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Dembélé at the double as league leaders PSG down Toulouse – Sports

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Paris Saint-Germain went four points clear at the top of Ligue 1 with a 3-1 win at home against Toulouse on Friday night. Ousmane Dembélé scored the first of his two goals of the evening midway through the first half with an impressive long-range volley.

Across the Channel, Chelsea have sidelined vice-captain Enzo Fernández after the midfielder fuelled speculation of a summer transfer to Real Madrid with comments he made over the international break. The Argentine’s two-game suspension starts from this weekend’s FA Cup quarter-final ties.

The fallout from Italy’s failure to qualify for a third straight World Cup has now seen Gennaro Gattuso resign as national team head coach after less than a year in charge. Italian FA president Gabriele Gravina as well as the team’s delegation head Gianluigi Buffon have also stepped down from their positions in the wake of the play-off defeat.

One of Britain’s longest-running annual sporting events, consisting of a series of boat races between students from the universities of Oxford and Cambridge, takes place on the River Thames in West London this Saturday. This year, for the first time, both men’s teams will be captained by French students.

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Timberwolves’ Donte DiVincenzo (leg), Anthony Edwards (knee) exit early in win over Nuggets

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NBA: Playoffs-Minnesota Timberwolves at Denver NuggetsApr 18, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves guard Donte DiVincenzo (0) celebrates after a three-pointer during the second half against the Denver Nuggets in game one of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-Imagn Images

Minnesota Timberwolves guard Donte DiVincenzo was ruled out after injuring his lower right leg in the first quarter and was late joined on the sidelines by injured teammate Anthony Edwards in the first half of Saturday’s 112-96 victory over the Denver Nuggets in Game 4 of their playoff series in Minneapolis.

DiVincenzo sustained the injury on a non-contact play 79 seconds into the game. He planted his foot to go toward a loose ball, and he quickly went down as he grabbed toward the back of his right leg.

The team ruled out DiVincenzo before the end of the first quarter. ESPN reported that DiVincenzo, who left the arena at halftime in a wheelchair, hasa torn right Achilles.

Edwards, a four-time All-Star, appeared to hyperextend his left knee while leaping to defend Nuggets wing Cam Johnson’s drive to the basket with 2:43 remaining in the second quarter. He landed awkwardly and grabbed his left knee. Edwards was helped to the locker room.

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Minnesota ruled him out for the rest of the game just after halftime. Edwards, who had five points and three rebounds in 18 minutes, is slated to get an MRI to determine the injury’s severity.

The Timberwolves lead the best-of-seven series 3-1, with Game 5 on Monday in Denver.

DiVincenzo averaged 12.2 points per game and shot 37.9% from 3-point range during the regular season. He averaged 14.3 points in the first three games of the playoff series against the Nuggets.

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-Field Level Media

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Pat Cummins Sums Up Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s Class With Stunning Praise

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Blistering fifties by Ishan Kishan and Abhishek Sharma guided Sunrisers Hyderabad to a five-wicket win Saturday after teen prodigy Vaibhav Sooryavanshi blasted 103 off 37 balls for Rajasthan Royals. Led by Australian fast bowler Pat Cummins, who made an impressive IPL return after a long injury layoff, Hyderabad chased down a target of 229 with nine balls to spare in Jaipur. Sooryavanshi torched the Hyderabad bowling attack after skipper Cummins won the toss and put Rajasthan in to bat. The 15-year-old Sooryavanshi hit four consecutive sixes in the opening over to set the tone, and then hit Cummins, bowling the second over, for a six off his first ball that he faced. 

He hit 12 sixes and five boundaries in his power-packed innings, which ended in the 14th over with Rajasthan at 170-3.

After his opening partner Yashasvi Jaiswal (10) fell early, Sooryavanshi was ably supported by Dhruv Jurel, who hit a 35-ball 51.

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South Africa’s Donovan Ferreira added a quick 33, and was the only other notable contributor for Rajasthan, who lost their momentum after Sooryavanshi departed. 

Cummins bowled four tidy overs for Hyderabad and finished with 1-27. 

Rajasthan paid heavily for missed chances early in the Hyderabad innings. 

England’s Jofra Archer opened with a fiery spell, removing Australia’s Travis Head off the fifth ball, after wicketkeeper Jurel dropped a regulation catch at the start of the over. 

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Archer finished with 2-34 and was the most potent Rajasthan bowler but recieved little support.

His fast-bowling partner, South Africa’s Nandre Burger, was wicketless in 3.3 overs and gave away 50 runs. 

Kishan and Abhishek grasped the initiative and raced to 139 in the 10th over, before the latter fell for 57. Kishan followed soon after, out for 74 with Hyderabad at 166-3.

Heinrich Klaasen (29) and Nitish Kumar Reddy (36) took Hyderabad closer to the target before Salil Arora and Aniket Verma got them over the line. 

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Cummins said it was a “really good win” and an ideal way to return to competition. His last outing was against England in the third Ashes Test at Adelaide in December.

“Never quite sure how it’ll come out first game (back),” he said.

Cummins also praised RR’s 15-year-old batting prodigy, calling him his new “favourite player”.

“Yeah, I think he’s my new favourite player. He hits the ball so hard, it’s great to watch. It’s good fun.

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“You’ve got to be right on the money as bowler. Because if you’re not, it’s going a long way. He’s impressive.

“He’s had a great start to his career. I love the way he plays. It takes the game on.”

(WIth Added Inputs)

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Donte DiVincenzo suffers torn Achilles in major playoff blow to Timberwolves

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Minnesota Timberwolves guard Donte DiVincenzo left Game 4 of their first-round series against the Denver Nuggets with a non-contact leg injury on Saturday. He was quickly ruled out for the game and later diagnosed with a torn right Achilles tendon, per ESPN. DiVincenzo will miss the remainder of the Wolves’ postseason run and will likely be out for most or all of the 2026-27 season.

The injury came after DiVincenzo missed a 3-pointer in the opening minutes of an eventual Minnesota win. He lunged to pursue an offensive rebound afterward and fell to the ground. That explosive push forward commonly precedes Achilles injuries, and though no two are alike, it was at least somewhat reminiscent of the ones suffered by Tyrese Haliburton, Jayson Tatum and Damian Lillard last postseason.

“He’s the heart and soul of so many things that we do,” Wolves coach Chris Finch said of DiVincenzo. “You could see the look in his eye when it happened, and you knew. We’ll love him and be there for him.”

The typical recovery for an Achilles tear is roughly a year. Tatum’s 10-month recovery gives DiVincenzo hope of returning next season, but given the history of Achilles tears, players tend to approach recovery extremely cautiously.

This is just the latest injury in a series that has been full of them. Aaron Gordon missed Game 3 for the Nuggets due to calf tightness, and Peyton Watson hasn’t yet suited up for Denver because of a right hamstring strain. Anthony Edwards has been dealing with runner’s knee, and in Game 4, he left the game in the second quarter after Nuggets forward Cam Johnson fell into his leg. He was ruled out for the night. The Wolves are leading the best-of-seven series, 3-1, heading into Monday’s Game 5.

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DiVincenzo has grown into an absolutely critical role player for the Timberwolves. After coming off the bench for the Timberwolves last season, he started all 82 games this season. He averaged over 12 points per game while shooting almost eight 3-pointers per night, and his defense has helped them absorb the loss of Most Improved Player Nickeil Alexander-Walker.

With Edwards also banged up, the Timberwolves will have to rely even more on bench guards Ayo Dosunmu and Bones Hyland. They’ve performed admirably in this series, but things are only going to get harder as this series progresses.

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Daizen Maeda brace sees Celtic move level on points with Hearts at top of table

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Daizen Maeda drove Celtic to a 3-1 victory against Falkirk as the champions moved level on points with William Hill Premiership leaders Hearts.

The Japan international scored twice and set up another as Martin O’Neill’s side overcame a tough test.

Maeda charged down a clearance from Keelan Adams before drilling the ball past the stranded Nicky Hogarth to give Celtic the lead in the 30th minute.

The Japan international then won the ball back before setting up Kieran Tierney to double the lead a minute before half-time.

Celtic had come under a period of sustained pressure prior to the opener and Falkirk got themselves back in the game in the when substitute Kyrell Wilson produced a brilliant finish in the 70th minute.

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But Maeda restored the two-goal cushion when he slotted home in the 83rd minute from Sebastian Tounekti’s low cross.

Daizen Maeda restored his side's two-goal cushion against Falkirk
Daizen Maeda restored his side’s two-goal cushion against Falkirk (Getty)

Maeda had sent Celtic on their way to the Scottish Cup final last weekend by charging down a clearance from St Mirren goalkeeper Ryan Mullen and he again showed the value of his work ethic in the centre-forward role.

The recently-reinstated Green Brigade invoked the “spirit of 86” before the game with a huge replica of the away strip Celtic wore when beating St Mirren 5-0 to pip Hearts to the title on goal difference 40 years ago.

This Celtic team are some way off the free-flowing football of Davie Hay’s side, who won their final eight league games that season.

Goal difference is unlikely to be their saviour this year. Celtic are four goals worse off than Hearts, who play Hibernian at Easter Road on Saturday, and nine off Rangers, who are a point off the top ahead of their home match with Motherwell.

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But with three consecutive wins behind them, Celtic will give themselves a big chance if they can grind out another four and the home fans delivered the vocal support which could be crucial in home games against their two title rivals.

O’Neill handed James Forrest his first start since November while Falkirk had Hogarth and defenders Keelan Adams and Lewis Neilson in for the injured Scott Bain, Liam Henderson and Filip Lissah.

James Forrest made his first start since November
James Forrest made his first start since November (PA)

Celtic had the better of the opening stages without seriously threatening and they had a let off after some slack play allowed Brad Spencer to unleash a volley which Viljami Sinisalo pushed wide.

Leon McCann and Dylan Tait drove efforts off target for the visitors before Hogarth saved well from Anthony Ralston’s long-range effort.

Maeda opened the scoring from 30 yards and hit an ambitious strike straight at Hogarth from similar range after winning the ball back straight from the restart.

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Falkirk twice came close to an equaliser when Calvin Miller volleyed just wide and Tait headed off target from Spencer’s cross.

But Maeda’s pressing again paid off when he dispossessed Ben Broggio before setting up Tierney to finish off the underside of the bar from 15 yards.

Yang Hyun-jun had a goal disallowed for offside before Wilson lashed the ball into the top corner from McCann’s deep cross.

O’Neill sent on Alistair Johnston for his first game since aggravating a hamstring injury in October and Hogarth stopped Benjamin Nygren’s free-kick and a Liam Scales header before Maeda struck again.

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The Japan international missed a great chance for his hat-trick in the closing stages.

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Every QB taken in 2026 NFL Draft: Updated results

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Every QB taken in 2026 NFL Draft: Updated results originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The NFL Draft has arrived. No more conjecture or hypothetical. Five months of preparations and the biggest job interview in the world will now become real. 

Viewers have become accustomed to certain similarities. The best quarterbacks, edge rushers, offensive linemen and cornerbacks are towards the top, while running backs, safeties and linebackers are less prioritized at the top. In 2026, they throw out almost all the positional tendencies and trends. 

The 2026 Draft has been called a one-quarterback draft. While that perception is accurate, it’s not a literal representation. There is one prospect that should become a franchise quarterback.

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Every other player from QB2-QB26 had less than ideal evaluations. While there is only one expected day one starter at the position, there are plenty of prospects to consider, even if they might need some development.

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Best available QB in 2026 NFL Draft

Name

Pos

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HT

WT

Range

Pick 

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Team

Fernando Mendoza

Indiana

6’5

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225

No. 1

1

Raiders

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Ty Simpson

Alabama

6’2

208

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Rd 1

13

Rams

Garrett Nussmeier

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LSU

6’1

205

Rd 3-4

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249

Chiefs

Carson Beck

Miami

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6’4

220

Rd 3-5

65

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Cardinals

Cade Klubnik

Clemson

6’2

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210

Rd 4-6

110

Jets

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Drew Allar

Penn St

6’5

235

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Rd 4-6

76

Steelers

Jalon Daniels

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Kansas

6’0

220

Rd 4-6

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Taylen Green

Arkansas

6’6

220

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Rd 4-6

182

Browns

Luke Altmyer

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Illinois

6’2

215

Rd 4-6

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Sawyer Robertson

Baylor

6’4

235

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Rd 4-6

Joe Fagnano

UConn

6’4

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225

Rd 4-6

Haynes King

GT

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6’3

215

Rd 5-7

Joey Aguilar

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Tennessee

6’3

225

Rd 5-7

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Cole Payton

NDSU

6’3

233

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Rd 5-7

178

Eagles

Tommy Castellanos

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Florida St

5’11

200

Rd 5-7

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Miller Moss

Louisville

6’2

210

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Rd 5-7

Kyron Drones

Virginia Tech

6’2

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235

Rd 5-7

Athan Kaliakmanis

Rutgers

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6’3

212

Rd 5-7

223

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Commanders

Behren Morton

Texas Tech

6’2

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210

Rd 5-7

234

Patriots

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Jake Retzlaff

Tulane

6’1

205

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Rd 6-UFA

Grayson James

Boston College

6’3

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218

Rd 6-UFA

Mark Gronowski

Iowa

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6’2

235

Rd 6-UFA

Marverick McIvor

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W. Kentucky

6’2

214

Rd 6-UFA

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Blake Shapen

Mississippi St

6’1

210

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Rd 6-UFA

Tyler Van Dyke

SMU

6’4

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230

Rd 6-UFA

Diego Pavia

Vanderbilt

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5’11

207

Rd 6-UFA

Social media reactions to QB selections in 2026 NFL Draft

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Karun Nair’s Viral “One More Chance” Post Resurfaces, Heavy Trolling Follows

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Delhi Capitals batter Karun Nair was on the receiving end of brutal trolling after dropping two regulation catches of Punjab Kings captain Shreyas Iyer, costing his side dearly in a high-scoring IPL 2026 clash. In the space of just four deliveries, Karun dropped Shreyas on 28 at long-off, and again on 35 at long-on, inadvertently allowing PBKS to chase a record 265 on a docile track. Karun’s dropped catches proved costly, as Shreyas went on to smash an unbeaten 71 off just 36 balls.

Following Karun’s horror show at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, fans mocked the veteran batter by resurfacing an old, emotional post. 

Back in 2022, Karun had famously tweeted: “Dear cricket, give me one more chance.”

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Here’s how internet reacted:

In the first incident, Shreyas mistimed a shot off Vipraj Nigam toward long-off. Karun settled under the ball but was unable to hold on.

Four balls later, Shreyas miscued once again-this time off a delivery from Kuldeep Yadav-but Karun spilled the chance yet again.

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Meanwhile, Shreyas has been sensational for PBKS this season, scoring 279 runs in seven matches and six innings at an average of 69.75 and a strike rate of 186.00, including four fifties and a best score of 71*.

Since joining the franchise last year, he has made 886 runs in 24 matches and 23 innings at an average of 55.18 and a strike rate of 178.38, including 10 fifties, marking an era of transformation for his T20 game.

(With ANI Inputs)


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Franziska Kett scores and sees bizarre red as Bayern hold Barcelona in Women’s Champions League

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Franziska Kett went from hero to villain as Bayern Munich fought back to ensure they will travel to Barcelona for the decisive leg of their Women’s Champions League semi-final all square.

Kett cancelled out Ewa Pajor’s first-half opener at the Allianz Arena, but was then shown a red card for pulling Salma Paralluelo’s hair as a hard-fought first leg ended 1-1 with Bayern having to survive a late onslaught.

Barca were ahead with just eight minutes on the clock when Pajor met Esmee Brugts’ cross with a deft touch to guide the ball past keeper Ena Mahmutovic, although it took a fine save from Cata Coll to keep out Kett’s curling attempt three minutes before the break.

Franziska Kett's evening ended in disgrace as she was sent off
Franziska Kett’s evening ended in disgrace as she was sent off (Reuters)

Brugts was denied a second for the visitors by a post and Patri Guijarro had a header cleared off the goal-line before Claudia Pina’s follow-up was saved, but the hosts were back on terms with 69 minutes gone when Kett beat Cata Coll.

Kett’s evening ended in disgrace with 11 minutes remaining and Mahmutovic had to be at her best to repel Mapi Leon’s piledriver at the end.

Defending champions Arsenal face eight-time winners Lyon in Sunday’s semi-final.

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Vikings RB Aaron Jones Offers a Message to New Draft Picks

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Dec 25, 2025; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings running back Aaron Jones Sr. (33) celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the Detroit Lions in the first quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images

In March, things appeared dicey for Aaron Jones and the Minnesota Vikings.

Word had circulated that the team was going to move on, but there was an 11th-hour resolution where the veteran agreed to a pay cut to stick around the Twin Cities. The veteran is back for a minimum of one more season.

I spoke with Jones at the Vikings’ draft part at U.S. Bank Stadium. Naturally, the conversation worked into the 2026 NFL Draft. What was his message to those who were being drafted late? How do you have a ten-year career, become a starter, and go to the Pro Bowl? Aaron Jones has done all of those things.

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Check out some of his response: “It’s make the most of every opportunity. That opportunity could be an opportunity to get into the cold tub, the opportunity to get in a hyperbaric chamber, extra stretching session. Just maximizing your resources that are there for you.”

Aaron Jones Offers a Message to the Rookies

Sometimes, players (and coaches) fall victim to standard football lingo.

Everyone talks about being tough, working hard, and being a team-first player. Some of that is worked into the Jones answer, but I tend to trust his sincerity. And, to be sure, the proof is in the pudding. Not the fastest, the largest, nor the highest picked, Jones has been in the NFL since going in the 5th of the 2017 NFL Draft. Clearly, he has something figured out.

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Aaron Jones Sr. carries the ball against the Falcons at U.S. Bank Stadium.
Minnesota Vikings running back Aaron Jones Sr. (33) pushes forward with the football during first-half action on Sep 14, 2025, at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. Jones tested Atlanta’s defensive front early as Minnesota attempted to establish balance on offense in the Week 2 contest. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images.

His ideas about the young fellas taking care of their body makes sense. Note that he’s talking about that as someone who is in his early 30s and not his early 20s. Maybe some of that insight has been hard earned, but the point remains that the incoming talent would be wise to soak it up from the start of their careers.

What’s also of note from his answer was his emphasis on the NFL being a business. Again, that’s the sort of saying that’s so general and overused that it has been hollowed of its meaning, but he offered further clarity to add nice insight to what he means.

Per Jones, the rookies are “always being evaluated, whether [they] know it or not.” That much is obvious when they’re in practice or playing in a game, but it goes beyond that. The way these guys carry themselves in the building matters. In meetings, it’s vital to be able to demonstrate an understanding of one’s responsibilities within specific plays. Doing so builds trust from the coaches – key to getting onto the field – while proving that work is being done to digest the playbook.

Kick it over to Aaron Jones for these precise ideas: “Even when you’re sitting in the meeting room, and they ask you a question, I’m going to show them that I’m ready, I’ve been in my playbook.” Further from Jones: “I feel like a lot of it comes down to trust.”

Being able to “show your value” is what’s now needed from the incoming talent, especially with the margin being thinner for a late-round player than a 1st-Round player.

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Think of things this way. Tearing it up in college means earning a ticket to get into the NFL. Now that the rookies have done so, there’s now a new challenge, something else that needs to be earned. Being in the NFL is just the beginning; the focus now turns toward earning a roster spot alongside a job on Sunday. That could be on specials or possibly by getting worked into either of offense or defense. Some may even work into the starting lineup.

Sep 22, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings running back Aaron Jones (33) catches a pass from quarterback Sam Darnold (14) against the Houston Texans in the second quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-Imagn Images.

Aaron Jones, 31, is coming back in 2026 as a co-favorite to be the Vikings’ top running back (Jordan Mason is competing with him). At the very least, he’ll be an excellent option on 3rd down as one of the NFL’s most underrated receiving backs. He’s a strong pass blocker and can still move the ball on the ground, so he helps keep the Vikings unpredictable.

Rookies would do well to follow the veteran’s example, mirroring his habits to arrive at a better chance of overcoming the modest expectations that are imposed on Day 3 players.

The 2026 NFL Draft finishes off today.


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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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Iga Swiatek retires at Madrid Open due to illness as tough 2026 continues

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Iga Swiatek’s struggles continued with a tearful withdrawal during her third-round match against Ann Li at the Madrid Open.

The former world number one, who is yet to advance beyond the quarter-finals at any event this season, revealed afterwards she is battling a virus and she had her temperature and blood pressure checked after losing the opening two games of the deciding set.

After taking pills, Swiatek initially continued, but she looked lethargic and pulled the plug trailing American Li 6-7 (4) 6-2 0-3 0-30 before walking off the court in tears.

“The last two days were pretty terrible,” said the Pole. “I think I have some virus.

“It’s been some hours fine, some hours pretty bad. I heard there is something going on between players, that the virus is somewhere on site. I’m sure I’ll be fine in a couple of days, but I had zero energy.

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“I just felt really bad physically, and yesterday, even worse. I thought maybe today it’s going to be better – maybe it was, but not enough to play a match.”

Swiatek looked to have turned the contest around after losing a tight opening set but it was no surprise when she called it a day given her demeanour in the third set.

Asked if she considered not taking to the court at all, the fourth seed said: “I knew that it was going to be hard but I still wanted to try.

“In the third set I started feeling a little bit dizzy and not really coordinated. I couldn’t really drink anything because I just felt like I’m full constantly, and the energy went down drastically.”

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Swiatek will now focus on recovering before turning her thoughts to the Italian Open in Rome next month, where she will hope to find form under new coach Francisco Roig ahead of Roland Garros.

“It’s sad for me that I can’t play because I was feeling really good with my game, and I was moving forward in the process,” she said.

“The tournament has just started. I couldn’t even compete today, so it’s disappointing.”

Alexander Zverev celebrates his victory (Pablo Garcia/AP)
Alexander Zverev celebrates his victory (Pablo Garcia/AP)

It has also been a difficult season for two-time grand slam finalist Jasmine Paolini and she crashed out in the third round, losing 7-5 6-3 to American Hailey Baptiste.

In the men’s singles, second seed Alexander Zverev dropped a set against Argentina’s Mariano Navone but recovered to claim a 6-1 3-6 6-3 victory.

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The German potentially stands to benefit the most from the news Carlos Alcaraz will not play at the French Open because of a wrist injury, with Zverev set to be elevated to second seed in Paris.

But the 28-year-old, who lost an epic semi-final to Alcaraz at the Australian Open in January, insisted he takes no pleasure in the Spaniard’s absence, saying: “It’s sad for tennis.

“As he said himself, he’s so young and his career will be so, so long and I think that’s what he’s looking out for. Of course, it’s never nice if he’s missing at big tournaments, I think we need him, tennis is more exciting with him, for sure.

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“In my opinion, to win a major, you have to beat the best players in the world. Of course, the last couple of months Jannik (Sinner) has been the best player and he’s obviously still there and he’s the heavy favourite now.

“I don’t want them to not be there. I’m still going to compete my hardest and I’m still going to try to win the tournament, but having them there is the better thing.”

Defending champion Casper Ruud raced to a 6-0 6-1 win over Spain’s Jaume Munar while third seed Felix Auger-Aliassime is also through to the third round.

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Pep Guardiola pays tribute to Southampton as Man City scrape into FA Cup final

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Pep Guardiola paid tribute to plucky Southampton after Manchester City scraped into a fourth successive FA Cup final with a dramatic 2-1 comeback victory at Wembley.

A slow-burner of a semi-final came alive 11 minutes from time when Finn Azaz put the second-tier Saints on course for a shock win by curling home a sublime goal.

Yet that served only to spark City into action and substitute Jeremy Doku quickly equalised with a deflected strike before Nico Gonzalez won it with an 87th-minute piledriver.

“I never thought it would be easy,” said City boss Guardiola, who made eight changes to the team which won 1-0 at Burnley in midweek

“The energy we had second half with Jeremy and Savinho, for example, and other players, if they start from the beginning they would not have this energy.

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“The first half was not bad. We didn’t concede much. In the second half we played in the level that we played in Burnley.

“Unfortunately we are not clinical enough and you have to wait. A holding midfielder made an outstanding goal.

“How many times in the second half did Southampton cross halfway? One. And what a goal. Football is unpredictable.

“That is why sometimes it is nice and sometimes it is, ‘oh my God’. Big credit to the way they defended and how they played.

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“The team in the second half was really exceptional and created chance after chance. Football is like this. We equalised with a deflection.”

City will face Chelsea or Leeds in the final on May 16 and remain on course for a domestic treble.

Guardiola, whose side slipped back to second place in the Premier League table following Arsenal’s 1-0 win over Newcastle, will not contemplate that prospect until the final game of the season.

The Spaniard has given his players three days off ahead of a trip to Everton a week on Monday.

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“It’s far away,” he said of the treble. “Before the Aston Villa game (on May 24), that night I will tell you if there is a chance. Now it’s far, far away.

“Now it’s important we have three days off for the players. I told them don’t think about football, rest.

“Now we start a season for five games, plus the final of the FA Cup.”

Southampton were briefly dreaming of emulating their 1976 FA Cup win on the 50th anniversary of that triumph.

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The promotion-chasing Saints, who came into the contest on a 20-match unbeaten run, also had a first-half finish from Leo Scienza disallowed due to offside.

Head coach Tonda Eckert said: “Over big parts of the game, (it was an) outstanding performance from the boys.

“In these games you’re not going to have a lot of moments, you know that you always get a couple. We have a very big one in the first half, it’s a very tight decision and then we had a couple in the second half.

“We had a look how they scored their goals this season and there are not too many goals they scored from outside the box so far. Unfortunately, it was two today.

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“I think we’ve done absolutely everything to represent this football club in the best way possible today.

“Obviously we wanted to give the supporters a final here at Wembley. We were very close, so I think it’s quite natural that there is a good sense of disappointment straight after the game.”

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