Lindsey Vonn is grappling with a profound physical and emotional recovery following her terrifying crash at the Winter Olympics, leaving the future of her illustrious skiing career hanging in the balance.

For now, the formidable decisions about her return to the slopes remain on hold.

The 41-year-old athlete has endured eight surgeries after suffering a complex left leg fracture during the women’s downhill skiing race on 8 February – an injury so severe it nearly necessitated an amputation. She faces at least one more operation to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in the same knee.

Should Vonn decide to race again – a decision she is not yet prepared to make – a return to competition would be at least a year and a half away, she told The Associated Press in an interview on Wednesday.

“I just don’t want to jump to any conclusions or even speculate on what I might do,” Vonn stated. “I may retire. I may never race again and that would be completely fine, but I’m not in a position emotionally to make that decision at this point.”

Vonn believes she might have considered retirement had she been able to complete a comeback season that rivaled her career best.

She had ended a six-year absence from the sport primarily to compete at Cortina, Italy, a favored course and the future venue for the Milan Cortina Games.

The winner of three Olympic medals, including a downhill gold in 2010, crashed just 13 seconds into the race. The incident, which resulted in a complex tibia fracture, shocked a star-studded crowd and prematurely ended a season where she had led the World Cup downhill standings, never finishing worse than fourth in any race.

While Vonn has a history of returning from various injuries – including a titanium implant in her right knee – she describes this latest setback as fundamentally different. The pain, she explains, is unlike anything she has experienced before. The eight surgeries for this single injury are just one shy of the total she underwent for all her previous injuries combined.

“It’s a much different injury in that way, again, like the severity of the injury and understanding that I could have lost my leg and how bad things were,” Vonn said. “I can deal with a lot of pain, but this was so extreme. It’s not even been in the universe of pain with this injury as what I’ve had before.”

Vonn is making progress in her rehabilitation, both in and out of the gym, though not as swiftly as she would prefer. She has transitioned from a wheelchair to crutches – a mode of mobility she finds tiresome – and is expected to begin walking short distances next week.

Beyond her physical recovery, Vonn is also able to travel again, having recently visited New York to discuss her support for biopharmaceutical company Invivyd’s “Antibodies for Any Body” campaign. A holiday is also on the horizon.

However, the path ahead for her skiing career remains unclear. Vonn has not yet discussed a potential return to skiing with her doctor, preferring to focus on the current phase of her recovery.

“Regardless, nothing would really happen until ’27-28 because I still have one more surgery left to take out the metal and to replace my ACL. That still needs to happen,” Vonn explained. “Once I get my ACL fixed, then that’s another six months, so I have at least I would say a year and a half ahead of me before I could really be back to 100%, even just training in the gym.”

Vonn acknowledges the inherent risks of a return, and her family has expressed concerns. Her father, while she was still in hospital the day after her crash, suggested her career should be over.

Vonn, however, remains defiant: “He means the best. He forgot the cardinal rule with me is that if you don’t want me to do something, you shouldn’t tell me I can’t. Tell me I can’t and I’ll prove you wrong.”

She has never shied away from taking chances, even competing in the Olympics just over a week after tearing her ACL in the past.

“Downhill skiing is one of the most dangerous sports in the world, and that’s a risk that I’ve always taken happily, and this is the result, and I don’t regret it,” said Vonn, who confirmed she had done everything possible to prepare for the race. “I don’t want a do-over.”

Ultimately, Vonn will decide if she wants to race again. For now, her primary focus is on restoring her leg to full health. Only then can she begin to contemplate a career that may or may not be over.

“I’m still, like I said, in survival mode that I just want to get through this phase and be able to assess where I am in my life,” said Vonn, whose 84 World Cup wins place her second among women, trailing only teammate Mikaela Shiffrin (110). “And take count of what I’ve done and take count of what could be and make decisions in a much better place than where I am now.

“I don’t want to make a decision now because I think that would be rash and probably too emotional and I don’t want to make a mistake, you know?”

Manchester United are on the cusp of qualifying for next season’s Champions League ahead of this weekend’s Premier League fixtures

It has been another rollercoaster season for Manchester United supporters but their campaign should end on a positive note. The 2-1 victory over Brentford on Monday night put the Reds 11 points clear of sixth-place Brighton with four games remaining. The Premier League was awarded a fifth Champions League spot this season thanks to their UEFA coefficient ranking.

With United now needing to finish in the top five, Brighton and Bournemouth are the only teams that can mathematically catch Michael Carrick’s side, though they would need to win all of their remaining matches and hope the Reds lose all of theirs

It is highly unlikely, and a return to the elite European competition could not come at a better time for United.

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The Reds will be overhauling their midfield this summer. Casemiro will be leaving at the end of the campaign having already announced his exit. Supporters gave him a hero’s reception after the Brentford win as the Brazil international scored his ninth goal of an impressive campaign.

Despite Casemiro’s affection for United, Carrick has insisted there will be no U-turn on the decision for him to leave. Following him out of Old Trafford could be Manuel Ugarte. The Uruguay international joined in 2024 but has not managed to replace Casemiro in the starting line-up. When he has played, Ugarte has struggled to live up to his £50m price tag.

His last start came in the 2-1 defeat to Leeds at Old Trafford. Barring injuries or suspensions, that will be Ugarte’s last start for United this season, perhaps ever.

Kobbie Mainoo will stay at United beyond this season. The midfielder agreed a new five-year deal with the club that will raise his wages in line with his status in the squad.

United are on the hunt for midfielders this summer, the trouble is they won’t come cheap. The likes of Elliot Anderson, Carlos Baleba, Adam Wharton and Aurelien Tchouameni will command fees of around £100m. United are also in the market for a left-sided winger.

To complete their summer transfer objectives, United will need to raise funds and they could be a matter of weeks away from adding £80m to their budget. While exact figures will not be released until next season, United will bank approximately £16.1m for reaching the league phase of the Champions League – based on this year’s figures.

United’s prize pot will only go up further from there but that money is not guaranteed. They will earn £1.8m per win in the league phase and £600,000 for a draw.

There is also extra money on offer for the club’s final position in the standings and qualification for the knockout stages. Prize money will continue to grow should United progress.

The Reds will, of course, add more money to the kitty from player sales. Rasmus Hojlund is all but guaranteed to complete a permanent move to Napoli this summer.

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Napoli and United agreed on achievable clauses to complete the deal. For instance, the deal will be completed if Napoli qualify for the Champions League.

They currently sit second in Serie A, eight points clear of fifth-place Como, with 12 points to play for. Regardless, Napoli’s sporting director Giovanni Manna described the deal as a ‘formality’ in December and once done, the Reds will land £38m.

Marcus Rashford is also expected to complete a permanent move this summer. United agreed a £26m option to buy with Barcelona.

Barca have not made the same strong statements as Napoli. But after three goals in his last four La Liga appearances, Rashford is doing all he can to make the move permanent.

United are going to have to spend big this summer, but there are plenty of ways they can add to the kitty.

File photo of Vaibhav Sooryavanshi© AFP

Ben Nicholson-Smith is Sportsnet’s baseball editor. Arden Zwelling is a senior writer. Together, they bring you the most in-depth Blue Jays podcast in the league, covering off all the latest news with opinion and analysis, as well as interviews with other insiders and people around the team.

The 2026 NFL Draft is in the books, and that just means the mock draft community can pivot to 2027. While doing so, one of the most accurate mock drafters in the industry has already connected South Carolina quarterback LaNorris Sellers to the Minnesota Vikings.

That projection would mean something went sideways with the current plan.

Indeed, we’re 51 weeks away from the event, but Sellers is evidently already a draft darling for the purple team.

Sellers Would Signal a Total Quarterback Recalibration

Get to know Sellers — just in case.

Brendan Donahue: Sellers to MIN in 2027

Donahue for Sharp Football Analysis got the ball rolling on the 2027 mock draft process this week, with the Vikings owning the 14th pick.

On Sellers to the Vikings, he explained, “The 2026 season feels like a make-or-break year for both the quarterbacks currently on the Vikings roster. I don’t think head coach Kevin O’Connell will hesitate to move on from either or both if they miss the playoffs again in 2026 and replace them with someone who seems to be more of his prototype at the position.”

“Many scouts believe Sellers has as much upside as any quarterback at the college level if he can just put it all together.”

It’s worth noting that Sellers was the fifth quarterback off the board in Donahue’s estimation. Arch Manning to the Arizona Cardinals headline his mock.

The Scouting Report

Norris is 6’3″ and 240 pounds — with 4.55 speed. Yes, he’s huge and fast. His arm strength is fantastic, deep-ball accuracy is on point, the size is obviously to die for, and he’s one of the best scramblers in college football. On the flip side, he takes too many sacks, his ball security is suspect, and his passing accuracy dipped in 2025.

NFL Draft Buzz on Sellers: “The deep-ball ability is real. He can put the ball 55 yards downfield with accuracy, and his size and rushing ability give an offensive coordinator another dimension to work with in the run game and on designed movement plays. When things are clicking, he looks like a quarterback who can win from the pocket and hurt you with his legs when the structure breaks down. The concern is how often he creates his own problems.”

“The sack totals are not all on the offensive line. Sellers holds the ball, gets stuck staring down his primary target, and too often turns what should be a throwaway into a negative play. The 2025 season, even accounting for a bad supporting cast and a scheme that didn’t fit, showed a quarterback who hadn’t yet figured out how to lift the offense around him when things weren’t going well.”

It’s worth noting that quarterbacks’ draft stock can swing wildly in a year. By next April, Sellers could project as the first overall pick — or he could be a 3rd-Rounder. Stay tuned.

NDB added, “That matters at the next level. The right landing spot is a team willing to invest time in his development, ideally one with a strong offensive line and a play-caller who will use his athleticism while building structure around his reads. He fits best in a system that incorporates RPOs and bootleg concepts to simplify his progressions early on.”

“The ceiling is a productive dual-threat starter. The floor, without continued growth in processing speed and pocket discipline, is a backup whose athleticism keeps him on a roster but never translates to consistent quarterback play.”

Would Imply That Murray and McCarthy Are No Good

The sad implication about Donahue’s mock is the fate of the 2026 Vikings. If they pick 14th next year, it will mean they missed the postseason, probably need a new head coach, and are in the market for a full quarterback facelift.

That isn’t the worst thing ever, but life will just be much easier if Kyler Murray unlocks Kevin O’Connell’s offense or if J.J. McCarthy finds his way into the starting lineup and never looks back. Fans would assuredly get excited about Sellers or another rookie quarterback next April, but the fact remains that a productive Murray or McCarthy means a full-scale upheaval isn’t needed.

Drafting Sellers would likely point to Murray or McCarthy nowhere near the Vikings’ 2027 roster.

A Long Way to Go until April 2027

The 2027 draftboard will shift seismically between now and April 2027. The Vikings have a full season in their sights — one with pretty intense stakes if O’Connell wants to remain the head coach for years to come. Murray hasn’t taken a single snap as a Viking yet. And McCarthy, at age 23, hasn’t gotten a crack at redemption.

Whether Minnesota will need a quarterback in 2027 remains to be seen, but what is clear is that 17 regular season games will play out before then. If the Vikings reach the playoffs and win a game, two, three, or four, picking another rookie quarterback will be moot.

But just in case, keep an eye on Sellers. He’ll be all the rage in about eight months when the 2027 draft buildup formally begins.

Sellers will turn 21 this summer.

According to Will Hayes, a series of favourable circumstances have come together enabling talented filly Rohesia to regain her victorious touch.

Hanseatic-sired Rohesia has notched successive 1400m wins, her newest at stakes level, which has seen the camp opt to stay in Adelaide for this Saturday’s Listed Adelaide Guineas (1600m).

Having tackled sprint journeys early on, the filly saw off a quality Class 3 line-up at Ballarat before backing up her $3 status as favourite in the Listed Nitschke Stakes (1400m) conducted at Morphettville Parks April 18th.

Hayes mentioned that blinkers have transformed her, particularly noting her calm acceptance of the gear during her recent double.

“We’re going to look at the mile in the Adelaide Guineas,” Hayes said.

“She was so strong through the line the other day, we thought we’d give her the chance to add another stakes victory.

“I think that the defining moment is when we got the blinkers on, she’s very genuine, but they really have improved her.

“So it’s really good that she’s tractable, and she’s relaxed in them and she keeps finding the line, so we’ll definitely get a good guide on her out to the mile.”

Rohesia’s time in Adelaide these past two weeks has highlighted her amenable character as essential to her development.

“She’s stayed here with Stuart and Lizzy Gowers and she loves it,” Hayes said.

“She’s very straightforward, Ash Alford who’s travelling our horses has done a great job and says she hasn’t missed a beat since her last win.”

The Adelaide Guineas has attracted 16 acceptors including Rohesia from post three aboard which Daniel Stackhouse is confirmed, with odds of $6 trailing Gold Coast Belle on $2.15.

Head to the betting sites for competitive betting markets for the race.

In the NFL, we’ve seen teams change their fortunes instantly with one great pick or one great draft class. Teams that looked good but not great elevated their play thanks to standout rookies. 

Just last year, first-round left guard Grey Zabel and second-round safety Nick Emmanwori helped the Seahawks win the Super Bowl, and the year before that, cornerbacks Cooper DeJean and Quinyon Mitchell helped the Eagles lift the Lombardi Trophy.

This season, several rookies landed in ideal spots to contribute right away, and their talent plus fit could help solidify teams looking for a boost. Here’s one player from every round who can make an instant impact. 

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Bain slid down the draft board Thursday night, but he landed in the perfect spot for his talent to shine under a defensive playcaller who’ll unleash him. 

The Buccaneers’ defense fell below its usual standard in 2025, largely because it couldn’t convert pressures into sacks. While Tampa Bay finished 12th in the NFL in pressure rate, its sack rate tied for 22nd (per TruMedia). Remove blitzes, and that pressure rate drops to 20th. 

Injuries up and down the line prevented the Bucs from finding the right combination up front, and they lacked anyone who could consistently win without blitzing. 

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Adding Bain gives this defense another sawed-off, full-speed maniac off the edge that Todd Bowles can deploy in multiple alignments. Bain’s superpower is gaining leverage instantly while playing with power and excellent hand usage, and in Bowles’ scheme, he’ll line up all over the formation. Whether Bowles uses him to dent pockets in a Rolodex of pass-rush games or eases up on the blitz dial, Bain can become the versatile edge winner Yaya Diaby hasn’t yet developed into. 

I’ll be curious to watch whether Bowles blitzes as heavily now that he has even more hellraisers on defense. 

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I’ve said before that the Chiefs need to diversify their body types and personnel on the edge. For the longest time, defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo leaned on bigger, longer EDGE defenders to compress the pocket while Chris Jones created cleanup sacks. 

But as Jones begins to slow down, the rest of the EDGE room hasn’t been able to win consistently without him. According to NFL Pro, no Chiefs defensive lineman posted a pressure rate above 14%, and Jones led the team in both quick pressures (20) and average get-off time (0.85 seconds). 

Kansas City needed another player who could win quickly and force quarterbacks up into Jones instead of the other way around.

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Enter Thomas, who brings electrifying speed and burst off the edge. Though undersized, Thomas finished 12th in college football in sacks across the 2024 and 2025 seasons combined while posting a 15.4% pressure rate. He brings a different flavor to the Chiefs’ EDGE room with his lightning-quick first step and bend around the corner. 

I was a big fan of Thomas entering the draft, and I think this landing spot will help unlock his full potential while allowing him to grow into a three-down threat for Kansas City. 

Prisco’s Better-Than Team for 2026 NFL Draft: The 20 prospects he’s higher on than scouts

Pete Prisco

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“Big Citrus” in Minnesota is a great fit for both player and team, even after Caleb Banks went to the Vikings in Round 1. I think both players complement each other well, but Orange has a chance to instantly elevate Minnesota’s run defense. 

The Vikings struggled last season when opponents deployed bigger personnel packages. According to TruMedia, Minnesota ranked 25th in defensive success rate against runs out of 12, 13, 21, and 22 personnel. 

As fun as Brian Flores’ defense can be, it’s hard to consistently ask defensive backs to fit the run against 300-pound offensive linemen because the front was simply too small. 

Orange combines great size (322 pounds), power, and run-game awareness to hold the point as a nose tackle, just as he did at Iowa State. In Minnesota, he’ll get the chance to do the same. A player like Orange not only eats double teams to free up the second level, but he can also shed blockers and make plays at or behind the line of scrimmage. 

He may not offer much pass-rush juice, but if he consistently helps force second- and third-and-long situations, that’s a win.

Anytime your future offensive coordinator says he’ll take his shirt off in the draft room if they pick you, you belong on an instant-impact list. 

With Mike McDaniel bringing his Need for Speed offense to Los Angeles to pair with Jim Harbaugh’s Big Mean Machine foundation, the Chargers needed a true floor spacer. 

Ladd McConkey thrives in intermediate areas, but adding someone who can stretch the field vertically will create more room underneath while further unlocking Justin Herbert as a downfield passer.

Thompson is instant juice. He was the fastest player at the NFL Scouting Combine, running a 4.26-second 40-yard dash. He’s not just a straight-line burner, either — he can stop, sink his hips, and change direction better than many speed specialists. 

Thompson is diminutive at 5-foot-9 and 164 pounds, but he won’t have to play on the outside. He can truly be the “three-point shooter” in the Chargers’ offense. 

While Carolina’s offensive line appears built for both the present and future after signing tackle Rasheed Walker and drafting left tackle Monroe Freeling, Hecht might be the biggest steal of Round 5. 

Luke Fortner currently projects as the starting center, which would mark a major step back for a run game that performed well in 2025. 

With Cade Mays and Austin Corbett gone, the Panthers need a dependable center to keep things moving efficiently.

Hecht is a reliable player even without elite physical tools. I thought he displayed the best technique and hand placement among centers in this class and showed solid explosiveness, evident by his 5.10-second 40-yard dash at the combine.

He knows how to win leverage, and between road graders Damien Lewis and Robert Hunt, he could quickly become a stabilizing presence for a team trying to maximize Bryce Young’s supporting cast. 

I’m a big fan of Hecht’s game, and I think he can start from Day 1. 

The Lions have searched for pass-rush juice opposite Aidan Hutchinson for *checks notes* about three years now. 

According to Sports Info Solutions, Detroit’s pressure rate with Hutchinson on the field is 42.2%, which would lead the NFL. Without him, that number plummets to 21.1%, which would rank dead last by a wide margin.

Finding anyone who can provide complementary pass-rush juice would dramatically help this defense, especially if the secondary gets healthy.

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Skyler Gill-Howard

DET • DT

Career: Former Division II walk-on who transitioned from Northern Illinois linebacker to Texas Tech defensive tackle

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Gill-Howard was an unsung hero on Texas Tech’s interior defensive line. While I’m not saying he’ll start immediately, he can provide pass-rush pop from the interior. 

He has impressive quickness and can cross blockers’ faces, which could be useful when the Lions run pass-rush games up front. He also offers effective secondary moves when his first rush stalls, helping him win late in reps. 

With Tyleik Williams and Alim McNeill handling early downs, Gill-Howard could carve out a valuable third-down role.

Nine words and a dream: Inside Skyler Gill-Howard’s improbable road to the NFL combine

Ryan Wilson

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I’m not sure how Burks lasted until Round 7, but it benefits the Colts because he provides a second gear not many in the draft class possess. Burks ran a 4.30-second 40-yard dash, posted a 42-inch vertical and broad-jumped 131 inches at the combine. 

That athleticism absolutely shows up on tape. He’s a field-tilter who can take the top off a defense, but he’s more than just a vertical threat. His body control and ball tracking — especially along the sideline — impressed me.

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Indianapolis already paid Alec Pierce handsomely and still has Josh Downs, but the depth behind them remains thin. Players like Nick Westbrook-Ikhine and Anthony Gould don’t meaningfully move the needle for a team trying to win now.

Burks’ speed is a game-changer, and despite his draft fall, if there’s any Day 3 player who can make an instant impact, it’s him.