The 2026 French Open has turned into one of the most chaotic and historic Grand Slam tournaments in modern tennis history.

By the time the semifinals arrived at Roland-Garros, every former Grand Slam singles champion had already been eliminated from both the men’s and women’s draws — something that has not happened at a major tournament since the 1977 French Open.

For years, men’s tennis has been dominated by familiar names. Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer and, more recently, Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner controlled the sport’s biggest stages.

But Paris 2026 has ripped up the script completely.

Sinner stunned early

The biggest shock of the tournament came in the second round when world No. 1 Jannik Sinner crashed out to Argentina’s Juan Manuel Cerúndolo.

Sinner entered Roland-Garros as one of the favourites to win the title, especially after his dominant performances over the last 18 months. Instead, his tournament ended before the opening week was even complete.

His exit immediately opened up the draw and sparked belief among a new generation of players chasing their first major title.

Alcaraz never even got started

Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz did not even make it onto the court.

The Spaniard withdrew before the tournament due to injury, robbing fans of one of the biggest stars in world tennis and removing another proven champion from the bracket.

With Nadal retired and Alcaraz absent, the tournament suddenly felt like the end of a familiar era on clay.

Djokovic falls as the old guard disappears

Novak Djokovic’s defeat in the third round completed the collapse of the established order.

The Serbian legend, who has dominated Grand Slam tennis for more than a decade, was beaten by Brazilian teenager João Fonseca in one of the standout moments of the tournament.

For the first time in years, the latter stages of a Grand Slam no longer belonged to players fans had become used to seeing lift trophies.

Instead, Paris became the stage for a completely new cast.

An all-Italian semifinal headlines the new generation

The semifinal lineup tells the story better than anything else.

On one side of the draw, Italy will guarantee a finalist as Matteo Arnaldi faces fellow countryman Flavio Cobolli in an all-Italian semifinal.

Cobolli reached the final four after eliminating Canada’s Félix Auger-Aliassime, while Arnaldi continued his breakthrough run with fearless tennis throughout the tournament.

The other semifinal will see Czech rising star Jakub Menšík face Alexander Zverev.

At just 20 years old, Menšík has become one of the stories of the tournament, playing with maturity and composure beyond his years.

Zverev, meanwhile, is now the only remaining player with extensive Grand Slam semifinal experience — yet the German is still chasing the first major title of his career despite years near the top of the game.

Women’s draw also transformed

The women’s tournament has been just as unpredictable.

World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka was knocked out by Diana Shnaider in the quarterfinals after winning the first set, while several other favourites also failed to survive the opening rounds.

The women’s semifinals will feature:

• Diana Shnaider
• Maja Chwalińska
• Mirra Andreeva
• Marta Kostyuk

None of them has previously won a Grand Slam singles title.

Tennis enters a new chapter

For decades, tennis fans became used to seeing the same champions dominate major tournaments.

But Roland-Garros 2026 feels different.

Teenagers are beating legends. Unseeded players are making deep runs. New rivalries are forming in real time.

Whether this proves to be a temporary disruption or the true beginning of tennis’ next era remains to be seen.

What is already certain, however, is that Paris 2026 will be remembered as the tournament where the sport’s old order finally gave way to a new generation.

2026 PVL Rookie Draft class. –PVL PHOTO

A setter and a libero headlined the 2026 Draft class of the PVL on Wednesday night, with Lams Lamina being picked first overall by Galeries Tower and Detdet Pepito going second as picked by Capital1.

Galeries is banking on the two-time UAAP Best Setter to elevate its offense and maximize a core led by Jean Asis, Aiza Maizo-Pontillas, Gayle Pascual, Roselle Baliton and Erika Deloria.

“It’s really fulfilling because, wow, I was the one they chose for Galeries,” Lamina said in Filipino. “It shows the trust they have in me, and I’m very happy and grateful for that.”

Lamina enters the professional ranks with an accomplished collegiate résumé, as she also won three championships in five Finals appearances with National University. She also gained experience with Alas Pilipinas pool.

“I came from a championship team at NU, and what I can bring to Galeries is my competitiveness both on and off the court,” she said. “I want to contribute my hard work and discipline to the team.”

Meanwhile, Capital1—which acquired a lot of offense in Vanie Gandler and Erika Santos when PLDT filed for a leave of absence—took Pepito to strengthen its defense.

The former University of Santo Tomas captain and two-time UAAP Best Libero, Pepito, reunites with childhood friend and former collegiate rival Bella Belen, Capital1’s top overall selection in last year’s draft and the reigning Rookie of the Year.

“As I was walking down the red carpet, I saw Bella and started thinking back to all our memories. We’ve been teammates since elementary school, and now we’re teammates again in the PVL,” Pepito said.

Pepito is expected to bolster the Solar Spikers’ backline alongside Roma Mae Doromal and Rachel Jorvina as the franchise continues to build around recent acquisitions Gandler and Santos.

“Honestly, it’s a mix of emotions, but more than anything, I’m just grateful and thankful to God,” Pepito went on. “Playing in the PVL was something I only dreamed about before. Being the No. 2 pick comes with pressure, but I’m thankful for the opportunity, and I’ll do my best to help Capital1.”

The draft class was notably affected by the withdrawals of projected top picks Alyssa Solomon and Niña Ytang, who opted to focus on their commitments with Alas Pilipinas.

Choco Mucho drafted Far Eastern University setter Tin Ubaldo, with ZUS Coffee tapping Mapua middle blocker Alyanna Ong at No.4—the highest pick of an NCAA player in the draft’s third year.

Akari, which held the No.5 pick, opted to pass in this year’s draft. Nxled selected University of the Philippines spiker-libero Irah Jaboneta.

Jonna Perdido landed at sixth overall with the Farm Fresh Foxies, reuniting with her college coach, Kungfu Reyes, who is the assistant of Japanese Koji Tsuzurabara.

Another NCAA standout was drafted in the first round, with Perpetual Help setter Fifi Ariola joining PLDT as the seventh pick. Adamson spiker Barbie Jamili was selected by Creamline to cap the first round.

A representative of the new generation of Brazilian women’s football, Tainá Maranhão could reach 10 matches for the Brazilian National Team next Saturday (6) against the United States. The young forward, who started playing football at 15, has steadily progressed in her appearances for the Canarinho since her first call-up to the U-17 team in 2019.

In October last year, she made her debut on coach Arthur Elias’s squad list. Today, she has five call-ups to the senior national team and nine matches played. Of the six games the Canarinho has played this year, Maranhão found the net in three: in the friendly against Costa Rica and in the matches against South Korea and Zambia in the FIFA Series.

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In a press conference this Wednesday (3), she said she is happy to be experiencing this stage of her career, especially because of her age — she turns 22 in August. “Everyone says I’m one of the youngest, and I take that as a good thing. Everything I see in the more experienced players, I try to absorb for myself and take as learning,” said Tainá.

Tainá Maranhão and Raissa Bahia during the Women’s National Team’s second training session at CT Joaquim GravaCredits: Lívia Villas Boas/Staff Images/CBF

The press conference took place after the second day of training for the friendlies against the United States, scheduled for Saturday (6) in São Paulo and Tuesday (9) in Fortaleza. One of Palmeiras’ key players, with whom she has already won major titles such as back-to-back Paulista championships and the Copa do Brasil, Maranhão does not feel the weight of expectations.

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“I’m happy even because of the expectations. And I’m going to work to live up to everyone’s expectations,” she assured. In the squad called up for these FIFA Date matches, the forward is joined by great club teammates: Raissa Bahia, who is beginning to make her mark with the Canarinho, with two appearances; and Bia Zaneratto, a veteran with 130 matches.

“Everyone knows I’m very inspired by Bia, but there’s also Guti (Amanda Gutierres), who keeps me on my toes,” she admitted, with the familiarity of someone who played alongside them for two years. “I think this reunion is really cool, we build closeness. Everything we’ve been through adds a lot to what we’re experiencing with the national team. Everything is still very new to me, but I’m loving it,” said the player, whose speed and intensity on the field are already showing up in her numbers with the Canarinho.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.

In golf, there are a few things you just don’t do: stepping in front of a birdie, walking through someone’s line or forgetting to tip your caddie are just a few of the unwritten rules most golfers abide by.

In addition to the etiquette most of us already follow, there are a few instructional fundamentals that belong on the list. While we could spend hours listing them out, there’s one in particular that stands out. Recently, GOLF Top 100 Teacher and PGA Tour putting consultant Stephen Sweeney shared one of his putting rules, and it’s something every golfer should keep in mind.

“I have yet to see a world-class putter that putts good with a closed stance,” Sweeney said.

“There are certain things that are non-negotiable for me,” he continued. “The one thing that I hate to see is any sort of closed stance with the feet, and open shoulder.”

In a recent lesson with GOLF’s Jake Morrow in the debut episode of The Lab with Stephen Sweeney, presented by Baird, Sweeney explained that a closed stance often causes players to unintentionally aim right, leading to compensations that reduce consistency on the green. Luckily, the fix is easy. 

Square up your stance

As Sweeney demonstrates, an easy way to square up your putting stance is to set your feet shoulder-width apart and then let your arms hang loosely. Then, slide your fingers down until they’re resting on your kneecaps. This position should help everything square up.

“In an ideal world, we’re going to have everything square: knees, hips, shoulders, chest,” Sweeney said.

From there, you might notice your head or eye position feels slightly different, maybe a bit more forward or over the ball. That’s intentional. This drill also helps your head and eyes get into the proper position at address.

“I want you to get to a point where you feel like your eyes are over the golf ball,” Sweeney said.

While Sweeney uses lasers to help Morrow settle into a proper setup, a putting mirror or even an alignment rod work just as well. The key here is developing a square, consistent setup — one that puts you in position to start the ball on your intended line.

For more from Sweeney, you can watch the full video below. You can subscribe to GOLF’s YouTube channel here.

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Russell Wilson has announced his retirement from the NFL after 14 seasons, a career highlighted by a Super Bowl victory with the Seattle Seahawks.

Wilson, a 10-time Pro Bowler and the 2020 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year, announced his retirement in a video posted to social media.

A third-round pick by the Seahawks in the 2012 NFL Draft, Wilson became one of the league’s most recognizable quarterbacks, tallying 46,966 passing yards and 353 total touchdowns during a career that also included stints with the Denver Broncos, Pittsburgh Steelers and New York Giants.

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Russell Wilson of the New York Giants walks off the field following the game against the Dallas Cowboys at MetLife Stadium on Jan. 4, 2026 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Ishika Samant/Getty Images)

This announcement from Wilson comes after he reportedly finalized a deal to become a CBS Sports NFL analyst. When news broke of his sports media deal, it was unclear if he wished to call it quits for his playing career, or simply take a season off to think about it. But Wilson posted a lengthy video on his social media, where he reflected on his time with the game and confirmed that he would be joining CBS Sports. 

“I remember the moment I fell in love with football. Waking up before sunrise with my dad and brother. Deep post routes and ‘moon balls.’ Yeah, that’s where it all began. But somewhere along the way, my love for football turned into more than just passion. It was an obsession,” Wilson narrated as clips from his childhood to college, to the NFL Scouting Combine, to his career highlights. 

Wilson found quick success in the NFL after a college career that began at NC State, but flourished at Wisconsin. He went 11-5 in his first NFL season, as the Seahawks quickly became a feared squad in the NFC. 

EX-NFL STAR IMPLORES RUSSELL WILSON TO HANG IT UP ‘DO YOUR TV THING’

Accompanied by the “Legion of Boom” defense in Seattle, Wilson and the Seahawks walked into MetLife Stadium for Super Bowl XLVIII and put on a rout of the Denver Broncos, 43-8, to win the Vince Lombardi Trophy. It was just the second season for Wilson, who cemented himself as the future at quarterback for Seattle under head coach Pete Carroll, who he shouted out in his video. 

“To Coach Carroll, thanks for taking a chance on the young, 5’11″ black kid from Richmond, Virginia who was told he was too small to ever make it in the NFL. We knew what winning was like,” Wilson said.  

Wilson wasn’t able to win the trophy again, ultimately falling to the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLIV in heartbreaking fashion. Instead of running with Marshawn Lynch on the goal line, the Seahawks infamously chose to pass, and Wilson was picked off by Malcolm Butler to seal victory for yet another Tom Brady ring. 

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson passes during warm-ups before an NFL football game against the St. Louis Rams, Sunday, Dec. 30, 2012, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

In 10 seasons with Seattle, Wilson had 37,059 passing yards with 292 touchdowns and a 104-53-1 overall record. Wilson told Seattle fans, “You raised me,” in his video.

It wasn’t as sweet for Wilson once he was traded to the Broncos before the start of the 2022 season, as he started to face some serious adversity and public rifts with head coach Sean Payton. Wilson went 4-11 in his inaugural season with Denver, and after going 7-8 in 2023, the team moved on despite his massive contract looming. 

As a result, Wilson took a veteran minimum deal to join Mike Tomlin and the Steelers during the 2024 campaign. He went 6-5 in his starts, earning his 10th and final Pro Bowl bid. The Steelers made the playoffs, but didn’t make it out of the Wild Card Round. 

Finally, the Giants signed Wilson before the start of the 2025 season, though they drafted Jaxson Dart out of Ole Miss to be his successor. That quickly changed after just three starts for Wilson, as Dart took over in Week 4 against the Los Angeles Chargers. Wilson never regained the starting role, though he was as classy as ever, talking about his mentorship of Dart. 

Throughout the years, Wilson enjoyed working with every coach, teammate and the fans of each franchise across his football journey.

New York Giants quarterback Russell Wilson waves to fans after the game against the Dallas Cowboys at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., on Jan. 4, 2026. (Vincent Carchietta/Imagn Images)

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“To every teammate I’ve had the privilege of sharing the locker room with, thank you for the sacrifices, the brotherhood, the memories. None of this is possible without you,” he said. 

“To every fan who supported, through the highs and the lows, your belief, your energy and your passion meant more than you’ll ever know.”

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MEXICO, Pampanga—Jakob Taruc and Kendra Garingalao completed dominant victories on Wednesday, overcoming rain delays and shifting conditions to capture the premier division titles at the ICTSI Beverly Place Junior PGT Championship.

Taruc capped a wire-to-wire performance with a closing 75 for a 54-hole total of 224, winning by 18 strokes over Nathan Belandres at Beverly Place Golf Club.

Garingalao, meanwhile, stretched a three-shot overnight lead into an eight-shot victory despite a birdie-less 77. The 15-year-old finished with a 235 aggregate, comfortably ahead of Rafa Anciano and Levonne Talion, who tied for second at 243.

Play was delayed for an hour by heavy rain before competitors resumed under a lift, clean and place rule. Conditions improved later in the day, although another interruption due to lightning threats halted play for nearly two hours.

Taruc, who began the final round with an 11-shot cushion, opened with a birdie but mixed in three bogeys over the next four holes and a double-bogey on the par-3 15th. The setbacks proved inconsequential as he cruised to his first Junior Philippine Golf Tour victory.

Belandres shot a 76 to secure runner-up honors at 242.

Dylan Harper #2 of the San Antonio Spurs drives to the basket against Tyler Kolek #13 and Jordan Clarkson #00 of the New York Knicks in the fourth quarter of the championship game of the Emirates NBA Cup at T-Mobile Arena on December 16, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Ethan Miller/Getty Images/AFP

No player from the Philippines has won an NBA title, but two with Filipino heritage—New York’s Jordan Clarkson and San Antonio’s Dylan Harper—meet in this month’s NBA Finals.

And one of them will be part of a championship squad.

Clarkson, whose mother has Filipino roots, signed with the Knicks last July for his 12th NBA campaign after stops with the Los Angeles Lakers, Cleveland Cavaliers and Utah Jazz. He has also played on the Filipino national basketball squad.

READ: Dylan Harper, Jordan Clarkson carry PH heritage in NBA Finals

“Definitely inspiring to the Filipino-Americans and Filipinos all around the country. It’s definitely going to be fun to watch,” Clarkson said of his matchup with Harper.

“One of us two [is] taking a championship back home to the Philippines and representing that well.”

Clarkson, who turns 34 on Sunday, has been keeping an eye on 20-year-old rookie Harper, the second overall selection in last year’s NBA Draft.

“He has been really good throughout the whole year. I’ve been watching him, keeping up with him, as well, him being so young and having so much poise throughout this whole playoffs,” Clarkson said.

“It’s a great sight to see a young star coming in this league and doing what he’s doing.”

Harper, whose father is five-time NBA champion Ron Harper and whose mother, Maria, is from the Philippines, appreciated the special rivalry with Clarkson.

‘The biggest thing’

“Me and him get to do something really special, representing our country, where we’re from, represent everything on the biggest stage in basketball,” Harper said.

“I feel like over there in the Philippines, basketball is probably the biggest thing.

“I think we’re very excited for that and we’re just very blessed and grateful to be in this position.”

Maria Harper is a high school boys assistant coach in New Jersey who coached Dylan and his brother Ron Jr., who now plays for the Boston Celtics.

“My mom, she’s not my coach no more, so I don’t get it as much anymore,” Harper said of motherly basketball advice. “But regular mom stuff with a little mix of basketball here and there.

“At the end of the day it’s more of, as long as you’re happy, I’m good.”

Berrettini’s only previous retirement from a Grand Slam match was at the 2023 US Open.

He also made an early exit from the 2021 ATP Tour Finals because of an abdominal injury, while last season he had to pull out midway through matches in Madrid and Rome in the run-up to the French Open.

But the former world number six, who had missed the previous four French Opens because of injury problems, is determined to take the positives from reaching a seventh Grand Slam quarter-final in his first outing at Roland Garros since 2021.

Now ranked 105th, he added: “I have to take the good stuff that I did in this tournament, because a few weeks ago or a few days ago, it would have been crazy to think about me in the quarter-finals, and so I’ll try to go back home with a smile on my face.

“It’s going to be tough but that’s how I like to approach these two weeks, and of course I’m disappointed, I’m sad, but I’m also proud of the way I fought through this tournament.”

Speaking on court after his win, Arnaldi said: “You never wish for someone to end the tournament like this.

“He did an amazing tournament. I am sorry for him and I hope he recovers because soon it is the grass and he is going to be very tough to play.”

Arnaldi, ranked 104th in the world, is the lowest-ranked male player to reach a French Open singles semi-final since Filip Dewulf did so in 1997 when ranked 122nd.

He will play another Italian, 10th seed Flavio Cobolli, on Friday for a place in Sunday’s final.

It’s official — more than official. The Minnesota Vikings formally hired Nolan Teasley on Monday to replace Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, who was fired four months ago, and on Tuesday, the franchise trotted him in front of Twin Cities media.

Teasley gave an introductory speech and answered questions. Here’s what we learned from the event, as training camp looms about eight weeks away.

Teasley Steps into a Win-Now Vikings Operation

1. Teasley Is Ready to Win Now; There Is No Rebuild

One reporter asked about the state of the roster, whether it was time to contemplate a rebuild or win now. Teasley, without hesitation, affirmed the goal is to win a Super Bowl in 2026, not operate under the guise of a rebuild.

“We’re going to build the deepest, most competitive roster possible so that we can be at our best in December and January and February, and ultimately working toward winning the Super Bowl that this fan base deserves,” he added.

Most fans assumed a rebuild was not afoot — the Vikings never tear it down to the studs and start over — and 2026 is no different. With Kyler Murray and Justin Jefferson on the roster, it’s go-time for Minnesota to win its first Super Bowl in 65 years of existence.

Teasley is not in town to start over.

2. Has Final Say of 53-Man Roster

While Minnesota has a unique power dynamic among Kevin O’Connell, Rob Brzezinski, and Teasley, the buck stops with Teasley.

Pressed by SKOR North‘s Judd Zulgad to clearly define the leadership hierarchy, Wilf said, “He’s the general manager of the organization. He has final say on the roster, of the 53-man roster, but in the end, he’s going to lean heavily — and he’ll say it himself — on our head coach, obviously, and people like Rob Brzezinski in the building that have deep experience and skillsets that are complementary.”

“So I think we have it all put together in a great way. And I’m confident that this is a great move for the organization, a great move for the Minnesota Vikings.”

Many believe the Vikings’ structure will be more custom than most, with O’Connell and Brzezinski having considerable input on the roster.

“Nolan, the General Manager, reports to ownership as well as the head coach,” Wilf stated.

You can wonder about a “triangle of power” until you’re blue in the face, but Teasley is the organization’s point guard.

3. Everyone Loves Kevin O’Connell

Throughout the 20-30 minute conversation, O’Connell’s name came up about a half-dozen times. Wilf and Teasley separately gushed about him, claiming he was the right man for the job.

Wilf even acknowledged that O’Connell was a part of the process in hiring Teasley: “We appreciate Kevin being part of the process in selecting a general manager. We haven’t had that type of iteration here, and I think that was a big part of it, their dialogue and communication.”

Teasley also said he checked with his former Seahawks coworkers who now work in Minnesota, and every one of them spoke glowingly of O’Connell, making Teasley’s decision to accept the job a no-brainer.

4. Wilfs’ Reiteration of Shared Leadership

Wilf, while introducing Teasley and answering questions, repeatedly name-dropped O’Connell and, when pressed about the leadership structure, replied, “Rob is part of the football operations, a football organization that’s under Nolan. So again, in the end, that’s the structure. That’s the way it is. If it comes to structure, we’ve got a problem, OK?”

“The end result is making sure leaders collaborate, work together, and kudos to Rob and the effort he led this past few months. Right now, we have Nolan, and I think that’s an incredible piece to our puzzle. Like I said, Nolan’s leading our football operations at GM reports ownership, and obviously Coach O’Connell reports to ownership as well.”

Teasley won’t work alone.

5. Don’t Expect to Learn Much from Teasley’s Words

On Adofo-Mensah’s watch, the former boss was actually quite revealing at times, telling reporters and fans his plan for the team. Some might argue he could be too forthcoming at times.

Teasley is not like that. Reporters asked him deep questions requiring elaborate responses, and in most cases, Teasley answered in two sentences with canned lingo one might use while running for the United States Senate.

Unless he suddenly changes his personality, Teasley won’t divulge much to reporters; his actions will do the talking. He’s not a “here’s what I will do” kind of guy.

Dustin Baker is a novelist and political scientist. His second novel, The Invaders , is out now. So is … More about Dustin Baker

The Minnesota Vikings don’t start training camp until the end of July, and until then, NFL-focused media outlets are making bold predictions about the purple team and its peers.

SI.com‘s Conor Orr publishes such prognostications every summer, and this go-around for Minnesota, he picked Carson Wentz to start more games than J.J. McCarthy and Minnesota to exceed its Vegas win total of 8.5.

McCarthy Pressure Builds around Minnesota’s Summer Plan

Orr’s Two Predictions

Orr began at quarterback, writing, “J.J. McCarthy will start fewer games than Carson Wentz. All three Vikings quarterbacks — Wentz, McCarthy and Kyler Murray — will play at some point this season. Murray will get the lion’s share of snaps while Wentz steps in during a critical two-game late-season stretch to keep Minnesota’s playoff hopes alive.”

And for the win forecast, he opined, “The Vikings will surpass their current projected Vegas win total. Topping 8.5 wins feels manageable for a team that finished last year with nine wins despite a markedly worse quarterback situation. In fact, I’m bold enough to say that this team will have four wins by its Week 6 bye.”

It’s a pair of bittersweet, perhaps contrasting, theories.

An Awful Look for McCarthy

If McCarthy plays fewer games than Wentz, something will have gone really, really wrong. Foremost, it could be that the Vikings elevated Wentz to the QB2 job, which would be an utterly terrible look for McCarthy’s career trajectory — if he can’t win a backup quarterback job over a guy who’s a few years from retirement.

Or — the prediction could insinuate that McCarthy gets hurt again after suffering a torn meniscus, high ankle sprain, concussion, and broken hand through two NFL seasons. McCarthy has missed 73% of Vikings games due to injury.

Even if Murray establishes himself as Minnesota’s QB1 in 2026, McCarthy’s endgame cannot be Wentz playing more snaps. It would put McCarthy on borrowed time in Minnesota.

Nine Wins or More Checks Out

On the other hand, Orr’s second bold prediction is a little ironic and bittersweet. He expects the Vikings to win nine games or more — they finished 9-8 last year despite showcasing the NFL’s fifth-worst quarterback production per EPA/Play — while oddsmakers believe Minnesota will finish 8-9 or 9-8.

Having Wentz play more games than McCarthy but the Vikings still finishing with a winning record would either be a re-run of 2025 or feature a Minnesota club that is playoff-bound. Fans would prefer the latter.

Also, the Vikings boast one of the NFL’s top defenses, led by Brian Flores, who has marshaled a Top 3 defense since he arrived in Minneapolis three years ago. The working theory suggests that if that trend continues while Murray, McCarthy, or Wentz deliver average-or-better quarterback efficiency, the sky is the limit.

Orr basically thinks the Vikings will be good, and very little McCarthy will be needed.

Essentially Sports‘ Luke Hubbard predicted the Vikings to finish with a 7-10 record last week and opined, “I don’t not like the Minnesota Vikings’ roster, but I don’t love it either. It all starts at quarterback. As fun as Kyler Murray could be, there’s a reason Arizona let him go.”

“He’s dealt with a ton of injuries, and when he’s been on the field, he hasn’t been all that great. And we all know J.J. McCarthy isn’t the answer. If they had a quarterback, they would feel like a bubble team, but without above-average quarterback play, they’ll miss the playoffs by quite a few games.”

Other Bold Stuff from Orr

Orr, sadly, also picked the Detroit Lions to win the NFC North. He explained, “One of the most underrated aspects of a team’s schedule, in my opinion, is the runway with which to build momentum. That momentum overpowers the basic fact that many of those wins were against opponents that the team should have beaten. Those wins create a false confidence those teams carry with them into more neutral matchups or matchups in which a team should be considered an underdog.”

“I love the beginning of the Lions’ slate, even if Detroit has all of its road divisional games over the final weeks of the season. My thought: If the Lions can bank four wins from their opening stretch against the Saints, Bills, Jets, Panthers and Cardinals, they will be in a much better position to lose ground later in the season in Green Bay or Chicago.”

Sportsbooks agree, with the Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears fighting for second place in the division, but the Vikings stuck in last.

Vikings training camp, the next major step in the summer, is about eight weeks away.

Dustin Baker is a novelist and political scientist. His second novel, The Invaders , is out now. So is … More about Dustin Baker