In Sand Raiders of Sophie, the Tech Tree Nodes serve as the primary means to customize your walker. However, as is the nature of games with giant skill trees, picking the right Tech Tree Node and skills for your walker can be a daunting process, especially for new players. It’s very important to choose the right Nodes before you invest your hard-earned resources in Sand Raiders of Sophie.
In Sand Raiders of Sophie, there are a total of 11 Tech Tree Nodes. However, as you progress through the game, you will slowly unlock perks from all these Nodes without having to focus on a single Tech Tree.
That said, in the early game, you do need to be mindful of which Nodes you invest your resoruces into in the early game. To help with that, here’s a comprehensive guide on the 7 best early game Tech Tree Nodes in Sand Raiders of Sophie.
Sand Raiders of Sophie: Best early game Tech Tree Nodes
Screenshot from Sand Raiders of Sophie (Image via tinyBuild)
As you progress through Raiders of Sophie, you will unlock all 11 Tech Trees. Furthermore, you can also choose to invest resources into multiple Tech Treesat once without any penalty. However, we do recommend making smart choices when it comes to investing resources.
In the opening few hours, you will find Tech Trees like Captain’s Cabin, Cargo Hold, and Cargo Bay to be a far better option than others.
Furthermore, some of the Tech Tree Nodes don’t even have any gameplay-related perks to them. Instead, they offer more customization options for your walker and make moving around the ship a bit easier.
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With that said, here are the 7 best early game Tech Tree Nodes in Raiders of Sophie that you should not miss out on:
Motor Reactor / Engine Upgrades: The Reactor is essentially the beating heart of your walker. As such, upgrading it at the earliest should be the priority. It increases your walker’s base HP.
Crew Room: This upgrade is mandatory to unlock the Captain’s Cabin, which bolsters your walker’s defense.
Captain’s Cabin: This upgrade adds an extra layer of defense on your walker, making it more resistant to damage.
Cargo Holds and Cargo Bays: These upgrades increase the base HP of your walker and also add armor to the reactor.
Chassis Upgrades: The Chasis upgrades essentially increase the weight capacity of your walker. As such, you get to carry more artillery and compartments for increased protection and firepower.
Framed Artillery Deck: These upgrades increase the health of your walker’s weapons.
Improved Reactor: This is a mid-game upgrade that further increases the HP of your walker’s reactor.
Do note that these Tech Tree upgrades are recommended for early game sections in Raiders of Sophie. However, as you progress through the game, we recommend working your way through every Tech Tree, as some of the late-game Nodes can offer substantial upgrades to your walkers.
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When the Carolina Panthersselected wide receiver Xavier Legette in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft, he only had an aging Adam Thielen to compete with for the team’s top pass-catching role. Fast-forward two years later—and not only has Legette been surpassed in that race by 2025 first-rounder Tetairoa McMillan, but he now has to worry about falling out of the rotation entirely.
If Legette doesn’t show up in the best shape of his life at training camp and make an impact, there’s a decent chance we will see him on the trade block soon enough. In fact, he’s been named a potential trade candidate over at NFLTradeRumors.co.
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Logan Ulrich writes:
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Legette has slipped down the depth chart and now faces competition from an even freakier athlete, third-rounder WR Chris Brazzell II. Carolina moved on from an underperforming WR Jonathan Mingo a couple years ago and could try to run that play again this preseason if Legette doesn’t step up.
Legette—who saw his snap share decrease down the stretch in 2025—isn’t the only Panthers who disappointed last season, though. Both of Carolina’s big swings to the defensive line in free agency proved to be misses, with Tershawn Wharton and Bobby Brown III falling short of expectations in 2025.
Brown, after ranking as the 80th-highest graded defensive lineman by Pro Football Focus, has also made the cut—joining Legette on Ulrich’s list:
The Panthers have made some other additions to their interior defensive line this offseason, and Brown didn’t quite deliver like the team hoped when it signed him last off-season. There will be pressure on his role and if another team is willing to take the contract, it could result in a trade.
Moving Brown’s contract is easier said than done. Last spring, he signed a three-year, $21 million deal that included $4 million guaranteed.
Brown still has around $18 million in cap hits remaining on the contract. According to Over the Cap, if the Panthers can find a trade partner, they would save $6.2 million this year and another $8 million in 2027.
When the Long Island club opened its clubhouse in 1892, it wasn’t just unveiling a handsome new building. It was opening what is widely regarded as the first golf clubhouse in the United States.
Like the championship course it overlooks, architect Stanford White’s design sits naturally in its surroundings, its wood-shingled exterior and wraparound veranda as graceful as they are understated, framing sweeping views of the links and the Atlantic beyond.
It was the first in its category, but hardly the last.
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Over the next century-plus, thousands of clubhouses rose across America. Some were built for little more than function — cinderblock boxes with a pro shop and a snack bar. Others became architectural statements, steeped in history, personality and place.
Over the past year, GOLF.com has stepped inside some of the game’s most memorable clubhouses to see what makes them special.
At Oakmont, our videographers wandered halls lined with priceless memorabilia, passed beneath the watchful portrait of founder Henry Fownes and into a locker room where the wooden benches still bear spike marks from the likes of Ben Hogan and Jack Nicklaus.
At Sleepy Hollow, in New York’s Hudson Valley, we documented the evolution — and Gilded Age elegance — of a clubhouse that began its life as a Vanderbilt mansion.
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At the Olympic Club, our cameras captured not one but two iconic homes: the stately clubhouse overlooking the Lake Course on San Francisco’s western edge and the grand downtown athletic club that has been a pillar of the city’s sporting scene for generations.
In Scottsdale, we explored Desert Mountain, where architect Bob Bacon walked us through the thinking behind a masterpiece that beautifully blurs the boundary between indoor and outdoor spaces.
Last but far from least, we turned our lenses on The Bridge, the exclusive Long Island club whose striking modernist clubhouse breaks from convention in all the right ways.
The result is a series of videos that goes beyond standard guided tours, offering an inside look at clubhouses that are as remarkable for their architecture as they are for the stories they inspire.
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And though we have yet to produce video devoted exclusively to Shinnecock Hills’ clubhouse, we have filmed the experience of visiting the club, from its landmark clubhouse to its legendary links. You can watch that video here.
June 15, 2026; Miami Gardens, Florida, U.S.; Uruguay’s Manuel Ugarte in action with Saudi Arabia’s Mohamed Kanno. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
Uruguay midfielder Manuel Ugarte is expected to miss significant time because of a knee ligament injury, The Athletic reported Sunday, putting his start to next season for Manchester United in jeopardy.
Ugarte was carried of the field with the injury during Uruguay’s 1-0 loss to Spain at Zapopan, Mexico, on Friday. Uruguay finished 0-1-2 (two points) in Group H play and was eliminated from the World Cup.
According to the report, Ugarte will continue to undergo testing to determine the severity of the injury.
Ugarte’s injury only added to what was a rough World Cup run for Uruguay, who were the highest ranked team at No. 16 not to advance to the round of 32.
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Following Friday’s loss, multiple reports indicated that the Uruguayan soccer federation canceled the squad’s scheduled charter flight from the team’s training base in Playa del Carmen, Mexico to the home capital city of Montevideo, leaving the team to take commercial flights home.
Uruguay captain Jose Maria Gimenez, who remained on the bench for all three matches, said per Uruguayan broadcast company Tenfield: “The pain is immense. The feeling is one of profound sadness. The reality we have to face is incredibly difficult. We apologize to the Uruguayan people. It wasn’t what we all expected, but football is like this, and we have to accept it.”
Ugarte is set to make more than $6 million next season, with Manchester United likely to recover some of that cost through FIFA’s program to compensate clubs for injuries sustained during international play.
To make the Fischfest event even more exciting, Fisch released the King Crabstle update on June 27, 2026. It introduced several new bug fixes, a limited-time fish, new NPCs, and multiple rod masteries.
Castbound is a Stage 10 fishing rod that was introduced via the Venue Takeover update. To add powerful buffs and unlock several new rewards, you can now unlock its mastery by completing a three-mission questline. In this guide, we will discuss everything you need to know about unlocking it.
What is Castbound rod mastery in Fisch?
Castbound rod (Image via Roblox || Fischipedia)
Castbound is a Stage 10 fishing rod in Fisch that was introduced via the Venue Takeover update on May 2, 2026. To boost the rod’s stats, the developers added three mastery quests on June 27, 2026, via the King Crabstle update.
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To complete the Castbound mastery, you have to first unlock the Castbound rod and then start progressing through a three-mission questline. After clearing each quest, you’ll receive a bobber, enchantment, lantern, and skin as rewards. Here are some stats possessed by this rod:
Source: The Guide
Level: 1000
Stage: Stage 10
Lure Speed: inf
Luck: 390%
Control: 0.14
Resilience: 32%
Max Kg: inf kg
Line Distance: 180 m
Passives: +15% XP from all fish. Every catch, 50% chance to gain another fish mutated with Cosmos (10.85×), Nebula (9.2×), Energy (8.55×), or Fury (11.7×).
How to complete Castbound rod mastery in Fisch
To complete the Castbound rod mastery and unlock its Copperbound skin, you must complete these quests:
Quest 1: Anger
Objective: Catch 50 Fury fish
Reward: Prisma Lantern
How to complete: To complete this quest, you have to equip your Castbound rod and start fishing across the map. Upon each catch, there’s a 25% chance (ghost passive) of obtaining the Fury mutation.
Quest 2: Like a Boss
Objective: Perfect Catch 3 Rotbloom with Castbound
Reward: Gemidium Bobber
How to complete: Rotbloom is an Exotic tier fish that you can catch only during the Rotbloom hunt event, which has some chance of spawning near the Toxic Grove area. By equipping your Castbound rod with Luminous Larva and Thorn Cluster, you can catch this fish faster.
Quest 3: The Journey’s End?
Objective: Own Igneous Rupturer, Tidemourner, Verdant Oath, Wind Elemental, and Zeus’s Thundermaul
Reward: +200 Durability, 3 More Chances, +50% Slash Rate, Perfect Casts = +25% Fury Base Chance & +5 Starting Progress Enhancement for Castbound
How to complete: Unlock Igneous Rupturer (reach Level 500, complete Scoria Reach Bestiary, and talk with Scoria Guard), Tidemourner (use 3x Tide Essence, 5x Iron Chunk, 1x Tidemourner Head, and 1x Mourned Moonstone to craft it); Verdant Oath (complete Toxic Grove, Living Garden, and Nectar Den bestiary, reach level 1000, and spend 12,500,000 C$); Wind Elemental (reach level 800 and complete the Wind Master’s quest); and Zeus’s Thundermaul (complete Zeus’s Thunder of Chaos Bestiary, unlock the gate, and spend 18,750,000 C$).
FAQs on Castbound rod in Fisch
How do I unlock the Castbound rod mastery in Fisch?
To unlock the Castbound rod mastery, you must first own the Castbound rod and then complete all three mastery quests: Anger, Like a Boss, and The Journey’s End? Completing every objective unlocks the exclusive Copperbound skin and permanently upgrades the rod.
What rewards do I get from the Castbound rod mastery?
As you progress through the mastery quests, you’ll earn cosmetic rewards like the Prisma Lantern and Gemidium Bobber. Finishing the final quest also grants permanent buffs.
Is completing Castbound rod mastery worth it?
Yes, the mastery significantly improves the rod’s performance through permanent stat boosts while also rewarding exclusive cosmetics. If you frequently use the Castbound rod, completing its mastery is one of the best long-term upgrades available.
Mr. Met blissfully danced the night away behind TV reporter Steve Gelbs on Friday night as he delivered a live report on the New York Mets firing manager Carlos Mendoza. It was the best-ever, worst-possible timing.
It is worth asking where Mrs. Met was while this was happening. Unlike her husband, she knows how to read a room. This was complete organizational failure.
The moment’s humor might have been lost on fans feeling too miserable to laugh, but Dancing Mr. Met will forever be the image of the team’s 2026 season, and it could serve as the image of the franchise in perpetuity until things improve. Assuming they do.
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The bulbous-headed mascot resembled a modern-day Nero playing the fiddle, so goes the dubious legend, as ancient Rome burned down. Not entirely true, by the way! They didn’t even have fiddles 2,000 years ago.
A few errant details notwithstanding, the Mets last-place season is also burnt to a crisp. Nobody in Major League Baseball spends more on player salaries, and nobody gets less bang for the buck. And that buck stops not with Mr. Met, but with owner Steve Cohen and team president David Stearns. Nero gets a bad rap for the fire and his response to it, but he still was the man in charge. This is mostly on Cohen and Stearns.
Some have complained that upper management should have fired Mendoza in April, when the Philadelphia Phillies fired Rob Thomson after a similarly poor start. Philly is about 20 games over .500 since replacing Thomson with Don Mattingly. On its way somewhere. But, aside from Juan Soto and a small handful of others, the Phillies have much better players than the Mets. It’s difficult to imagine, much less show evidence, that any manager could have saved New York’s season.
Some parties want Cohen to replace Stearns less than three years into his tenure, to the point that a number of critics have come to Citi Field with signs promoting a change. But, like other teams do, if the Mets see a sign or behavior they find to be derogatory, they’ll quash it. It’s within their right, and it’s even understandable, but it also makes the team look like it’s more concerned with suppressing dissent than fixing the problems that caused it.
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What’s next? No booing allowed? Probably better to ignore the signs that fans make and pay closer attention to the signs that Bo Bichette might not have been worth that contract, or that Brett Baty and Mark Vientos weren’t developing, or that the pitching staff was woefully short of being competitive for a playoff spot.
The Mets just reached the postseason two years ago, and came within two wins of reaching the World Series in ‘24, before ripping up most of the roster. Cohen talks like he wants to win and spends money like it. Stearns has a strong individual record as an executive, assisting the Astros to build a champion, and putting the Brewers in position to be one of the best teams in the National League. His record with the Mets is mixed. Is he going to come through? This much is certain: The time for fiddling around is over.
Trainer Greg Eurell might have a smart two-year-old on his hands in the form of Lucky Brook, who opened the card at Caulfield on Saturday with a victory in the Sportsbet Race Previews Handicap (1000m).
A debutant by Lucky Vega, the filly had impressed in four jump-outs and carried that winning form onto the race track, running out a one-length winner under jockey Lachlan Neindorf.
Neindorf was pleased with Lucky Brook’s performance. The $4.20 favourite, according to leading Aussie betting sites, was kept out of traffic from a wide gate, scoring comfortably over Egyptian Dancer ($16). Aston ($7) finished a short neck back in third.
Eurell indicated that there are plenty of options for Lucky Brook in the early part of the Spring, with the Group 3 Quezette Stakes (1100m) for early three-year-olds a key target.
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“The plan was always to try and win a race and then sort of set her up for the spring, and there wasn’t much to offer, so to win a city race was even better,” Eurell said.
“It gives us a chance to give her a bit of a let up, map something out going forward. It certainly gives us a lot of confidence going forward.”
“The spring can sort of stretch out a little bit now, so you’ve sort of got to be a little bit careful— sort of where you start and where you think you want to end up but she may be back here (for the Quezette).”
“I think she’ll cut the mustard. I think she’s very genuine, she’s obviously above average.”
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The Quezette Stakes is scheduled for August 15 at Caulfield and has been won by subsequent Group 1-winning sprinters Charm Stone, Bella Nipotina and Sunlight in recent years.
While those heights are a way off for Lucky Brook, Eurell believes she has the attributes to keep raising the bar, and possibly extend in distance as she matures.
“I like her attitude, everything we’ve done with her. She’s just so professional. I think she’s going to be a lovely filly going forward,” Eurell said.
“Once we sort of get a bit deeper into the prep, she’ll suggest what she’s going to do.”
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“But she does relax and travel. She might give herself that opportunity to sort of stretch out to a mile, however, at the moment, if she does what she does over the shorter trips we’ll be happy.”
With aspirations for the spring, punters might find it beneficial to explore the racing betting markets for upcoming feature races.
The 2026 World Cup knockout rounds are here, and co-host Canada gets the honor of kicking things off on Sunday against South Africa, with both advancing out of the group stage for the first time. Bafana Bafana stunned Korea Republic with a 1-0 victory in the final Group A match on Wednesday night, while Canada dropped a 2-1 decision to Switzerland to fall short of winning Group B. The Canadians won’t have the home-field advantage this time, with the match being held in Inglewood, Calif., with a 3 p.m. ET kickoff.
The World Cup 2026 knockout stage’s arrival means fewer matches to choose from, but if you do your homework you can still cash in on anytime goalscorer props. If you’re interested in soccer betting, you can find value in the anytime goal scorer odds, and we’ve scrutinized the options in the World Cup 2026 odds at FanDuel and now offer up our favorite picks.
If you want to see more World Cup picks, including outright winners, spread picks and totals, be sure to check out the picks from SportsLine experts like Jon Eimer, Martin Green and Brad Thomas. Anyone following their World Cup betting advice at sportsbooks and on betting apps could have seen huge returns.
Best World Cup goalscorer picks for Sunday
Jonathan David, Canada (+170, FanDuel)
Tajon Buchanan, Canada (+300, FanDuel)
Evidence Makgopa, South Africa (+170, FanDuel)
Thapelo Maseko, South Africa (+650, FanDuel)
Jonathan David, Canada (+170)
The best players step up in the biggest moments, and David has been in solid form in this tournament. He had a hat trick in the 6-0 victory against Qatar, when he had eight shots. He has five shots over the other two matches, but he is Canada’s top all-time scorer, and he will try to put this team on his back in the knockout rounds. Canada have other strong players like Cyle Larin and Alphonso Davies, but the team’s success typically runs through David. I expect him to bury one in the net Sunday.
Tajon Buchanan, Canada (+330)
The 27-year-old Villarreal man has been making things happen, even if it hasn’t been obvious on the scoresheets so far. He has eight goals in 63 matches with the national team and had seven last season in La Liga. He isn’t a scorer like David or Larin but makes the most of his chances. Buchanan has the speed to get behind defenders and is skilled around the box. His two-way play takes away from his offense some, but he can score when he has the opportunity. I think he’ll get a chance Sunday.
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Evidence Makgopa, South Africa (+170)
Makgopa has three shots on target over the past two matches, coming off the bench against Czechia but starting Wednesday’s huge victory against South Korea. He has nine goals in 26 matches with Bafana Bafana and 16 in 67 games with Orlando Pirates in the South African Premiership. Most of his teammates play in that league, including seven with the Pirates, so they know how to find each other in open spaces. Makgopa is a strong aerial presence and could bury one on a set piece Sunday.
Thapelo Maseko, South Africa (+650)
The 22-year-old scored the defining goal so far for the South Africans in Wednesday night’s victory, and that should give him confidence. He hasn’t been intimidated on this big stage, and while he has just two goals for the Bafana Bafana, he is just getting started. Maseko had five shots against South Korea. The youngster, who plays at AEL Limassol in Cyprus, has speed, versatility and youthful energy that have helped spark this club, and he could break through again in this huge match.
With a draw enough to send Austria through as Group J runners-up and Algeria into the last 32 as one of the best third-placed sides, the prospect of a convenient result had dominated conversation in the build-up.
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But Rangnick said the game’s extraordinary finale should silence any conspiracy theories.
“In this match, when you have a 3-3, nobody can assume that it was an agreement, and especially what we saw during the last 90 seconds,” the 67-year-old said.
The match exploded into life deep into added time.
Algeria captain Riyad Mahrez put his side 3-2 ahead in the 93rd minute, only for substitute Sasa Kalajdzic to equalise with virtually the last touch of the game.
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“Three minutes to play, if somebody had said this would happen, you would have told them they were mad,” Rangnick said.
“I’ve been a coach for about 40 years and I don’t even remember a match that had such a dramatic course and such an unexpected trajectory.
“Most anticipated 0-0 or 1-1, and now it’s 3-3. It’s incredible. The locker room is madness. If Alfred Hitchcock had written such a drama, I probably would have said he was completely mad.”
The German rejected suggestions that either side had been content to settle for a draw late in the game, noting that players continued to push for a winner before Mahrez’s strike.
“All who watched the game during the last 15 minutes must know there is no hint that the players absolutely wanted to have a draw,” he said. “I think they wanted to win.
“Nobody can tell me that suddenly in minute 93 somebody would plan: ‘oh yes, let’s score another goal.’ I think maybe it was the thought of one or two players in Algeria, but I think in the rest of the squad I don’t think it was the case, and not for me.”
Austria now face European champions Spain in the round of 32 on July 2 in California.
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Rangnick said he believes anything is possible.
“You saw that during the last couple of seconds (on Saturday). And who would have thought that Turkey would be eliminated after only two matches?
“So we’re very happy that we are in the most difficult of all groups, and we advance in second in this group, and that was definitely not easy.”
Rangnick said he was still struggling to process a result that booked his team’s first World Cup knockout appearance in 44 years.
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“I am relieved and incredulous and happy,” he said. “I still can’t believe it. I need to be pinched to wake up from a dream.”
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
Prince Yadav had a memorable outing in the second T20I between India and Ireland. The pacer made his international debut in the format on Sunday, June 28, in Belfast.
He struck in his second over to claim his maiden T20I wicket, dismissing Ireland skipper Lorcan Tucker. Prince came on to bowl the final over of the innings as India bowled first. He claimed two wickets in the over to give the team a solid finish.
On the fourth ball, he first got rid of Harry Tector, who made 53 runs off 47 balls. He then struck again on the last ball, sending Liam McCarthy back to the hut. Prince ended with magnificent figures of 3/22 from four overs on his T20I debut.
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Fans lauded the pacer on social media for his impressive performance with the ball.
“Excellent bowling by Prince yadav. Prince has a top notch yorker, he will be match winner like Bumrah for India in the white ball cricket,” a fan tweeted.
“What a memorable debut from Prince Yadav. He has all the ingredients to become legend of this format like Bumrah. He can swing the ball, has good cutters and also has good control over yorkers. Most Importantly he doesn’t leak runs like Arshdeep, Prasidh and Harshit Rana,” another fan wrote.
Below are some other reactions from fans on X –
India restricted Ireland to 154/8 from their 20 overs. Having lost the opening T20I of the two-match series, the Men in Blue are in a must-win position to draw level.
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Prince Yadav’s figures stand among the best on T20I debut for an Indian pacer
Having impressed in the IPL 2026 season, with a solid performance in domestic cricket, Prince has carried his form on the international stage as well. His figures of 3/22 on T20I debut stand among the best by an Indian pacer.
Barinder Sran leads this list with figures of 4/10 against Zimbabwe in 2016. Shivam Mavi follows with 4/22 against Sri Lanka in 2023. Bhuvneshwar Kumar (3/9), Navdeep Saini (3/17), Prince Yadav (3/22), and Jasprit Bumrah (3/23) all have three wickets on their T20I debuts.
Prince will next be seen in action during the upcoming T20I series in England in July, where India will play five T20Is.
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