After June 1st, when the Minnesota Vikings’ salary cap freed up just a bit, some onlookers decided the club could use another pass rusher for the 2026 campaign, especially because Jonathan Greenard left in April via trade to the Philadelphia Eagles. And according to ESPN, that man should be outside linebacker Haason Reddick — a former Eagle.

Reddick is available on the open market, and Minnesota has about $13 million, so ESPN said why not this week.

Vikings’ Roster Has Room for One More EDGE

ESPN: Vikings Should Sign Reddick

Aaron Schatz of ESPN revealed one roster move each team should explore this week, and Reddick to Minnesota was included.

“Another NFC North team, another questionable depth chart on the edge. The issue here is not Dallas Turner and Andrew Van Ginkel but rather the players behind them, led by 2025 fifth-round pick Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins and 2024 undrafted free agent Bo Richter,” Schatz wrote.

“Reddick had only 2.5 sacks last season, the lowest of the three best available veteran pass rushers, but his 12% pass rush win rate was still impressive: similar to the Chargers’ Tuli Tuipulotu and just ahead of the Steelers’ T.J. Watt.”

It’s worth noting that Reddick was a teammate of Kyler Murray, the Vikings’ main offseason addition, in 2019 and 2020 when Murray’s career got off the ground.

Schatz added, “Reddick’s history of playing in flexible 3-4 defenses makes him the best fit for defensive coordinator Brian Flores because he has more experience dropping into coverage on complicated zone blitzes.”

Reddick’s Background

Reddick has essentially had two distinct NFL careers. Initially, as the 13th overall pick, he struggled to find his footing in Arizona. However, he later transformed into one of the league’s most formidable pass rushers.

His career statistics highlight this evolution: 137 games, 95 starts, 455 tackles, 77 tackles for loss, 108 QB hits, 61.5 sacks, 21 deflected passes, 18 forced fumbles, and five fumble recoveries. His peak performance years were just fantastic — no exaggeration. Between 2020 and 2023, Reddick recorded 12.5, 11.0, 16.0, and 11.0 sacks, earned two Pro Bowl selections, and was named 2nd-Team All-Pro in 2022.

The 2022 Eagles season was particularly noteworthy: 49 tackles, 16 sacks, 26 QB hits, and five forced fumbles, placing him firmly in contention for Defensive Player of the Year.

More recently, his performance has declined. His 2024 tenure with the Jets was brief and unproductive, and in 2025 with Tampa Bay, he managed only 2.5 sacks in 13 games. While Pro Football Focus still rated his pass rush as decent, his run defense and tackling grades were significantly lower.

That raises the question: does Reddick have one more year as a premier pass-rushing specialist? His past achievements suggest yes, but his recent output warrants caution. Thankfully, Minnesota would really only need him for a year or two in a “just in case” capacity.

The OLB Situation with Reddick and Price

Let’s pretend for a moment that ESPN nailed this thing, and Minnesota signs Reddick.

The 2026 EDGE room would look like this:

Reddick — or any credible pass rusher — would fit beautifully between Turner and Richter. That’s just how the lay of the land works with Greenard playing for the Eagles.

Think of it this way: while the Vikings might be just fine with the group as-is, if Van Ginkel or Turner miss time due to injury, then the anxiety spikes. With Reddick, that drama would be lessened as he has ample experience as a starter.

Minnesota should pursue another EDGE rusher if only to hedge the bet against injury. Otherwise, the club could explore deploying rookie off-ball linebacker Jake Golday in a hybrid capacity.

If the choice is Reddick, he should be gettable for one year and around $5 million.

The Other Options

Should you, the Vikings fan, be worried about the OLB situation? Absolutely not. Why? Well, a handful of players are ready and waiting to sign with a team and fill an OLB3 role. All the options are “old” by NFL standards, but these free agents would work in Flores’s system as OLB insurance:

• Derek Barnett
• Joey Bosa
• Jadeveon Clowney
• Marcus Davenport
• Leonard Floyd
• Von Miller
• Preston Smith
• Za’Darius Smith
• Kyle Van Noy

Unless the Vikings are perfectly content with the current setup — meaning Richter, Batty, or Golday are yearning for a splash — adding a free-agent outside linebacker is a good problem to have in the summer of 2026. Any man from the list above, including Reddick, would do the trick.

Reddick will turn 32 in September.

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

Betfred Super League

Catalans (22) 34

Tries: Lipowicz, Allen, Bousquet, Faataape, Leeming, Staines Goals: Aispuro-Bichet (5)

Bradford (10) 24

Tries: Sutton, Ryan, Wynne 2, Aekins Goals: Atkin, Dean

Catalans Dragons picked up a third win in four Super League games with a victory over Bradford Bulls.

The home side led 22-10 at the break thanks to tries from Zac Lipowicz, Josh Allen, Julian Bousquet and Solomona Faataape.

Ryan Sutton and Ethan Ryan had crossed for the visitors in the first 40 minutes and Connor Wynne’s try in the opening moments of the second half gave them renewed hope.

However, further tries from Kruise Leeming and Charlie Staines took the game away from the battling Bulls despite Caleb Aetkins’ effort and a second for Wynne.

The French side remain eighth but moved on to 16 points from 15 games, the same as seventh-placed Leigh.

Bradford, who have now won just two of their past 10 games, are 10th.

More to follow.

Catalans: Staines, Makinson, Aispuro-Bichet, Faataape, Cotric, Sexton, Dodd, Allen, Leeming, Navarette, Maria, Lipowicz, Bousquet.

Interchanges: Satae, Condon, Wilson, Laguerre.

Bradford: Aekins, Wynne, Armitage, Ryan, Nikorima, Atkin, Sutton, Ackers, Doro, Russell, Blake, Steinwede, Mellor.

Interchanges: Scurr, Gardiner, Peposhi, Dean.

Referee: Matty Lynn.

Joe Root secured his latest slice of Test cricket history at the Kia Oval but was left on a one-man mission, as New Zealand circled victory over England in the second Rothesay Test.

Root, standing in as interim captain this week following Ben Stokes’ curfew-breaking night out, followed Indian great Sachin Tendulkar as only the second player to reach 14,000 Test runs on day four in south London.

It was another remarkable achievement for the Yorkshireman, who was 75 not out at stumps, but with England needing a world record 463 it is one that seems destined to come in a losing cause.

The hosts closed on 182 for five needing another 281 on a day five pitch. With Harry Brook’s explosive 58 the next best score, it was impossible to ignore events 275 miles away in Chester-le-Street where the temporarily exiled Stokes was busy smashing 95 in Durham’s Championship match against Northamptonshire.

No team has ever scored chased more than 418, with England’s own record set at 378 four years ago. Root scored an unbeaten 142 on that occasion and even a repeat performance of those Edgbaston heroics may not be enough this time.

Merely reaching a fifth day appeared unlikely at one stage, with a flimsy start to the innings leaving them 40 for three. Emilio Gay, Jacob Bethell and Ben Duckett all fell before the tea break, the latter to a horribly-executed hook shot, before a fourth-wicket stand of 97 between Root and Brook lifted home spirits.

Root played a studious role in the partnership while Brook launched a counter-attacking frenzy that brought him a 33-ball half-century including 10 fours and a six.

New Zealand’s talented attack found a way to apply the brakes and restricted him to seven from the next 21 deliveries, before he squeezed Matt Henry to slip. That left Root to see things through to stumps, with the absence of Brook’s fireworks allowing the tourists to restore calm to proceedings.

There was only one serious scare in his composed 137-ball stay, given lbw on 44 but instantly reviewing the decision as DRS showed an inside edge.

England’s pursuit got off to an unhappy start, Kyle Jamieson striking twice in his second over with the new ball. Rookie opener Gay looked jittery throughout his short stay before flicking the 6ft 8in seamer off his pads and into the hands of midwicket. He could hardly believe his mistake, throwing a hand to his helmet before reluctantly dragging himself off.

Bethell followed for a duck, his first at this level, lbw by one that jagged into his front pad. Root offered a deflated crowd a welcome moment of cheer when the second run of his innings took him to his latest career milestone, but the perilous match situation meant he was initially reluctant to acknowledge the achievement.

He eventually waved his bat to the crowd but the good cheer evaporated when Duckett produced a grisly dismissal, taking on an ambitious hook shot off Will O’Rourke and plonking a simple catch off the toe end of the bat.

Brook’s audacious show of force, showing off his wide array of strokes, left the bowlers with some questions of their own to answer but they slowed him down sufficiently before Henry drew the error and Tom Latham held on.

James Rew made a decent fist of an awkward evening assignment, almost making it through to the end as he attempted to end a tough debut on a positive note. But he fell in cruel fashion, lbw to a short ball from Jamieson that kept low and hit him in the groin as he shaped to pull. Another newcomer, Jordan Cox, represents Root’s last real hope of support.

England had earlier produced an efficient effort as New Zealand looked to embrace risk in exchange for quick runs.

Jofra Archer removed Henry Nicholls for 121, with just two added to his overnight score, and also won his latest duel with first-innings centurion Glenn Phillips.

Matt Fisher picked up three soft wickets as Daryl Mitchell, Jamieson and Nathan Smith swung the bat with abandon and debutant Sonny Baker grabbed the last wicket to end a difficult spell.

A lot of the focus was on who got added. GM Nolan Teasley oped to bring a new tight end (Marshall Lang) and a new defensive lineman (Jahvaree Ritzie) to town.

Making room involved the Vikings saying goodbye to a pair of players in the trenches. Most notably, defensive tackle Monkell Goodwine — who was among the best-paid UDFA talents — got shown the door. But then there was somebody else: the monstrous offensive tackle Caleb Etienne.

The Vikings Said Goodbye to Caleb Etienne

No doubt, Mr. Etienne was facing an uphill battle. There is perhaps no more formidable position on the roster than offensive tackle.

When healthy (not a certainty in recent years), the Christian Darrisaw and Brian O’Neill twosome is close to as good as it gets in the NFL. Darrisaw, in particular, has a high ceiling whereas O’Neill’s floor is that of a high-compete, very-athletic large lad.

Next up are Ryan Van Demark and Caleb Tiernan, both of whom got added for a reasonably beefy cost.

Van Demark has the inside track to be the OT3 after getting poached from the Buffalo Bills with an RFA offer that was too pricey for Josh Allen’s team. There’s then Tiernan, who is entering his rookie season after playing well for Northwestern in college. He’s a towering guy who boasts excellent feet, giving him a shot to develop into an excellent player.

Part of what’s missing within those basic descriptions of the OT depth is the presence of Walter Rouse (a college OT before getting recent work at G), Blake Brandel (a college OT who does everything, including making a bid to be the C1), the presence of UDFA Tristan Leigh (a college OT who earned a beefy payday), and then other talent, as well.

So, a full house.

What made Caleb Etienne stand out was his size. The o-lineman stands at 6’7″ while weighing close to 330 pounds. Even among the Vikings’ other offensive linemen at Vikings minicamp, Etienne was a noticeable presence due to his frame.

Check out the scouting report that emerged from the NFL’s website: “From a tape standpoint, Etienne looks more like an undrafted free agent, but his traits will make him hard to pass up as a late-round lottery ticket. Though he has the size, length and athletic explosiveness teams covet, his fundamentals are a work in progress, and he doesn’t always play with the aggression that will be needed on the next level. If a team can stash him for a couple of years and fine-tune his technique, Etienne could become a much better player.”

Caleb Etienne is still only 24. He’ll get another chance to play ball in the NFL before too long.

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

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The 2026 golf season has moved into its second stanza with the third major of the year back at Shinnecock Hills. The USGA has loaded up the U.S. Open with a massive 156-man field featuring nearly all of the best golfers in the world competing across 72 holes in Southampton, New York, though the cut has been made and the field has been halved entering the final two rounds this weekend.

While not the most visited U.S. Open site, Shinnecock Hills is seen by many as one of the toughest tests the USGA puts on its calendar. It is hosting for the sixth time, and a star-studded leaderboard has emerged with Wyndham Clark holding a somewhat substantial four-shot lead on the field. He will begin his third round at 3:45 p.m., last out of the full set of U.S. Open tee times and pairings for Saturday.

There are players looking to make a move on the leaderboard, like Xander Schauffele and Collin Morikawa, who closed their second rounds strong on Friday morning to put a little pressure on Clark. Schauffele fired a 66 and closed with a pair of birdies in his last three holes. Morikawa, meanwhile, closed strong as well with three birdies on the back nine.

Scottie Scheffler entered as the clear favorite, but he’s fallen to 12-1, still fourth on the odds board, but a positioning that is more out of respect for his game than anything else considering he’s seven shots behind Clark. Rory McIlroy, who is aiming to conquer a course that had his number during the last outing eight years ago, is right alongside Scheffler but even lower on the odds board at 18-1. In some ways, they are lucky to even be playing the weekend, considering several stars missed the U.S. Open cut entirely.

The USGA texted players late Friday night to expect much tougher conditions on Saturday as they are going to let the greens dry out and adjust pin locations with expected heavy winds moving in off the coast. Many expect to see a lot of over par scores by day’s end on Saturday.

Here’s how you can watch as much U.S. Open as possible. Be sure to stick with CBS Sports for live coverage throughout the third major of the year.

All times Eastern

2026 U.S. Open TV schedule, where to watch

Round 3 — Saturday, June 20

Round 3 start time: 9 a.m. [Tee times]

Early TV coverage: 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. on USA Network
TV coverage: 12-8 p.m. on NBC

Featured Groups live stream: TBA on USOpen.com, U.S. Open mobile app

Round 4 — Sunday, June 21

Round 4 start time: 9 a.m.

Early TV coverage: 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. on USA Network
TV coverage: 12-7 p.m. on NBC

Featured Groups live stream: TBA on USOpen.com, U.S. Open mobile app

Wyndham Clark is putting on a clinic through two rounds at the U.S. Open. Over 36 holes at Shinnecock Hills, the 32-year-old has raced out to a four-stroke lead over the field, thanks in large part to some sublime ball striking.

Through two rounds, Clark sat third in the field in SG: Approach, and 22nd in SG: Off the tee. Add in a hot putter, which has netted him another 2.3 strokes over the field average, and you have the perfect recipe for a run at a major title.

“I’ve really progressed as the year has gone on,” Clark said. “You start really building confidence. I was doing not only that, but then things off the course, as well. Yeah, all that together kind of just built momentum and we find ourselves here.”

A couple of years ago, fresh off his victory at Los Angeles Country Club, Clark joined GOLF’s Dylan Dethier on an episode of Warming Up (which you can watch here). During their chat, Clark shared one of his favorite swing drills — and it’s one that can help just about every golfer.