was able to push his way through and won well.”
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The $15 outsider then burst through to win by 1¼ lengths from the fast-finishing Althoff ($9.50), with the favourite Fire Star ($4.60) taking third.
This win marked a significant turnaround for Carbonados, who had struggled in his previous three starts, finishing poorly.
“Carbonados has been a little hit and miss and hard to catch but the switching of states, changing things up for him worked well,” Clark added.
The Ben, Will and JD Hayes-trained Carbonados, from the Flemington stable, now has seven wins from 22 starts, with career earnings nearing $400,000.
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The Lindsay Park stable also had a successful raid on Rosehill, with Run Harry Run contributing to their stable’s double for the day.
These results place Team Hayes in a tie for the lead in the early Sydney trainers’ premiership, alongside Richard and Will Freedman, whose runners Attractiveness and Horizons also saluted on the opening day of the new season.
Meanwhile, defending champion trainer Chris Waller endured a rare winless Saturday at his home track as he begins his quest for a 17th consecutive Sydney trainers’ premiership.
India’s athletics contingent delivered one of its finest-ever performances at the Commonwealth Games 2026, finishing with a record 16 medals to spearhead the country’s memorable campaign in Glasgow.
After collecting eight medals at the Birmingham 2022 Games, India doubled its athletics tally to 16 medals, marking a remarkable 100 per cent improvement. The haul included 10 medals in athletics and six medals in para athletics, highlighting the growing strength and depth of Indian track and field across both disciplines.
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Gulveer Singh headlines historic campaign
The standout performer of India’s athletics team was undoubtedly Gulveer Singh.
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The distance runner etched his name into the record books by becoming the first Indian man to win a Commonwealth Games medal in the men’s 10,000m, where he claimed silver.
He followed it up with bronze in the men’s 5,000m, becoming the first Indian athlete to win two track medals at the same edition of the Commonwealth Games.
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His double podium finish was among the defining moments of India’s Glasgow campaign and firmly established him as the country’s leading distance runner.
Para athletics delivers breakthrough performances
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India’s para athletes also enjoyed their most successful Commonwealth Games in recent memory.
Sharmila became the first Indian para athlete to win Commonwealth Games gold in the women’s F57 Shot Put, creating history with a sensational performance.
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India also secured a memorable double podium in the event as Shilpa Shyla added the bronze medal.
The success continued in the men’s F57 Shot Put, where Soman Rana clinched gold while Shubham Juyal took silver, giving India another one-two finish.
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The six para athletics medals underlined India’s rapid rise in disability sport on the international stage.
Triple jump duo recreate Birmingham success
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India once again dominated the men’s triple jump.
Praveen Chithravel claimed the silver medal while Selva Prabhu Thirumaran secured bronze, recreating India’s double podium finish from the Birmingham Commonwealth Games.
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Their performances reaffirmed India’s growing consistency in the horizontal jumps.
Athletics becomes India’s biggest success story
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The athletics team’s performances reflected years of steady progress.
While India has traditionally relied on sports such as wrestling, weightlifting and boxing at multi-sport events, Glasgow 2026 showcased the country’s emergence as a genuine athletics force.
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From Gulveer Singh’s historic double to multiple podium finishes in field events and the outstanding contribution from para athletes, athletics proved to be one of India’s defining sports at the Games.
India’s athletics medal winners – Commonwealth Games 2026
Michael Carrick’s side went behind inside the first five minutes after Arnau Ortiz found the net for Atleti. But the Reds mounted a comeback in the second half and turned the game on its head with Bryan Mbeumo scoring a brace to earn a 2-1 win at Stockholm’s Strawberry Arena.
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Overall, it was an encouraging performance from United with Mount among those to stand out.
The ex-Chelsea midfielder was used in a two-man midfield alongside new £52million signing Andrey Santos and he suited that position. With the ball, he roamed in the half spaces, linked midfield to attack and created a number of chances. Then out of possession, he led the press and won the ball back on several occasions.
It felt as though Santos and Mount complimented each other in the midfield and that could be a partnership Carrick and United use more often this season, though Youri Tielemans and Kobbie Mainoo are expected to disrupt that.
But Mount is still expected to have a major role for the Reds this season and Fernandes, who still hasn’t reported back for pre-season training due to Portugal’s involvement at the World Cup, was full of praise for the former Derby County loanee on Instagram. Indeed, after Mount posted four photos from the win against Atletico in Sweden, Fernandes commented: “Class bro [fire emoji].”
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Fernandes wasn’t the only player to leave a comment on Mount’s post with Shea Lacey putting three clapping emojis, Harry Maguire using a fire emoji and a clap emoji. Meanwhile, 15-year-old talent JJ Gabriel, who made his first-team debut for United against Atleti, used a ‘top’ emoji.
Mount was used in the same role for United against Rosenborg last Saturday and he admitted he ‘loves’ being trusted by Carrick to be a leader in the Reds side. “You have different types of leaders,” he said.
“You have ones that are very vocal, but I see myself as one who leads by example and never stops working. I’ve been captain previously, years ago, so I love the role. Especially with a lot of younger players on the pitch, and off it as well, being able to speak to them and make them feel comfortable, it’s something I really like.”
Lorena Wiebes sprinted to victory on the second stage of the Tour de France Femmes on Sunday after a hilly 147.9km run from Aigle to Geneva in Switzerland, much of it lakeside.
The Netherlands‘ Wiebes also won the first stage on Saturday and cut an impressive figure decked out in the yellow jersey as she burst clear of the pack from 250m out to win by several bike lengths.
The previous two winners of this race, Pauline Ferrand-Prevot and Kasia Niewiadoma, along with race favourite Demi Vollering, finished with the main pack.
Dutch time-trial specialist Riejanne Markus led the race alone over the final kilometres and suffered the agony of being overtaken by the chasing pack less than 500m from the finish line.
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Sprint specialist Wiebes, a 27-year-old two-time former European champion, extended her overall lead to 14sec on Kim Le Court and 16sec on Vollering.
Italian Elisa Balsamo was second on the day and Dutch veteran Marianne Vos, 39, was third.
The peloton will roll into France on Monday’s third stage which takes in a steep 11km climb just outside Geneva but ends with a flat 15km stretch to the finish line at Poligny.
The two crucial stages of the nine-day race come Tuesday with an individual time trial and Friday when the pretenders to the title climb Mont Ventoux.
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