Rory McIlroy has withdrawn from the Arnold Palmer Invitational in Orlando after suffering spasms in his lower back before he was due to start the third round.

The Northern Ireland player’s exit was announced by the PGA Tour about 30 minutes before his tee time.

In a later statement, the five-time major winner said: “While warming up in the gym this morning, I felt a small twinge in my back.

“As I started hitting balls on the range before the round, it worsened and developed into muscle spasms in my lower back. Unfortunately, I’m not able to continue and have to withdraw.”

McIlroy held a share of ninth place – nine shots back – after moving to four under on Friday with a round of 68, having shot level par on Thursday.

Having birdied four of the first seven holes on the back nine, McIlroy had said he was “really pleased”, adding he had played a “controlled, patient round of golf”.

The 36-year-old, who was competing in his third PGA Tour event of the season, is due to defend his titles at the Players Championship at Sawgrass next week and the Masters at Augusta from 9-12 April.

A play-off win at the latter against Justin Rose last year saw McIlroy become the sixth man to complete a career Grand Slam, ending an 11-year drought at the sport’s four biggest competitions.

Since 2022, T.J. Hockenson has been the top tight end in the Twin Cities. Getting him onto the roster involved Kwesi Adofo-Mensah pulling off a bold, unexpected trade deadline swap with an NFC North rival.

These past few years have included highs and lows for Mr. Hockenson. Great performance got interrupted by injury and a prolonged recovery.

He’s going to remain on Minnesota’s roster. ESPN’s Adam Schefter offers the update: “Vikings and T.J. Hockenson have agreed to a restructured contract that saves the team more than $5M in cap space in 2026. Interim GM Rob Brzezinski continues to clear cap space before free agency.”

Later on, Tom Pelissero offered more details. Check it out: “As part of Vikings TE T.J. Hockenson’s restructured contract, the team agreed to delete the final year of his deal, per sources. So Hockenson takes a $5 million pay cut that provides Minnesota cap relief, and now gets to be a free agent after this season.”***

Vikings Make T.J. Hockenson Decision

Lately, there have been all sorts of moves to get the finances into a decent spot.

Already, WR1 Justin Jefferson, CB1 Byron Murphy Jr., and LT1 Christian Darrisaw have seen their deals restructured (read more here and here). C1 Ryan Kelly is moving into retirement. DT2 Jonathan Allen, DT3 Javon Hargrave, and RB1 Aaron Jones are all going to be cut unless an unexpected trade gets figured out (not likely).

There are even rumors swirling around EDGE1 Jonathan Greenard. Lots going on.

Kevin Seifert chimed in with some added insight on why the decision was made. Consider his brief word to offer context: “Prior to the restructure, T.J. Hockenson was going to have a cap number of $21.3 million this season, highest in the NFL for tight ends.”

Consider a rough, simple summary of the cap savings that are known:

• Justin Jefferson: $18M
• Christian Darrisaw: $9M
• Byron Murphy: $11M
• Ryan Kelly: $8M
• T.J. Hockenson: $5M

And then with the upcoming cuts — Allen, Hargrave, and Jones — the Vikings will add another $25 million into the mix. Adding it all together means obliterating the $46 million in cap debt that was showing up on Over the Cap.

Rob Brzezinski, a numbers nerd who had been wrestling with Minnesota’s salary cap for decades, has injected $76 million into the mix. Debt is gone; cap space is available.

Other levers that can get pulled include trades. More likely, though, are the extensions. In particular, there’s Brian O’Neill, who can give back more than $14 million in 2026 with an extension.

So, the Vikings will be able to add talent if there’s a desire to do so. Can’t get too frisky in free agency but can join in the fun.

T.J. Hockenson, 28, is coming off a season where he turned 51 catches into 438 yards and 3 touchdowns. The 8.6 yards-per-reception average is modest. So is the scoring. He’ll look to improve in both areas, something that appears plausible since he’s further away from his serious knee injury. More importantly, Minnesota’s quarterback play should (note: should) take a large step forward next year.

Worth remembering, as well, that keeping Hockenson means sitting on a deep tight end position. Josh Oliver remains. So, too, is there Gavin Bartholomew, Ben Yurosek, and others in the mix. What happens with Ben Sims, someone whom the Vikings like quite a bit?

The Vikings won’t need to worry about adding at tight end unless there’s a great opportunity.

Mr. Hockenson comes in at 6’5″ and 248 pounds. A gifted athlete who was chosen at No. 8 in the 2019 NFL Draft, Hockenson has been getting better as a blocker. Returning to his old explosiveness would make a huge difference.

Look for him to work toward a bounce back in 2026 as the team more broadly endeavours to do likewise.

Editor’s Note: Information from Pro Football Reference and Over the Cap helped with this piece.

*** The Pelissero note was inserted into the story afterwards since the details weren’t known at original time of publication.

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

Over recent days, media outlets have leaked details of upcoming moves, suggesting a youth movement on the Vikings’ defensive line in Minnesota. It’s out with the old and potentially in with the new in Minnesota this spring.

Minnesota’s Interior Defensive Front Is Entering a Transition Phase

There have been three significant moves made at the interior defensive line position. Both Jonathan Allen and Javon Harhrave are going to be released just a year on from signing for Minnesota in big-money deals. Hargrave’s release was leaked first, along with veteran RB Aaron Jones, and both were moves I expected. The news regarding Allen came a few days later and was more of a surprise.

It was a big move when the Vikings signed Allen and Hargrave on the same day last March. Both were coming off injury problems, but had been very good players in the league. Surely one of them would recapture their old form? Both were ok but neither got close to being worth the two-year, $30 million (Hargrave) or three-year, $60 million (Allen) contracts they got from Minnesota.

Unless someone comes in with a trade offer, which would be a surprise at this point, their pair will be released, giving the Vikings a combined savings of $17.4 million against this year’s salary cap. Releasing Allen two years early will leave a huge dead cap hit of $17.3 million unless it is designated as a post-Jun 1, where a further saving of $4.7 million can be made, but it still leaves a hefty dead cap hit.

The Emergence of Jalen Redmond

One reason the Vikings can feel comfortable making these moves is the emergence of Jalen Redmond. Undrafted in 2023, Redmond was signed and then discarded by the Carolina Panthers before eventually landing in the XFL. Redmond got a second chance in Minnesota and has never looked back, playing in 30 games, including 17 starts, over the last two seasons.

Redmond comfortably outplayed both Allen and Hargrave, which has led the Vikings to place the exclusive rights tender on him. After a six-sack season in which he showcased his all-around ability, a long contract will soon be on its way.

Soon to be 27, Redmond is suddenly the senior man on the Vikings’ defensive line, alongside  Levi Drake-Rodriguez (25), Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins (22), and Elijah Williams (23), making up the rest of the depth chart. All of those are well thought of in Minnesota, but there certainly needs to be someone else added to the mix.

Adding via Free Agency or the Draft?

The question now is, do the Vikings add to the position via free agency or the draft? They probably do both, but my preference would be to add a cheap veteran via free agency – a Jonathan Bullard type – and then go early in the draft. No Jalen Carter or Aaron Donald is screaming to be picked near the top of this year’s draft – the Vikings wouldn’t be in position to get them if they were – but there are some good players.

The big names this year are Caleb Banks, Peter Woods, Kayden McDonald, and Lee Hunter, and they are the big names to look out for early in the draft.

I’m a big fan of Banks and have been banging the support for him as the Vikings pick at 18 – even more so since his impressive display at the NFL Combine. He is the only one of the four I’d take in the first round. If Minnesota goes with a different position on Day 1, then the other three are good options if available on Day 2.

A depth chart that reads Redmond, Banks, Drake-Rodriguez, Ingram-Dawkins, and Williams would signal a significant shift toward a Vikings defensive line youth movement. Depending on the group’s development, it could be an exciting prospect for a group that has been together for a significant amount of time.

Proud UK Viking. Family Man. Enjoy writing about my team. Away from football an advocate for autism acceptance.

When the Minnesota Vikings turned their focus to the offseason, two separate necessities were top of mind. They needed to find a quarterback who could push J.J. McCarthy down the depth chart. They also needed to clear nearly $50 million in salary cap space.

They have yet to do the former, but it sounds like Kyler Murray is their desired answer. We’ll have more clarity on that next week when free agency actually opens. Minnesota has done plenty of restructuring and made cuts to get below the salary cap, and one additional move was decided for them.

Minnesota Suddenly Has a Real Question at Center

On Friday afternoon, Ryan Kelly decided that his career was ready to be over. After suffering multiple concussions this season, and even more over the course of his career, it was time to call it an end.

Of course, Kelly’s departure leaves the Vikings without a starting center. Pro Football Focus ranked him as one of the best in the league last year. That’s why Minnesota signed him to a two-year deal last offseason. Kelly only played eight games last season, though, and Kevin O’Connell was consistently forced to test out his depth.

Michael Jurgens was initially slated to be the backup center, but instead lost the spot to Blake Brandel. He regained it and played there too, but now the Vikings have a pair of uncertain talents they’ll need to decide whether to trust.

The reality is that Kelly is irreplaceable by the talent on this roster. A four-time Pro Bowl selection, Kelly was arguably the best part of the Vikings’ offensive line last season. When he suffered the first concussion, though, it needed to be over. Having a long history of brain injuries, it was tough to think he should get back out there.

Unfortunately, he did. Then Kelly suffered another concussion. That all but cemented his future, and the Vikings put him on injured reserve to finish the year. Of course, Kelly needed to talk with family and those among his inner circle, but with a wife and kids, this was always the right move.

Kelly is just 32 years old and should be prioritizing his quality of life. He has spent more than a decade in the NFL, and not subjecting himself to further issues is as straightforward as it gets.

The Minnesota Vikings now need to add another center to the rotation. Either Jurgens or Brandel could start, but neither is truly a desirable outcome. Kelly’s retirement saves a decent amount of money under the salary cap, and the team could certainly use some of that to find his replacement.

Ted Schwerzler is a Minneapolis based blogger that covers the Minnesota Twins and Vikings. Sharing thoughts constantly on Twitter, … More about Ted Schwerzler

A fuming Pep Guardiola is facing a two-game touchline ban after being booked for the sixth time this season as Manchester City eased past Newcastle into the FA Cup quarter-finals.

The Spaniard confronted fourth official Lewis Smith on the touchline at St James’ Park after Kieran Trippier had felled Jeremy Doku, prompting referee Sam Barrott to act, and will now have to sit out the Premier League fixture with West Ham and the club’s last-eight clash.

That proved the only downside for Guardiola on a night when a team featuring 10 changes from the midweek draw with Nottingham Forest won 3-1 at a canter.

The City boss said: “I will tell you something – we have all the records in this country, all of them, despite everything. We have the record of the manager with the most yellow cards. I want all records and now I have it.

“Two-game ban now and I will go on holidays the next two games. There are things after 10 years I cannot understand.

“Review the action. Of course I’m going to defend Doku and all my teams.”

If that decision left Guardiola perplexed, it was one of few events which did as his side completed a fourth successive victory in five games against Newcastle this season, with his big guns rested ahead of the first leg of their Champions League showdown with Real Madrid on Wednesday night.

It was a 19th win in 21 FA Cup ties in the last year – the only two defeats have come in finals against Manchester United and Crystal Palace – a record of which he is justifiably proud.

He said: “It’s the best game we have played against Newcastle here in our period together in 10 years, in the FA Cup and a difficult one, so I’m really, really pleased how we behaved, how we played defensively, offensively and the concentration on top.

“Eight times in a row in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup, that means how good this organisation is.”

The hosts took an 18th-minute lead as they started impressively, Harvey Barnes running on to Sandro Tonali’s picture-book pass, but once City flexed their muscles it proved a chastening evening for Eddie Howe’s men.

Savinho levelled before the break and Marmoush put the game to bed after it with a double to take his tally against the Magpies to seven in five appearances, half his entire total for City.

Newcastle boss Eddie Howe now faces the task of raising his players for Tuesday night’s visit of Barcelona to St James’ Park, which is unlikely to be any less challenging.

Asked about chief executive David Hopkinson’s aim of being part of the debate over the top club in the world by 2030, he said: “My focus is really short-term and it’s trying to win the game that’s in front of me, and that’s Barcelona in the Champions League.

“As much as it is easy to be very negative in this moment – and I understand, we’ve gone out of the FA Cup – but we have the biggest game in the club’s history coming up in no time at all. We’ve got to get the players ready for that, we’ve got no time to dwell on this.”

Chelsea reached the FA Cup quarterfinals after goals in extra time from Alejandro Garnacho and João Pedro sealed a 2–0 win over hosts Wrexham at the Racecourse Ground on Saturday.

The match was tightly contested, with Wrexham putting in an incredible effort to keep the score level during normal time. The breakthrough came in extra time when Garnacho rose to meet a precise cross and powered the ball into the net, giving Chelsea the lead. João Pedro later added a second to secure the win.

The game was also marked by a dramatic VAR moment. Wrexham midfielder George Dobson was initially shown a yellow card for a high tackle on Garnacho. However, after a review prompted by Video Assistant Referee Paul Howard, referee Peter Bankes upgraded the decision to a straight red card for serious foul play.

“After review, Wrexham No 15 catches his opponent high with intensity,” Bankes announced to the crowd. “The final decision is a red card for serious foul play.”

The incident highlighted the difference between Wrexham’s usual Championship games, which do not use VAR, and top-tier matches where video technology is in play.

Despite the setback, Wrexham continued to challenge Chelsea throughout the match but were unable to find a goal. Chelsea’s victory sets up a quarterfinal clash as they continue their pursuit of FA Cup glory.

Garnacho’s performance, including the winning goal, underlined his growing influence for Chelsea, while João Pedro’s late strike confirmed the Blues’ spot in the next round.

South Africa’s Quinton de Kock (ANI Photo)

Quinton de Kock has criticised the International Cricket Council after reports suggested that England cricket team would return home before both South Africa national cricket team and the West Indies cricket team following their exits from the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. Travel plans for several teams have been affected due to international airspace restrictions linked to the conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran. As a result, a number of sides have remained in India while waiting for charter flights arranged by the ICC. The West Indies were knocked out of the tournament on March 1 after a defeat to the India national cricket team in the Super 8 stage, while South Africa’s campaign ended with a semi final loss to the New Zealand national cricket team. Since then, both teams have remained in India awaiting travel arrangements. The Caribbean side has been in the country for about a week following their elimination, while the Proteas have been waiting for three days. In contrast, England were beaten by India in the second semi final on Thursday but are set to leave for home on Saturday, just two days after their exit. The situation prompted de Kock to question the apparent imbalance, suggesting that some teams might have greater influence within international cricket.

Quinton de kock’s insta story

“Funny @icc, we have heard nothing! Meanwhile, England are leaving before us somehow? @westindies and @proteasmencsa are just in the dark! Strange how different teams have more pull than others,” wrote Quinton de Kock on Instagram Stories. Earlier, former England captain Michael Vaughan also raised similar concerns about the travel situation. He questioned why England were able to leave earlier despite other teams being stuck in India for longer.

Michael Vaughan post

“So England got knocked out on Thurs, get a charter home today .. West Indies go out last Sunday and are still in Kolkata .. SA in the same position .. That’s where the power is all wrong .. All teams in this situation should be treated the same .. just because you are more powerful at the ICC table shouldn’t count .. #JustSaying,” he wrote on X. According to ESPNCricinfo, England are expected to depart on Saturday, while both South Africa and the West Indies are likely to leave on Sunday once charter flights organised by the ICC become available. England’s flight is scheduled to head directly to London. Meanwhile, South Africa and West Indies are set to travel first to Johannesburg, after which the Caribbean side will continue their journey to Antigua. However, neither team has officially confirmed the exact timing of their departures. Frustration within the West Indies camp has been visible. Head coach Daren Sammy posted “Day 6” on X on Friday, highlighting how long the team had been stranded in Kolkata since their match against India at the Eden Gardens. Earlier in the tournament, the Zimbabwe national cricket team also faced travel delays after playing their final match against South Africa on March 1 in New Delhi, before eventually departing India on March 4.