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New WR3 Option Becomes Available to Vikings

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Falcons WR Darnell Mooney against the Dolphins in 2025
Oct 26, 2025; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Darnell Mooney (1) on the field before the game against the Miami Dolphins at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images.

The Minnesota Vikings may be in the market for a WR3 in 2026 next to Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison, and as of Thursday, Darnell Mooney is available.

Mooney offers speed and experience, and his availability arrives as Minnesota weighs WR depth this offseason.

The Atlanta Falcons dropped Mooney this week, casting him into the open market, where the man will have at least a few suitors.

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Mooney’s Skill Set Could Fit Minnesota’s WR3 Role in 2026

This one makes plenty of sense.

Darnell Mooney makes a catch for the Atlanta Falcons during a game against the Carolina Panthers. Darnell Mooney Vikings WR3.
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Darnell Mooney (1) secures a reception during second-half action against the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte. The NFC South matchup on Oct. 13, 2024, featured Mooney stretching for the ball while working across the middle as Atlanta pushed for yards late. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images.

Mooney Out in ATL

When the new league year opens on Wednesday, Mooney will be officially free to sign anywhere in the league.

NFL.com’s Kevin Patra wrote Thursday, “Add another receiver to the free agency pile. The Atlanta Falcons plan to release WR Darnell Mooney, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported on Thursday, per sources informed of the situation. Mooney was set to count $18.4 million against the salary cap but had no guaranteed money left on his deal.”

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“The Falcons will save $7.42 million on the cap with $11 million in dead money by releasing the wideout. The 28-year-old Mooney signed a three-year, $39 million contract in Atlanta after being a field-stretching weapon for four seasons in Chicago.”

Atlanta followed this same path with quarterback Kirk Cousins, a former Viking, so the Falcons will lose two notable offensive pieces in the 2026 offseason.

The Career Production

Mooney can ball when afforded targets in an offense. These are his numbers over the last six seasons:

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2025: 32 Receptions | 443 Rec Yards | 1 TD | 72 Tgts
2024: 64 Receptions | 992 Rec Yards | 5 TD | 106 Tgts
2023: 31 Receptions | 414 Rec Yards | 1 TD | 61 Tgts
2022: 40 Receptions | 493 Rec Yards | 2 TD | 61 Tgts
2021: 81 Receptions | 1,055 Rec Yards | 4 TD | 140 Tgts
2020: 61 Receptions | 631 Rec Yards | 4 TD | 98 Tgts

If one assumes the Vikings will have a prolific passing offense in 2026 — maybe, maybe not — Mooney could feast as the third wide receiver. It’s what he does in a high-volume passing offense.

His next contract should pay him around $8 million per season, which would be within Minnesota’s slim 2026 budget.

Draft SharksJared Smola mentioned Mooney on Thursday, “It’s certainly worth noting that Mooney suffered a shoulder injury in late July that sidelined him for a month and cost him the season opener. He missed another game in October with a hamstring injury.”

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“Mooney was much better back in 2024, posting a 64-992-5 line on 106 targets. He ranked top-37 among 89 qualifying WRs in yards per target, yards per route, and PFF grade that year. And he finished WR39 in PPR points per game.”

A Would-Be WR in Minnesota

With Mooney, the 2026 Vikings WR room would look like this:

  • Justin Jefferson
  • Jordan Addison
  • Darnell Mooney
  • Tai Felton
  • Myles Price
  • Dontae Fleming
  • Jeshaun Jones
  • Joaquin Davis

Minnesota picked Felton last year from Round 3, but hardly used him on offense. It is unclear if he’ll take a year-two leap or be relegated to a special teams role. If one assumes that Felton is sitting on a breakout campaign, Mooney isn’t needed.

Darnell Mooney attempts to catch a pass for the Atlanta Falcons during a game against the Carolina Panthers.
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Darnell Mooney (1) reaches for a pass during first-quarter action against the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte. The divisional game on Sep. 21, 2025, showed Mooney extending toward the ball as Atlanta opened its offensive series early. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images.

But if Felton is another failed draft pick courtesy of former boss Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, the Vikings will need a credible WR3. It’s as simple as that.

Waiting on the Nailor Verdict

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The Vikings have one giant free agency mystery in 2026: Jalen Nailor.

Reports suggest that 10 teams are circling his availability next week, and if one of those clubs pays Nailor $10 million or more per season, he probably won’t return to the Vikings. Nailor has never posted over 500 yards in a season, but this offseason, the league appears to have determined that he’s a sleeper awaiting eruption.

The Athletic‘s Alec Lewis noted on Nailor this week, “More than 10 teams are eyeing Vikings receiver Jalen Nailor, according to league sources. Nailor recently turned 27 and will be one of the more coveted free-agent wide receivers next week. Even though he has caught only 69 NFL passes and never reached 450 yards in a season, multiple evaluators think he has the potential to become a priority signing.”

“The Vikings don’t want to lose Nailor. The coaches — especially receivers coach Keenan McCardell — have watched him progress into one of their best developmental stories. He can absorb a complex playbook. He is a willing run blocker. He possesses vertical speed, and he displays separation ability, too.”

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Darnell Mooney celebrates after scoring a touchdown for the Atlanta Falcons against the New Orleans Saints.
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Darnell Mooney (1) celebrates after catching a touchdown against the New Orleans Saints at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans. The NFC South contest on Nov. 23, 2025, featured Mooney reacting with excitement after reaching the end zone during second-half action in the heated divisional matchup. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Hinton-Imagn Images.

Minnesota can probably afford Nailor at a price point of $4 million to $8 million, but a reported four-year, $48 million deal from another team would price the Vikings out of the conversation.

Mooney is a guy Minnesota can target if Nailor leaves and Felton isn’t quite a WR3.


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Kym Davison lands first Sydney win at Randwick in 2026 autumn carnival

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Kym Davison, the trainer from Albury, has savored his maiden city triumph on a premier occasion of the Sydney autumn carnival in 2026, accomplishing it almost accidentally.

Davison intended for his up-and-coming three-year-old Autumn Break to participate in the $1 million Country Championships Final (1400m), though the horse was excluded from the field.

He acted as a standby instead, and obligated to stay in Sydney for any possible withdrawals, Davison elected to pay the entry fee for the Group 3 Carbine Club Stakes (1600m) as a fallback option.

“First city winner, so not a bad one to crack the ice with,” Davison said.

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“I was hoping to be in the next race, but great consolation.

“I saw this race and said, ‘well, we’re going up there anyway, so we’ll go and have a throw at the stumps’.”

Autumn Break ($8) duly obliged, prevailing by a nose over Kilman ($31) prepared by Chris Waller, who controlled the race until the final stride, as Matias ($6.50) trailed by a short head for third.

The result offered solace in a distressing phase for the Davison household, with Kym’s brother succumbing to his illness just a week prior.

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“It’s been a hard week. We lost my brother a week ago,” he said.

“He had been unwell for a while. But you’ve got to pick yourself up.”

Davison, managing eight horses in his Albury stable, will now spell Autumn Break with intentions of targeting The Kosciuszko (1200m) early in his next campaign in October.

“The Kosciuszko, he’d go alright in that,” he said.

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“His first start was over 1200, and he should have won that Highway (Handicap) here, that was 1200 first-up, so we’ll try to push onto that if we can.”

Discover leading betting sites offering racing odds for the Group 3 Carbine Club Stakes.

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CSK script history, go past RCB in elite IPL list… despite heavy defeat | Cricket News

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CSK script history, go past RCB in elite IPL list… despite heavy defeat

Even in a crushing 43-run loss to Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Chennai Super Kings quietly ticked off a major milestone that adds an interesting layer to the evolving scoring trends in the IPL.Most 200-plus totals in the IPL37 – CSK36 – RCB33 – PBKS32 – MI30 – KKRCSK’s 207 all out while chasing 250 at the Chinnaswamy took them to 37 totals of 200-plus in IPL history, the most by any team. They have now edged past RCB, who are on 36, with Punjab Kings (33), Mumbai Indians (32) and Kolkata Knight Riders (30) following behind.What makes the stat intriguing is the timing. In an era where 200-plus scores are becoming increasingly common and often not enough to guarantee wins, CSK’s record came in a match where they were comprehensively outplayed. Chasing a massive 250, they still managed to cross 200, but the gap in quality and execution was evident throughout the contest.The night belonged entirely to RCB’s power-packed batting unit. Devdutt Padikkal laid the platform with a well-paced 50, but it was the late assault that completely blew the game open. Rajat Patidar and Tim David dismantled the CSK bowling attack with a ruthless fourth-wicket stand. Patidar’s unbeaten 48 off 19 balls and David’s brutal 70 off 25 lifted RCB to a towering 250 for 3, with 97 runs coming in the last five overs.In response, CSK never really found stability. Early wickets left them struggling at 30 for 3, and the chase was effectively over in the powerplay itself. Sarfaraz Khan showed intent with a quick half-century, while useful contributions from the lower middle order helped them go past 200, but the target remained far out of reach. The match summed up the modern IPL perfectly. Big scores are frequent, momentum shifts quickly, and even crossing 200 does not carry the same weight it once did. On this occasion, CSK ended up on the wrong side of the result, but still moved to the top of a high-scoring chart that continues to grow with every season.

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West Virginia rallies, beats Oklahoma in OT to win College Basketball Crown

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NCAA Basketball: Brigham Young at West VirginiaFeb 28, 2026; Morgantown, West Virginia, USA; West Virginia Mountaineers guard Honor Huff (3) is interviewed after the game after defeating the BYU Cougars at Hope Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Ben Queen-Imagn Images

Honor Huff scored 38 points and made eight 3-pointers to help West Virginia rally for an 89-82 overtime victory over Oklahoma in the College Basketball Crown championship game on Sunday in Las Vegas.

Chance Moore added 19 points and 10 rebounds for the Mountaineers (21-14), who trailed by 13 points in the second half before rallying. Brenen Lorient scored 15 points in the program’s first postseason tournament title since winning the 2007 NIT.

Nijel Pack led Oklahoma (21-16) with 24 points and seven assists, followed by Tae Davis’ 19 points and Xzayvier Brown’s 13.

Oklahoma scored the first six points of overtime, taking an 82-76 lead on Pack’s layup.

Jasper Floyd then hit his first 3-pointer of the game, followed by Huff’s triple to tie the score with 2:14 remaining. After Pack missed a 3-pointer, Floyd hit another trey to give the Mountaineers an 85-82 lead.

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West Virginia got stops on its next two possessions and Huff drilled four straight free throws to seal the championship win.

Oklahoma pushed its four-point halftime lead to 10 on Pack’s 3-pointer, forcing a West Virginia timeout less than four minutes into the second half.

Brown’s jumper extended the margin to 13, before Huff’s three-point play and Moore’s layup cut the deficit to 59-51.

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Lorient’s basket at the 5:23 mark pulled West Virginia within three. Derrion Reid and Davis scored on Oklahoma’s next two possessions, giving the Sooners a 71-64 lead.

From there, Huff scored five straight points and Lorient made a layup to tie the score at 71 with 1:45 remaining.

After an Oklahoma timeout, Pack and Huff traded triples. Davis then turned the ball over and committed a foul on Huff, who drained two free throws with 33 seconds left.

Davis’ ensuing layup tied the score at 76. Huff missed a go-ahead 3-pointer on the other end, sending the game to overtime.

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The Mountaineers connected on eight of their first 10 3-point attempts, including Huff’s three straight triples to build a 26-11 lead.

Oklahoma answered with a 16-2 run, cutting its deficit to a point on Pack’s mid-range jumper with 5:25 left in the first half.

After Moore’s layup snapped a four-plus minute West Virginia scoring drought, the Sooners scored nine straight points, taking a 36-30 advantage. Davis closed the first half with a three-point play to give Oklahoma a 41-37 halftime lead.

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–Field Level Media

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Monday gallop to shape Gin Twist’s 2026 campaign

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The decision on whether Gin Twist forges ahead to another start or enters a spell phase hinges on her performance in a track gallop.

Lindsay Park’s two-year-old filly is a potential runner in Saturday’s Listed Redoute’s Choice Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield, contingent on a satisfying showing in Monday’s gallop.

She was the hot favourite dispatched in the Group 3 Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes (1200m) at Flemington March 28, leading early before stopping to take third.

Ben, Will and J D Hayes prepare Gin Twist, who was accounted for by more than three lengths by the Sydney mare Satono Glow.

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Ben Hayes mentioned optimism surrounds the filly’s readiness for Saturday, as she exhibits no adverse aftereffects from the race.

“We’ll make a decision on Monday whether she runs or not after she does some work,” Hayes said.

“We feel that one, she raced a bit fresh last week and two, she didn’t handle the heavy track, but she has pulled up fine.

“It is a good opportunity for her and if she doesn’t work well, we won’t run her, but if she works well, we’ll run her.”

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The filly had previously claimed the Listed Festival Stakes (1000m) victory at Flemington on February 28, and was next in line as third emergency for Group 1 Golden Slipper (1200m) at Rosehill on March 21.

Lindsay Park refrained from interstate travel for her, aware a start was improbable.

Hayes is of the view that Gin Twist copes with 1200m and merits another attempt on a good track.

“I think she is a very fast horse, and 1200 metres is her limit,” Hayes said.

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“But it is hard to judge her off that run over 1200 metres, which was down the straight, and on a heavy eight (track).

“We can find out if she can the trip and then we’ll know how to place her next prep.”

Secure the best value with betting sites offering markets for the Redoute’s Choice Stakes.

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Liv Morgan breaks character to discuss her relationship with Rhea Ripley

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Liv Morgan broke character to comment on her relationship with WWE star Rhea Ripley. Both Ripley and Morgan will be challenging for major titles at WrestleMania 42.

In an interview with Esteban Ramirez, Liv Morgan broke character to comment on her relationship with Rhea Ripley. The Judgment Day star noted that she knew her former rival was going to be a star while they were in NXT together and left Ripley her locker when she got called up to the main roster.

“Rhea and I have quite a bit of lore. I remember back in the Performance Center when I saw her, I knew that she was gonna be a star. It was just very evident to me. So when I had gotten called up to the main roster, I had left Rhea my locker. I told her, ‘You can have my locker, you can move your stuff into my locker.’ She didn’t even have a locker yet,” said Morgan.

The Women’s Royal Rumble winner added that they will always be connected and compared their rivalry to Batman and The Joker.

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“I came back on the Liv Morgan Revenge Tour and took everything that she loved including Dominik, the Judgment Day and the Women’s World Championship. So I feel like we are both the heroes and villains in each other’s stories. She is the Batman to my Joker, and I am the villain in her hero’s story, and she is the villain in my hero’s story,” she added. [H/T: WrestleTalk on X]

You can check out the interview in the video below:

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Morgan will be challenging Stephanie Vaquer for the Women’s World Championship at WrestleMania 42.

Liv Morgan comments on recent WWE injury

WWE RAW star Liv Morgan recently discussed her injury last year that caused her to miss several months of WWE television.

In an interview with Brad Gilmore, the 31-year-old noted that the injury was devastating for her last year as she was on an upward trajectory. The WWE veteran added that she was upset about the situation during her hiatus last year.

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“I do feel like in the moment that I got injured, I was on a very upward trajectory. And so the injury obviously devastated me. I was very, very angry the whole entire time I had off time,” she said.

Liv Morgan says she was “angry the whole time” when she was recovering from shoulder injury: “I was mad the whole entire time,” Morgan said. “I got injured in a moment [when] I had multiple things going on for me. I was really enjoying and loving what I was doing. So to have all

Only time will tell if Liv Morgan can defeat Stephanie Vaquer to become champion once again at WWE WrestleMania.