Soon enough, the Minnesota Vikings will need to go from 91 players to 53 players. Shuffling some guys over to the 16-player practice squad is going to help alleviate the pain, but there’s only so much that spot can help.

Most of the Vikings draft picks are going to get onto the final roster that gets announced on Sunday, August 30th. In fact, several are moving into prominent roles, with LB Jake Golday and FB Max Bredeson standing out as having particularly promising offseasons. So, too, do defensive linemen Caleb Banks and Domonique Orange appear ready for Week 1 work. Are some of the Vikings draft picks in danger of missing the roster altogether?

3 Vikings Draft Picks with an Iffy Roster Status

Player No. 1 — OT Caleb Tiernan

3rd-Round OT Caleb Tiernan is not going to be cut. He’s being included, though, due to an injury that’s being described as a week-to-week issue by Kevin O’Connell.

Is the towering tackle going to be available for that Week 1 game? That’s the goal. If there’s uncertainty, then maybe he gets shuffled off the 53-man roster into the infirmary. Doing so clears a roster slot on a short-term basis. The benefit from a roster construction perspective is that Tiernan could be kept within the team’s orbit without demanding a roster spot in the initial weeks of the 2026 season.

Not a locked-in reality, just something that’s possible. Health is the only thing that’s going to be an issue for Tiernan getting included among those official 53 guys.

Player No. 2 — RB Demond Claiborne

Demond Claiborne is in the running for being the fastest player on the roster. At the very least, he’s the fastest running back. He may not get kept around, though.

Both of Aaron Jones and Jordan Mason are better and higher on the depth chart. What about returning runner Zavier Scott? He’s a versatile talent who boasts good size, soft hands, and past experience in this offense. If he’s the RB3, then Claiborne is in a tricky position since there’s no guarantee that an RB4 sticks around.

Demond Claiborne is likely to make the final roster. What’s been concerning, though, is some ball security issues alongside some inefficient work in the preseason games. He’s said to be a work in progress in the passing game. Trying to slide him down to the practice squad means seeing him at a high risk of getting poached.

Note that Minnesota traded up into the 6th to pick Demond Claiborne.

Player No. 3 — C Gavin Gerhardt

The rough-and-tough offensive lineman is a long shot to get onto the final roster.

Chosen in the 7th Round, Gavin Gerhardt was always facing an uphill battle. Neither C1 Blake Brandel nor C2 Michael Jurgens are so formidable so as to be insurmountable. The issue, though, is that Gerhardt doesn’t appear ready to help early within his career.

Look for him to marinate on the practice squad as a rookie before then pushing for more in 2027 and beyond. In time, Gerhardt’s job will be to function as iOL depth on the active roster.

Senior Editor for Vikings Territory & PurplePTSD . Twitter & Bluesky: @VikingsGazette. Email: k.joudry[at]vikingsterritory[dot]com. Canadian. Jude 1:24-25.

French clubs Marseille and Lyon were spared an early clash with Italian heavyweights Juventus and AC Milan in Friday’s Europa League draw, which saw Ligue 1 rivals Rennes land a tough trip to Turin.

Olympique Lyonnais, who missed out on a place in the Champions League after losing to Fenerbahçe in the play-offs on Wednesday, will face their former manager Pierre Sage’s Crystal Palace and host Bayer Leverkusen.

Lyon will travel to Real Sociedad in Spain, Anderlecht in Belgium, Hoffenheim in Germany and Jagiellonia in Poland, and host another Belgian side, Union Saint-Gilloise, and Lillestrøm from Norway.

Marseille will host the Greek side Olympiacos, Anderlecht, Celta Vigo and Levski Sofia, and will travel to Leverkusen, Celtic Glasgow, Sturm Graz and Besiktas.

Placed in Pot 2, Rennes – who are returning to European competition after a two-year absence – were handed a tough tie against Juventus Turin and will also face Olympiacos, Dinamo Zagreb, Sparta Prague, Omonia Nicosia, Sturm Graz, OFI Crete and NEC Nijmegen.

The first round of the Europa League will take place on September 16-17, and the final will be held in Frankfurt on 26 May 2027.

Last year, Aston Villa beat German side Freiburg in the final to bring a European trophy back to Birmingham for the first time in 44 years.

English duo to face AC Milan

English newcomers Bournemouth are featuring in a continental competition for the first time after finishing sixth in last season’s Premier League, and can look forward to hosting seven-time European champions Milan on the south coast of England.

The team coached by Marco Rose will also play home games against Czech club Viktoria Plzen, Sturm Graz of Austria and Israeli champions Hapoel Be’er Sheva, and travel to Real Sociedad, Celta Vigo, Sparta Prague and last year’s Norwegian Cup winners Lillestrom.

Sunderland’s seventh-placed finish in last season’s Premier League gave them European football for the first time since 1973, and their supporters can look forward to a trip to San Siro.

They will also visit former UEFA Cup winners Anderlecht, have home games against Dutch side AZ Alkmaar, Dinamo Zagreb and Levski Sofia, and play two Polish clubs in the shape of Jagiellonia Bialystok and Lech Poznan.

In addition, they will visit Torreense, the tiny second-division side who were shock winners of last season’s Portuguese Cup.

Like their fellow English sides, last season’s UEFA Conference League winners Crystal Palace were among the third pot of seeds.

Now coached by Frenchman Pierre Sage, the South London club will face Real Sociedad, Sparta Prague, Lech Poznan and German outfit Hoffenheim at home, and travel to Lyon, Salzburg, Jagiellonia and Besiktas.

(FRANCE 24 with AFP)

Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford has been linked with a move to Arsenal throughout the summer, and could reportedly move before the end of the window

Arsenal are said to be looking to make a late attempt to sign Manchester United winger Marcus Rashford ahead of Gabriel Martinelli’s reported departure. It’s claimed the Gunners are interested in the possibility of a loan deal with just days left in the transfer window.

Rashford had been strongly linked with an Old Trafford departure at the start of the summer but was brought back into the fold by Michael Carrick during pre-season. Arsenal’s main target appears to be Julian Alvarez from Atletico Madrid, though they are reportedly relaxed about potentially missing out on him.

There is said to be some ‘internal surprise’ at the Gunners that Martinelli could join Al-Hilal for £50m without a replacement being secured. The Independent reports that this could lead Arsenal to submit a late loan offer for the United forward, who naturally plays on the left wing.

Rashford spent last season on loan at Barcelona, but the Catalan side decided against triggering the clause that would have allowed them to purchase the player for £26million. The 28-year-old still has two years left on his Old Trafford contract and Carrick has reiterated that he’s a United player this season.

Rashford’s return to the fold would seem to complicate any attempt to secure his signature compared to earlier in the summer. The forward may feature against Ipswich this weekend, with Carrick stating he has been ‘delighted’ with Rashford since his comeback.

Arsenal may be exploring other options as a deal for Alvarez appears challenging to complete. When asked how conversations with Alvarez had gone, Mikel Arteta retorted: “Don’t go there.”

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Therefore, doubt remains about whether the Gunners will strengthen their attacking options. football.london claims Arsenal continue to have strong interest in signing the Argentinian, but will only proceed if they receive full commitment from the player.

Alvarez, who will miss Atletico’s match this weekend after being absent from training due to illness, has been eager to move to Barcelona this summer. However, his current club declined to enter discussions with the Catalan side because of their behaviour.

The Anthony and Sam Freedman stable is aiming for a better result from Tom Kitten in this year’s Memsie Stakes at Caulfield.

It was 12 months ago that Tom Kitten was scratched at the start of the Group 1 race over 1400m after becoming fractious in the barriers.

The incident disrupted Tom Kitten’s spring campaign, with the Godolphin-owned galloper forced to play catch-up throughout the preparation.

The gelding did eventually wind it up by running third to Via Sistina on a very heavy Flemington track on the final day of Melbourne Cup week.

Tom Kitten resumed in the autumn to capture the Kevin Heffernan Stakes over 1400m first-up and returns to that trip on Saturday to begin his spring campaign.

A $19 chance in latest betting, Sam Freedman concedes that is a reflection of the quality of Saturday’s race.

Freedman said the latest weather conditions in Melbourne had not been ideal in preparing Tom Kitten for the Group 1 Memsie Stakes at Caulfield on Saturday.

He said the five horses from the Chris Waller stable – Buckaroo, Angel Capital, Birdman, Autumn Boy and Beiwacht – along with the Ciaron Maher-trained Jimmysstar all likely had the wood on his galloper at this stage of his campaign.

“I didn’t envisage it coming up quite a strong as it is,” Freedman from SEN.

“I do think the Sydney (prepared) horses will have a bit of an edge on the Melbourne horses coming into the start of the spring is my view.

“They’ve had much warmer weather, probably had good access to tracks and the horses genuinely look and feel a little better to start off the spring.

“My view is that they start to even out once they get to that Caulfield Carnival and beyond.”

While Tom Kitten has been successful three times from seven first-up appearances, Freedman is expecting Tom Kitten to need the outing on Saturday.

“He will improve with the run, but he was a fresh winner, in a much weaker race, last preparation,” Freedman said. “It wouldn’t be a shock if he’s running very well and is steaming through them late, but I feel the Sydney horses may just have the edge.”

Find the best betting markets for the race here.

Second Rothesay Test, Lord’s (day two of five)

England 290 (Smith 61, Cox 55; Abbas 4-73) & 81-3 (Gay 30*)

Pakistan 110 (Awais 46; Robinson 4-11, Archer 3-26)

England lead by 261 runs

Scorecard

England’s quartet of seamers once again overwhelmed Pakistan to put the home side on the verge of a series win on the second day of the second Test at Lord’s.

Led by Ollie Robinson and Jofra Archer, and supported by Josh Tongue and Gus Atkinson, the foursome gave another demonstration of why there is growing optimism around the England attack.

The struggling Pakistanis, without the injured Imam-ul-Haq, were hustled out for 110. Only Azan Awais, who made 46, passed 20 – extras was the next highest score.

Robinson continued his sensational comeback summer with 4-11, while Archer bowled with electrifying pace for his 3-26.

It gave England, who earlier extended their first innings to 290, an advantage of 180 runs.

The hosts were soon 13-2 in their second innings before being steadied by a stand of 47 between Emilio Gay and Joe Root.

As the light drew in, Root was dismissed by Mohammad Ali for 24, the captain once again lbw to a seam bowler in what has become a trend for England’s all-time leading run-scorer.

Harry Brook overturned being given out lbw first ball to the same bowler and Gay battled to 30 not out. The opener has the opportunity for a much-needed score to quieten questions about his place in the side.

England reached 81-3, a lead of 261. Given Saturday’s weather forecast, they may have to wait some time to build their advantage.

Mikaela Mayer and Chantelle Cameron butted heads in their final face-off before Saturday’s light-middleweight unification bout in Birmingham.

WBA and WBC champion Mayer and Briton Cameron had been cordial during the build-up but tensions spilled over at Friday’s weigh-in.

As the pair came together to face-off at BP Pulse Arena, Cameron pushed her head into Mayer’s and the American held her ground, pushing back before they ended up side-by-side and exchanging verbal insults.

“She isn’t intimidating me,” Cameron said after security stepped in. “All that yapping and getting in my face – just watch tomorrow.”

Mayer, 36, claimed Cameron, 35, had said she would be “too slow”, something the WBO champion dismissed.

“That’s in your head, you’re deluded. Shut your mouth, you’re so deluded and you’re making things up because you don’t believe in yourself,” Cameron responded.

“You’re going to get humbled.”

After being pulled apart for a second time, Mayer added: “I didn’t know this Cameron existed, she’s going to need it.”

Frances Tiafoe and Brandon Nakashima won quarterfinal matches Friday night to set up one all-American men’s semifinal at the Cincinnati Open. Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula also advanced to make it four U.S. players in the semis.

“It’s insane, I think we’re all doing so well,” Gauff said. “Hopefully, you know, we can have a double title win. Obviously there are more matches to be played for that to happen. We definitely root for each other.” 
Tiafoe beat Italian Lorenzo Musetti, 7-6 (2), 7-5, and Nakashima beat fellow American Taylor Fritz, 7-6, 4-6, 6-3, marking the first time two Americans have reached the men’s semifinals in Cincinnati since Andy Roddick and Mardy Fish in 2010.

Nakashima is the first American man to reach the semifinals in Canada and Cincinnati in the same season since Fish in 2011. Nakashima is coached by Tiafoe’s former coach, Wayne Ferreira.

“It’s a guy who knows me pretty well in Wayne,” Tiafoe said. “I expect some good serving and all the best from him. Happy where I’ve been mentally more than anything. This has been a great week.” 
Tiafoe reached the Cincinnati finals in 2024, losing to Jannik Sinner.

The other men’s semifinal Saturday features Italy’s Flavio Cobolli against Frenchman Arthur Fils.

Gauff beat Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk, 6-2, 6-2. Gauff will face surprise entrant 20-year-old Czech Sara Bejlek on Saturday.

Bejlek outlasted 2019 champion Madison Keys, 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 (5) on Friday. She upset No. 1-ranked Aryna Sabalenka in straight sets in the Round of 16.

“Sara is a great player,” Gauff said. “I watched her a lot in Abu Dhabi (in February) this year when she won that title. So I think it’s going to be a tough match. I’m looking forward to it.” 
Pegula, ranked No. 3 and who beat Amanda Anisimova on Thursday, will face fifth-ranked Iga Swiatek in Saturday’s other semifinal.