Sports
Illinois snaps 21-year Final Four drought with mix of old methods, new concepts and a dash of European flavor
HOUSTON — Illinois coach Brad Underwood got the traditional honors of the final snip of the scissors cutting down the nets in the Toyota Center after Illinois’ 71-59 win against Iowa to win the South Regional title and secure a spot in next weekend’s Final Four. He climbed to the top of the ladder, cut the net and took a moment to celebrate the achievement. Not as a moment that cements decades of ladder-climbing through the coaching ranks with decades in junior college and as a mid-major assistant, but as a moment for Illinois.
For the first time since 2005, Illinois is headed to the Final Four. And just like that group which was led by Deron Williams, Dee Brown and Luther Head, this year’s Fighting Illini have a group with undeniable chemistry and resilience. It’s a group that the Illinois fans similarly adore, and so when Underwood paused at the top of the ladder, net in hand, he turned to both sides of an orange-clad lower bowl let them in on the celebration with a couple hearty “I-L-L” calls.
“One of the most fulfilling moments personally that I just had was standing on the ladder with the net, and then seeing our fans,” Underwood said still soaking wet from yet another Super Soaker battle with his team in the locker room celebration. “That wasn’t about me. That was about our fans, and that was about what’s probably going on in Champaign right now, because that’s what you believe this to be.”
Earlier in his career, Underwood told an staffer that being at Illinois was his “dream job.” His wife bought his son, Tyler, who is now an assistant on the team, a Brian Cook jersey when he was two years old. He’s been intimately aware of what Illinois can be, and how badly Illini fans want to embrace a big-time winner.
“I don’t want to sound arrogant,” Underwood said. “I’ve never doubted us getting to a Final Four would happen, I have thought we have had other teams capable. But I also know how doggone hard it is to do it. For that, I just say thank you. I say thank you to everybody involved. And I’m going to get emotional, but I’ve been doing this 39 years, and you dream about this as a kid, and I dreamt about doing it at Illinois.”
Saturday’s win against Iowa is a true “program win” for a group that has been as adaptable to the modern times as anyone in college basketball. Underwood and his staff are utilizing European connections and the transfer portal while also remaining true to traditional methods of roster building with high school recruiting and player development. Every box is checked with this 2026 team in terms of how they arrived at Illinois, but once they did get together for the first time it did not take long for them to gel into the lovable Final Four-bound squad that’s now two wins away from the school’s first-ever national championship.
Getty Images
A freshman star that makes the right plays
Keaton Wagler had a game-high 25 points in the win vs. Iowa and was named the South Regional’s Most Outstanding Player. It’s yet another honor to go with the All-Big Ten and All-American and Big Ten Freshman of the Year honors that have come from a stunning debut for a player who was a four-star prospect but ranked outside the top 100 in his recruiting class. Underwood knew quickly in the recruiting process that Wagler would be a difference-maker for the program based on the way he played.
Interestingly enough, Wagler only scored two points the first time Underwood came to see him live in high school. Yet the Illinois coach couldn’t wait to call his son and assistant coach, Tyler, to rave about what he had just seen. See, Underwood’s relationship with Wagler’s AAU coach, Victor Williams, clued him into what an undersized guard out of Kansas could be at the next level.
“The night before he had had 36. The night I went to see him he had two,” Underwood said. “They blitzed him, they got it out of his hand, but he made every right play, he was not selfish, he was not a pig, he wasn’t trying to force things. He just let the game come to him. Very, very mature as a senior in high school when you’re the guy. And he just played the game.
“And so I felt great about it. Did I know a 178-pound kid coming in was going to be this? I didn’t. To be the South Region MVP and an All-American is, you know, I would be lying. I’m proud as heck of him, because no one works harder than him, and no one’s a better human being than him.”
You could see on film that Wagler could shoot it well and had skills that could translate, but the intangibles of how he handled adversity offset any of the concerns about his size that may have led to him being overlooked by other top programs. Whether it’s recruiting out of high school, recruiting overseas or recruiting out of the transfer portal, a competitive spirit and the ability to handle adversity are timeless X-factors still valued as Illinois’ builds its rosters.
Tapping in to a European connection
It’s taken years, but Illinois has truly established a pipeline to Europe that has helped lead a run at a national championship. It’s a great marriage of styles for how Underwood wants to coach, utilizing positional side and great shooting that has come with many of the players who’ve come through in recent years. He credits the work of assistants Geoff Alexander and Orlando Antigua for building those relationships overseas, but also using NIL resources to help enhance their ability to attract top talent.
“I’m a spoke in the wheel,” Antigua said Saturday night in the celebration, deflecting the credit Underwood was handing out earlier. “It’s an unbelievable program, we’ve got a lot to sell, and [Underwood] has allowed us to go do what we do.”
Antigua was interrupted in the moment, mobbed by Tomislav Ivisic who jumped in with a surprise bear hug and a loud “Que Pasa?!?”
All those years of making connections overseas and establishing those relationships with players and coaches in Europe is starting to pay dividends. Any school can try to offer NIL money to a skilled player abroad to bring them to the program, but the relationship-building is how you know what kind of player you are adding when it comes ot the team chemistry.
This year’s team obviously has David Mirkovic (Montenegro) and the Ivisic brothers Tomislav and Zvonimir (Croatia), but the success also includes Second team All-Big Ten forward and NBA Draft pick Kasparas Jakucionis (Lithuania). Underwood said they plan to continue looking overseas for talent, noting that it’s a great fit for Illinois but “not for everybody.”
“They fit our university,” Underwood said. “We’re a diverse university with a lot of international students, so it’s a perfect fit for them. Basketball-wise it’s a great fit for me, and I like coaching them. The way we’re playing with positional size and shooting, it’s just — it’s a great marriage and a great fit. So we’ll continue it.”
How the pieces fit together
With college basketball being transient and transactional, every season is filled with teams who spend spend resources on their roster construction only to find the pieces don’t fit together. Illinois is blessed with a resource advantage that comes from its commitment to basketball success and the revenue machine that is life in the Big Ten, but not every Big Ten team that spends finds itself having the kind of consistent success that Underwood has established as the standard in Champaign.
To make sure he was getting the right personalities, Underwood leaned on his players that knew the program best. Tomislav Ivisic was a big key, he said, as was Kylan Boswell in getting background on new additions to the squad and helping get those players acclimated to how Illinois runs its program. Guys like Ben Humrichous and Jake Davis, too, who although they started their careers elsewhere have now become pivotal to the chemistry in the locker room as they have opted back in to the program when there were opportunities to transfer elsewhere.
“I think our chemistry is off the charts. This team, very special on and off the court. We’re a great group of guys,” Davis said on the court at the after cutting his piece of the net. “You couldn’t ask for anything more.”
And that chemistry travels..
On the court as Illinois’ was celebrating the win was Coleman Hawkins, a four-year player who transferred out of the program prior to last year. He was a great player for the Fighting Illini and helped the team make four NCAA Tournaments. Hawkins had a huge smile on his face watching the team take a group picture, and he rushed to grab a photo with his old coach to commemorate the moment.
“I’m probably different than most coaches. When guys leave for whatever reason, if they have been a part of us, they’re still part of my family,” Underwood said. “He’s a diehard Illinois guy. He comes back every chance he gets. And he’s always welcome.”
‘We’re coming to win two more games’
When Illinois fans think back to that 2005 team and the run to the national championship game, which is certain to happen often throughout the week leading into next weekend’s events in Indianapolis, they are going to remember a lot that is reflected in this group in 2026. That Fighting Illini team, memorably, stormed back from a double-digit deficit against Arizona in the Elite Eight. This year’s team just flipped the script on Iowa after trailing by 10 points in the first five minutes of its Elite Eight win. That group was also the culmination of years of building across two different coaches, and while this year’s team has four of its top eight players as new additions to the roster the chemistry and competitive standard has been years in the making.
That 2005 team will no doubt be represented in Indianapolis, but it will also be represented on the court. Because while the makeup of Illinois’ roster is extremely modern and different from the way college basketball was 21 years ago, the chemistry, energy and charm of the 2026 squad has a proud Illinois fan base finally seeing their program climbing back to the top of the sport.
In a college basketball landscape that’s changing all the time, Brad Underwood has found advantages on the margins of roster construction. With European talent, overlooked diamonds in the rough and program-first players who help set the tone and the culture, Illinois has pulled together a unique group that’s capable of pushing the program to heights it has not seen in decades. But while tonight is filled with Super Soakers and celebrations in Houston and Champaign, the internal drive of this team remains focused.
“I think last thing I’ll say is I don’t want anybody to think that this is it,” Stojakovic said after the game with a load-bearing certainty in his voice. “We didn’t get to the Final Four just to get there. We’re coming to win two more games and we’ll take it one game at a time.”
Sports
England vs New Zealand: Tilly Corteen-Coleman and Charlie Dean give reasons for optimism despite familiar failings
Those words showed maturity but also the teenager’s high standards.
Corteen-Coleman perched herself next to England’s coaches on the balcony for much of her side’s chase. She believed her work for the day was done, but her most consequential moment was still to come.
Ten runs were still needed when she emerged as the last batter to join Dean.
Crucially, she helped Dean run twos and, with solid defence, bettered her previous high score of one not out in The Hundred to finish unbeaten on three and sealed the win.
“I am glad I looked calm because I definitely wasn’t,” she said.
“The main point for me was to keep it really simple.”
Corteen-Coleman did not, of course, complete the win alone.
Central was the role of Dean, who admitted to exposing her team-mate more than she intended by taking singles early in the over, but otherwise played the situation well.
Much has been made of Dean’s ability to hold her mettle in chases. There has been some success but failure too – notably in the Mankad ODI at Lord’s in 2022 and the second ODI of the Women’s Ashes last year.
This time, standing in as England captain for the first time, Dean dragged her side over the line.
If England’s training camp with the army last week was supposed to develop leaders, this was Dean’s Passing-Out Parade.
“I have worked on having that calmness and being ready in any situation but that mainly came from Deano,” added Corteen-Coleman.
“If I came out and she was panicking I would have been under the pump.”
Corteen-Coleman emerged with the words of coach Charlotte Edwards in her ears. She told her to back her strengths and keep a clear mind.
That was backed up by Dean in the middle.
“She came out with good clarity,” said Dean.
“I said, ‘Yorkers have been successful for them so they will probably look to get under your bat’.
“We decided getting forward was the best option.
“Tilly is really proactive with her thinking. She has a good cricket brain.”
Apr 22, 2026; New York City, New York, USA; Minnesota Twins relief pitcher Kendry Rojas (60) pitches against the New York Mets during the sixth inning at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images The Minnesota Twins recalled Kendry Rojas from Triple-A St. Paul on Sunday and optioned fellow left-hander Kody Funderburk to the affiliate.
Rojas will be making his second stint with the Twins this season. He made his major league debut on April 22 and allowed two hits and three walks over two scoreless innings in a no-decision against the New York Mets.
Rojas, 23, is 1-1 with a 2.20 ERA in six appearances (two starts) with St. Paul.
Funderburk, 29, is 1-1 with one save and a 2.81 ERA in 19 relief appearances this season with Minnesota. He has pitched in 96 games for the Twins since 2023 and owns three saves and 20 holds. –Field Level Media
The Minnesota Vikings are less than 12 weeks from training camp, when roster battles will take center stage. In the meantime, the rumor mill remains ablaze, and we chronicle the most important ones each weekend.
Minnesota’s latest rumor batch centers on quarterback depth, rookie patience, and a wide receiver idea that faded fast.
This week’s edition is scattered across the board in terms of positional importance.
The Wentz Update Leads a Practical May Rumor Batch
The Purple Rumor Mill for May 10th, 2026.
Rumor: Carson Wentz’s shoulder is healed, and he’s 100% ready to go.
Talking to KFRY-TV’s Luke Gamble on Tuesday, Wentz said he was all set for 2026: “Physically, I feel great. Shoulder’s more or less behind me now. It wasn’t fun by any means, but surgery went well, and rehab’s gone really well too. So for me, it’s behind me. I’m healthy, and I’ll be ready to roll.”
Wentz’s October shoulder injury made a May return seem realistic, and he is now back.
Should the Vikings need Wentz in 2026 — ideally, they won’t — he is healthy enough to step in. It’s the primary purpose of his deal. Minnesota doesn’t require him to threaten anyone’s job or spark a quarterback controversy; they need him prepared in case unforeseen circumstances affect the depth chart.
Following Wentz’s re-signing, some fans speculated he could displace J.J. McCarthy or lead to a trade. Such notions never really made sense, as there is ample room for all three quarterbacks on the current depth chart: Kyler Murray as QB1, McCarthy as QB2, and Wentz as QB3. McCarthy has not been traded, and Wentz was never re-signed to create such drama.
Overall, Vikings fans praised Wentz for his toughness. When he returned this offseason, the reaction was largely positive because his role was clear: a proven veteran securing the QB3 spot, remaining ready, and providing the Vikings with an additional layer of protection at quarterback. Can’t go wrong.
Rumor: Caleb Banks could be a dark horse to win Defensive Rookie of the Year.
ESPN’s Ben Solak sized up the Rookie of the Year stakes last week, and regarding Banks, he wrote: “No defensive tackle has won Rookie of the Year since Aaron Donald in 2014, and the only other tackle to do it this century was Ndamukong Suh. Banks is that sort of talent and an enticing bet accordingly. But he has a foot injury that’s impossible to overlook.”
“He also plays in a Brian Flores defense that doesn’t allow defensive tackles to play the sort of unhinged, penetration-oriented style that leads to sacks. Sure, the Vikings spent an early pick on Banks — but as head coach of the Dolphins in 2019, Flores used the No. 13 pick on Christian Wilkins, and he had two sacks as a rookie. It’s hard to see the path for Banks.”
Second-round linebacker Jake Golday also got some love: “Golday is an off-ball/on-ball tweener who will be stuck behind established starters at both positions: Andrew Van Ginkel and Dallas Turner at outside linebacker; Eric Wilson and Blake Cashman at inside linebacker.”
“He will undoubtedly have flashy plays in subpackages, but he simply will not see enough snaps — barring injury — to contend for this award.”
Rumor: Deebo Samuel might’ve made a lot of sense as the Vikings’ WR3.
Bleacher Report‘s Bradley Locker walked through the NFL’s top 1o free agents last week. On Samuel, he nominated the Vikings and wrote, “The Vikings put an emphasis on retooling their impressive defense in the draft, grabbing Caleb Banks, Jake Golday and Domonique Orange with their first three picks.”
“However, Minnesota could use more at receiver after losing Jalen Nailor to the Raiders. Samuel’s effectiveness has taken a step back over the last two campaigns, but he still finished 2025 with a 70.3 PFF receiving grade and 1.66 yards per route run.”
Minnesota later signed Samuel’s former teammate, Jauan Jennings.
Locker added, “Further, Samuel’s 6.5 yards after the catch per reception was fourth among wideouts with 95 or more targets. Next to Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison, Samuel could help fill Nailor’s void in the slot while infusing more juice after the catch and overall creativity for Kevin O’Connell.”
Samuel would be in play for Minnesota if the Jennings contract didn’t come together. But now, the Vikings don’t need another popular wideout and cannot afford one. If any free agents are signed in the next couple of months, Minnesota might want an extra outside linebacker after Jonathan Greenard left the team via trade. Players like Jadeveon Clowney. Joey Bosa, and Leonary Floyd might make sense.
The final round of the 2026 Truist Championship begins Sunday at Quail Hollow in Charlotte, N.C. Here’s everything you need to know to watch the tournament on Sunday, including full Truist Championship TV coverage, streaming details and complete Round 4 tee times.
How to watch Truist Championship on Sunday
Alex Fitzpatrick heads into the final round of the Truist Championship with a one-shot lead at 14-under.
His third-round 64 — a career low for him — was less a surge than a continuation of what’s been building since his breakthrough win at the Zurich Classic alongside his brother, Matt Fitzpatrick. That victory secured his PGA Tour status through 2028 and opened doors to the season’s biggest stages.
While he is still chasing his first individual PGA Tour victory, Fitzpatrick has already proven he can close — winning earlier this year on the DP World Tour at the Hero Indian Open. Now he stands on familiar ground heading into the final round.
You can watch the final round of the 2026 Truist Championship on TV via CBS and Golf Channel, with Golf Channel opening the coverage at 12 p.m. ET on Sunday. PGA Tour Live on ESPN+ will provide exclusive early streaming coverage starting Sunday at 7:30 a.m. ET, as well as featured group and featured hole coverage all day long. The GOLF App will carry a simulcast of Golf Channel’s Sunday TV coverage. You can stream CBS’s Sunday coverage on Paramount+.
Below you will find everything you need to know to watch the final round of the 2026 Truist Championship.
With an ESPN+ subscription, you gain access to PGA Tour Live, where you can stream the best PGA Tour events live from wherever you want.
Get ESPN+
How to watch on TV Sunday
CBS and Golf Channel will provide final-round TV coverage of the 2026 Truist Championship. Golf Channel’s Sunday telecast runs from 12-3 p.m. ET, followed by CBS from 3-6 p.m. ET.
How to stream online Sunday
You can stream the final round of the 2026 Truist Championship via PGA Tour Live on ESPN+, which will offer streaming coverage beginning on Sunday at 7:30 a.m. ET, in addition to featured group and hole coverage. You can also stream a live simulcast of Golf Channel’s final-round TV coverage on the GOLF App and CBS’s Sunday coverage on Paramount+.
2026 Truist Championship Round 3 tee times (ET)
Tee No. 1
7:30 a.m. – Tom Hoge, Ryan Gerard
7:40 a.m. – Mackenzie Hughes, Hideki Matsuayama
7:50 a.m. – Sam Burns, Sam Stevens
8:00 a.m. – Ben Griffin, Ryan Fox
8:10 a.m. – Denny McCarthy, Jason Day
8:20 a.m. – Sahith Theegala, Aldrich Potgieter
8:35 a.m. – Maverick McNealy, Max Homa
8:45 a.m. – Webb Simpson, Brian Campbell
8:55 a.m. – Si Woo Kim, Xander Schauffele
9:05 a.m. – Patrick Rodgers, Pierceson Coody
9:15 a.m. – Justin Rose, Michael Kim
9:25 a.m. – Austin Smotherman, Min Woo Lee
9:40 a.m. – Jhonattan Vegas, Robert MacIntyre
Sports
Devyne Rensch speaks after Roma’s comeback win: “What a crazy game. Now we focus on the derby.”
Roma fullback Devyne Rensch was on the scoresheet tonight as he helped lead the comeback against Parma to secure three crucial points at the Tardini.
After the match, Rensch discussed the importance of this victory.
Advertisement
“What a crazy match, Parma is a good team, the most important thing was to win, a goal and the penalty make me even happier but I’m happy for the team. Now we’re focused on the derby.”
“Top 4? We’ve fought all season, we’ve always believed in it all together, we put a lot of effort into training even if it doesn’t show. We deserve it.”
Two weeks ago, Jeeno Thitikul arrived at the Chevron Championship and admitted she hears all the noise about her inability to win a major championship. The then-No. 1-ranked player in the world called it the “challenge” of her career to finally get it over the line at the biggest events.
Two days later, Jeeno Thitikul missed the cut at Memorial Park as Nelly Korda went on to win her third major and reclaim the top spot in the Rolex Rankings. Thitikul took a week off after her early exit in Houston and returned to action this week to defend her title at the Mizuho Americas Open. Thitikul has always approached her career with great perspective, that of someone who learned the game at a driving range in Ratchaburi, Thailand, a small town not far from Bangkok that doesn’t have its own course. Someone who has already achieved more than she thought possible. Thitikul wants to win a major, but she is also content with everything she has already accomplished in the game. There’s pressure to win a major because that’s a dream of hers, but not because she needs validation from others.
“I don’t think I have to prove anything to like even other players or people or myself, because like what I have I already proved for a long, long time,” Thitikul said on Friday at Mountain Ridge Country Club. “
It’s just a certain time that golf seems easy for you. Then I have a certain time [where] golf is so hard for me, which is Chevron, it’s one of the weeks that I feel like, ‘What did I do wrong?’ … I’m like, ‘What did golf do to me right now?’ And then coming to this week, didn’t expect anything, to be honest. ”
Thitikul won earlier this season in Thailand but has been struggling with her game since the LPGA returned to America in March. After bowing out of the Chevron early, Thitikul spoke with her coach about the issues with her swing, primarily her iron play, and they decided to attack her title defense at Mizuho with a new mentality.
Try less.
“When you put the work [in] and don’t see the results, sometimes you are really disappointed,” Thitikul said earlier this week at Mizuho. “He said, ‘Maybe, don’t try.’ Then, if you don’t try, maybe you don’t expect anything.”
From ‘dark’ places to a touching gesture: Inside Michelle Wie West’s return
;)
That mindset shift freed up Thitikul this week in West Caldwell, New Jersey. The 23-year-old opened with rounds of 67 and 69 to take a three-shot lead into the weekend. Celine Boutier closed the gap to two after the third round, but Thitikul put the tournament away on Sunday. She birdied the second and third holes while Boutier bogeyed three straight to fall out of contention. While Boutier faded, Ruoning Yin made five birdies on the front nine to get within one of Thitikul, but bogeys at 11 and 16 stalled her championship run, and Thitikul punctuated her title defense by pouring in a 20-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole to finish at 13 under and win by four.
The Minnesota Vikings have completed free agency and the draft this offseason, and regarding the roster right now, what you see is what you get. The club may make or move or two before it’s all said and done before Week 1, but the depth chart is full. Therefore, it’s time to peek at the most improved roster spots.
Minnesota’s offseason plan becomes clearer when ranking where the roster actually improved.
Truth be told, this exercise is pretty straightforward.
The Biggest Jump Starts at Quarterback and Defensive Tackle
Ranked from medium improvement to the most, here’s the list.
4. Wide Receiver
Notable Newcomer(s):
Jauan Jennings
Dillon Bell
Some might argue this should be higher, and the case for that contention would be sound.
On Thursday night, the Vikings signed Jennings, a transaction that gives Minnesota its best wide receiver trio since Randy Moss, Cris Carter, and Jake Reed. The purple team has employed other decent WR3s since — like Bernard Berrian, Jerome Simpson, K.J. Osborn, and Jalen Nailor — but none are quite like Jennings.
Jennings is a willing blocker and just what the doctor ordered for Kevin O’Connell’s offense. Had the Vikings not lost Nailor to free agency, this spot might’ve ranked at No. 2 on the list.
Bleacher Report‘s Adam Wells on Jennings: “Jennings isn’t a burner who runs past cornerbacks, so he will need to maintain that aggressive style of play that has not always endeared him to other players around the NFL.”
“The Vikings will be more than happy to have Jennings’ aggression, attitude and swagger on their offense as they look to put together a roster capable of competing for a playoff spot in 2026.”
3. Offensive Tackle
Notable Newcomer(s):
Caleb Tiernan
Ryan Van Demark
Perhaps planning for the future or strictly picking “the best player available,” Minnesota added Northwestern’s Tiernan in Round 3 of last month’s draft. Of course, the club has Christian Darrisaw and Brian O’Neill ready for LT and RT duty, but Tiernan inserts youth into the pipeline.
Van Demark has played 43 games in his career and can be considered this year’s Justin Skule or David Quessenberry.
Here’s the Pro Football Focus skinny on Van Demark:
- 2025: 74.4 (312 snaps)
- 2024: 53.3 (199 snaps)
- 2023: 60.2 (47 snaps)
The pass-blocking:
- 2025: 65.6
- 2024: 51.8
- 2023: 27.2
The run-blocking:
- 2025: 74.9
- 2024: 51.4
- 2023: 64.4
In the last few years, the Vikings lean on one veteran OT as a contingency plan. Now, they have two.
2. Defensive Tackle
Notable Newcomer(s):
Caleb Banks
Domonique Orange
Out with the elderly, in with the babies — was the Vikings’ mantra at defensive tackle this offseason.
The club released Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave, who landed with the Cincinnati Bengals and Green Bay Packers, respectively. In March, fans wondered if Minnesota would roll with Jalen Redmond, Levi Drake Rodriguez, and Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins. The answer? An emphatic hell no.
Minnesota spent two of its first three picks on interior defensive linemen in the draft. Banks is the almighty gamble, coming off a foot injury, and most think big humans with bad feet isn’t a straightforward outcome. Still, if Banks’s foot heals and stays 100%, he has an All-Pro upside.
The Athletic‘s Alec Lewis noted this week on Banks’s foot injury: “Minnesota isn’t planning to rush Banks back from the most recent procedure on his fractured fourth metatarsal. The team also believes its top player health and performance staffers, Tyler Williams and Matt Duhamel, are at the forefront of recovery around the NFL.”
“Also important in the Banks discussion is the coaching component of his development when he does return from injury. All young players need different coaching personalities to maximize their skill set. Banks is different, according to Florida defensive-line coach Gerald Chatman, in that he responds to intense challenge and urgency.”
On Orange, he’s a nose tackle, and players from that position are just easier to scout for some reason or another. For the trajectory of the long-term roster, Banks and Orange instead of Allen and Hargrave is seismic.
1. Quarterback
Notable Newcomer(s):
Kyler Murray
You don’t have to be the almighty Murray stan to appreciate the Vikings’ value during his onboarding. Minnesota paid $1.3 million for Murray; the Arizona Cardinals are paying Murray to play for the Vikings. That is not spin. That is the truth.
Over the course of a 17-game season in his career, Murray averaged these numbers:
- 3,997 Passing Yards
- 30 Total Touchdowns
- 11 Interceptions
- 67.1% Completion Rate
- 623 Rushing Yards
Last year, J.J. McCarthy produced 11 passing touchdowns and 12 interceptions. His team still finished 9-8.
Murray at $1.3 million might be the best value in the NFL, NBA, MLB, and NHL.
Liverpool stunned as Brighton reach their first ever Women’s FA Cup final
Multiple waves of free agency have come and gone, and in NFL speak, the wire is down to slim pickings, except for some aging, once noteworthy stars like Tyreek Hill. All the productive young players have found new employers. For the Minnesota Vikings’ sake, seven players from the 2025 roster remain unsigned.
The productive departures are gone. These names remain in limbo.
Here’s a peek at those men in alphabetical order.
Familiar Vikings Veterans Still Waiting for Their Next Shot
Who’s the most likely player to rejoin the Vikings, perhaps on the practice squad?
Zeke Correll | C
Merely mentioned for full disclosure, Correll was a Vikings practice squad candidate last summer. He then suffered an injury in August and spent the entire season on injured reserve.
Minnesota waived him on March 13th and now has Blake Brandel, Michael Jurgens, and rookie Gavin Gehardt lined up for the center spot in 2026.
Fabian Moreau | CB
As a CB3, Moreau quietly had a solid 2025 season. He allowed a 54.2 passer rating in 11 games, a performance that largely went unnoticed due to his lack of name recognition. Minnesota should consider bringing him back as a CB4-CB5, especially if he remains a cost-effective option.
Matt Nelson | OT
Nelson remains largely anonymous in the NFL, typically occupying a practice squad role, providing swing depth, or filling in during emergencies. Unsurprisingly, he remains unsigned after the initial wave of free agency. He will likely have to wait until a team requires additional personnel for training camp.
Jeff Okudah | CB
Okudah had a difficult stint as Minnesota’s CB3, hampered by concussions and poor play. When on the field, opposing quarterbacks frequently targeted him, exploiting his struggles. The former third overall pick appears to be in the later stages of his career, with the “2020 draft bust” label now firmly attached.
The Viking Age‘s Adam Patrick on Okudah last month: “Unfortunately, multiple concussions resulted in Okudah only appearing in six games with the Vikings last season, but even when he was able to get on the field, his performance wasn’t anything close to what Minnesota was hoping to see from him.”
“Now that concussions could potentially be a lingering issue, and the fact that he just hasn’t been good during his tenure in the league, his career in the NFL could already be nearing the end, despite it beginning just six years ago.”
Brett Rypien | QB
In May 2025 — so, a year ago at this time — Rypien was the Vikings’ QB2, believe it or not. The rapid change in circumstances now sees him seeking a QB3 role elsewhere, likely with a team looking for an inexpensive veteran for camp in the coming months.
Harrison Smith | S
The Vikings “released” Smith in March, but his tenure in Minnesota is not necessarily over. Smith performed well late in 2025, making a 2026 return seem plausible, even if only for situational play.
Can one truly imagine the Vikings winning a Super Bowl in 2026 with Kyler Murray under center, while Smith watches from home? The thought should be unsettling for both fans and Smith himself.
The Athletic‘s Alec Lewis noted on rookie safety Jakobe Thomas as a possible Smith replacement this week, “Can Jakobe Thomas be the new Harrison Smith? In 2025, Thomas entered the transfer portal. He had played safety at Tennessee, mostly in a role that asked him to focus on deep coverage. The University of Miami’s staff kicked the film over to defensive coordinator Corey Hetherman.”
“He believed the Hurricanes could weaponize Thomas’ all-around abilities more powerfully. Thomas took to the idea. Part of the intrigue, for him, was the fact that one of his heroes, a fellow product of the state of Tennessee named Harrison Smith, was asked to play multiple roles in the Vikings’ defense.”
Thomas was direct fruit of the Jonathan Greenard trade.
Lewis added, “Thomas is now playing for Smith’s longtime NFL team. Smith’s status remains up in the air, but O’Connell said Friday that one of the elements of Thomas’ pre-draft visit was watching film of Smith.”
“The reps Thomas takes with the full roster will be telling. The Vikings selected him in the third round, but he was one of the team’s priorities when the draft began.”
John Wolford | QB
Wolford served as the Vikings’ emergency QB3 last season, when injuries and crappy play hit the quarterback room. He will not return in 2026. At best, Wolford might secure a practice squad position or serve as emergency quarterback insurance for a new team.
Sports
Barcelona vs Real Madrid LIVE, El Clasico: Marcus Rashford Scores Stunning Free-Kick, Barcelona Take Early Lead | FCB 1-0 RMA
5′ Barcelona go through on the left with Marcus Rashford, who swings a low cross into the box. However, Real Madrid left-back Fran Garcia recovers in time to prevent any danger.
A minute later, Barcelona attack again, but this time it’s Raul Asencio who recovers and makes a superb tackle! Remember, Asencio came in last-minute after Dean Huijsen felt discomfort during warm-up.
FCB 0-0 RMA
Celia Imrie breaking wind was most joked-about moment at TV Baftas. Even a bemused Seth Rogen weighed in
Blackstone Secured Lending Fund. (BXSL) Q1 2026 Earnings Call Transcript
England vs New Zealand: Tilly Corteen-Coleman and Charlie Dean give reasons for optimism despite familiar failings
Manchester United reach agreement with Casemiro over contract clause amid transfer speculation
US brings back mandatory military draft registration
Steven Gerrard disagrees with Gary Neville over ‘shock’ Chelsea and Arsenal claim | Football
Everyone Is Lying to You for Money | Official Trailer UHD
Day 93 Trying to Win MONEY from the Coin Pusher! #shorts #arcade #money
#watch #money #america #news #viral #work #society #car #food #apple #ps5 #reaction #economy #sad
-
Crypto World2 days agoHarrisX Poll Found 52% of Registered Voters Support the CLARITY Act
-
Crypto World4 days agoUpbit adds B3 Korean won pair as Base token gains Korea access
-
Fashion2 days agoWeekend Open Thread: Marianne Dress
-
Tech6 days agoImage AI models now drive app growth, beating chatbot upgrades
-
NewsBeat4 days agoNCP car park operator enters administration putting 340 UK sites at risk of closure
-
Business1 day agoIgnore market noise, India’s long-term story intact, say D-Street bulls Ramesh Damani and Sunil Singhania
-
Politics2 days agoPolitics Home Article | Starmer Enters The Danger Zone
-
Entertainment7 days agoOlivia Wilde Reacts To Viral ‘Corpse’ Comparison
-
Sports7 days agoInter Milan Win Serie A Title After Victory Over Parma
-
Sports7 days agoLa Liga: Vinicius Jr scores twice as Real Madrid win to keep Barcelona waiting for title
-
Crypto World5 days agoUAE Free Zone Deploys Blockchain IDs to Verify Registered Firms
-
Sports7 days agoEvery word of Arne Slot’s heated rant after Manchester United win vs Liverpool
-
Sports7 days agoJoel Embiid urges Sixers fans not to sell playoff tickets to Knicks fans
-
Sports6 days ago2026 NHL playoff picks: Second-round predictions, series odds, Stanley Cup bracket
-
Entertainment7 days ago
Jennifer Lawrence’s Mary Jane Sneakers Are Spring’s It-Girl Shoe
-
Entertainment7 days agoMoroccan Reacts To Nick Cannon’s Dating Rules For His Sister
-
Entertainment7 days agoKylie Jenner and Timothee Chalamet Hold Hands in NYC Outing
-
Crypto World4 days agoBlackRock CEO Larry Fink Discusses a New Asset Class
-
Crypto World4 days agoRobinhood says Wall Street is building onchain
-
Entertainment7 days agoPost Malone Delays Tour With Jelly Roll Amid Ongoing Backlash
You must be logged in to post a comment Login