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One Viking Had an Absolutely Rotten Week

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Max Brosmer jogging onto the field before a Vikings game against the Falcons
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Max Brosmer jogs onto the field during pregame warmups on Sep 14, 2025, at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota, as the team prepares for a home matchup against the Atlanta Falcons with anticipation building around the young passer’s role ahead of kickoff. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images.

If you had big plans for 2025 undrafted free-agent quarterback Max Brosmer, it’s officially time to rethink them. In the last week, the Minnesota Vikings have onboarded Kyler Murray and re-signed last year’s QB2, Carson Wentz, spelling a mini-doomsday scenario for Brosmer.

The young quarterback’s roster standing took a serious hit over the course of a few days.

Brosmer may not have possessed the upside of a QB1 in the pros in the first place, but the Vikings’ decision-making proved recently that he’s closer to a practice-squad commodity than anything else.

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Minnesota’s QB Shuffle Leaves Brosmer in a Tough Spot

Back to the drawing board for Brosmer.

Max Brosmer lines up under center during a Vikings game against the Bengals. Max Brosmer
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Max Brosmer (12) lines up under center during second-half action against the Cincinnati Bengals, Sep. 21, 2025, at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. The young signal-caller directed the offense late, working through reads and adjustments as Minnesota pushed to sustain drives in front of the home crowd. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-Imagn Images.

Wentz Returns

Wentz has returned to Minnesota after flirting with the New York Jets last week.

NFL.com’s Kevin Patra wrote Thursday, “The Minnesota Vikings have added another veteran to their quarterback room. Carson Wentz is re-signing with the Vikings on a one-year deal, NFL Network Insiders Tom Pelissero, Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo reported Thursday, per sources informed of the move. The team later announced the news.”

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“The move comes after the Vikings inked Kyler Murray to a one-year deal last week to battle J.J. McCarthy for the starting gig. Retaining Wentz aims at safeguarding against the quarterback issues that sank their 2025 campaign, in which undrafted free agent Max Brosmer was forced to start two games.”

Wentz’s torn labrum should be in tip-top shape before too long, and he’s officially back in the mix for Minnesota.

Murray Added as Probable QB1

And, of course, Minnesota signed Murray on March 12th, following weeks of speculation that the former Arizona Cardinals starter would join the team he rooted for as a child and teenager. The speculation was correct.

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Murray immediately tracks as the QB1 in 2026 — how could a team not start a man who averages about 4,000 passing yards, 30 total touchdowns, and 600 rushing yards every 17 starts? Mind-bogglingly, because the Cardinals are the hook for Murray’s 2026 salary, the Vikings scored Murray for 1.3 million bucks.

He’d probably have to get hurt this summer to lose the starter’s job.

Zone Coverage‘s Nelson Thielen wrote about Murray last week, “Murray represents Kevin O’Connell’s desperate attempt to maximize his upside and save his job — even if it means completely reorienting his offensive principles. Because what Murray does well is not what this offense ran so successfully in 2024.”

“Murray plays his best ball as a point guard at the line of scrimmage with quick, rhythmic passing. He’s a good distributor close to the line of scrimmage and saves most of his intermediate passing to concepts outside the numbers in the form of deep outs, corner routes, and comebacks. Essentially, the only time you see him throw in structure over the middle of the field is up the seam. Otherwise, it simply isn’t an element of his game.”

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O’Connell has five months to figure out his playbook to accommodate Murray. It shouldn’t be difficult.

“There is a world in which Kevin O’Connell rehabilitates Kyler’s career, and the Kyler Murray era in Minnesota extends far beyond 2026. I just hope this coaching staff is willing to go all in on that possibility, because a half measure likely leads to the same type of disjointed mess Murray was hoping to leave behind in Arizona,” Thielen added.

Brosmer Out in the Cold

Therefore, with the quarterback additions and re-signings, the Vikings’ QB depth chart now looks like this:

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  • Kyler Murray
  • J.J. McCarthy
  • Carson Wentz
  • Max Brosmer

Minnesota never keeps four quarterbacks on a regular season roster — sometimes it’s only two — and Brosmer is either on the practice squad in 2026 or outright released. Until this week, no one was too sure if Wentz would re-up with the Vikings, keeping hope alive for Brosmer’s inside path to the QB3 post.

Max Brosmer warms up before a Minnesota Golden Gophers game at Huntington Bank Stadium. Max Brosmer
Minnesota Golden Gophers quarterback Max Brosmer (16) warms up prior to kickoff against the Rhode Island Rams, Sep. 7, 2024, at Huntington Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. The transfer quarterback went through pregame routines, loosening his arm and preparing to lead Minnesota’s offense in an early-season nonconference matchup. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images.

Brosmer as the QB3 — or on the roster at all when the regular season rolls around — now feels like a long shot. He went from unknown, undrafted free agent to possible Brock Purdy-like breakout to a probable roster cut or practice squad candidate.

It was not a good week for Brosmer.

“Hope” for a McCarthy Trade?

Brosmer would actually benefit from a McCarthy trade, as the rumor mill has subtly suggested since the club re-signed Wentz on Thursday. Sending McCarthy to Arizona or Pittsburgh, for example, would keep Brosmer in the Vikings’ roster orbit as their single young quarterback in the pipeline.

Vikings quarterbacks McCarthy, Howell, Rypien, and Brosmer practice together during minicamp. Max Brosmer
Minnesota Vikings quarterbacks J.J. McCarthy (9), Sam Howell (8), Brett Rypien (11), and Max Brosmer (12) participate in drills during minicamp, Jun. 10, 2025, at the Vikings Training Facility in Minneapolis. The group rotated through reps, sharpening timing and mechanics as coaches evaluated depth chart options ahead of training camp. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images.

Of course, a McCarthy trade is unlikely, all things considered, and it doesn’t feel like Kevin O’Connell is ready to throw in the towel. During the upcoming buildup to the 2026 season, remember that Murray usually misses about four or five games per season; that would be the perfect opportunity for McCarthy to reclaim his throne — if he’s matured and developed in the background.

Otherwise, if McCarthy is out of the way, Brosmer won’t trend so irreleveantly.

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Braves tally six runs in sixth to outslug Guardians

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MLB: Cleveland Guardians at Atlanta BravesApr 10, 2026; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Braves first baseman Matt Olson (28) celebrates with catcher Drake Baldwin (30) after a two-run home run against the Cleveland Guardians in the sixth inning at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images

Ronald Acuna Jr., Matt Olson and Michael Harris II each hit home runs in the sixth inning as the Atlanta Braves picked up an 11-5 win over the visiting Cleveland Guardians on Friday.

Atlanta sent 10 batters to the plate, pounded out seven hits and scored six runs in the decisive sixth inning.

Acuna’s first home run of the season came on a hanging curve ball and tied the game at 2-2. Drake Baldwin singled to center before Olson launched a 3-0 pitch to right field for a two-run homer and the put the Braves up 4-2.

Austin Riley singled to left field and scored on Dominic Smith’s RBI single for a 5-2 lead. Harris’ two-run shot scored Smith as the Braves opened up a 7-2 lead.

Ozzie Albies and Smith notched two-out RBI singles in the bottom of the seventh and Atlanta led 9-2.

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The Guardians loaded the bases in the top of the eighth and a Rhys Hoskins’ RBI single scored Chase DeLauter. Angel Martinez’s RBI bloop single drove in Juan Brito and Hoskins as Cleveland cut its deficit to 9-5.

An RBI double by Baldwin gave the Braves a 10-5 lead in the top of the ninth. He scored on an error two hitters later as Atlanta closed out the scoring.

Cleveland starting pitcher Slade Cecconi (0-2) took the loss as he threw 5 1/3 innings, yielded seven hits, five runs (four earned), walked one and struck out three. Reliever Tyler Kinley (2-0) picked up the win in with a scoreless sixth inning. Starter Bryce Elder lasted 4 2/3 innings, allowing five hits, two runs, three walks, while recording three strikeouts.

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Acuna’s broken-bat RBI single up the middle snuck past a drawn-in infield and plated Smith as Atlanta seized a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the third inning.

Kyle Manzardo’s solo home run tied the game at 1-1 in the top of the fourth inning.

In the top of the fifth, Martinez followed up an opposite field single with a steal of second base. Steven Kwan also lined an opposite field single to left and Martinez scored on an error by Braves left fielder Mike Yastrzemski as the Guardians took a 2-1 lead.

Kwan and Martinez each went 2-for-4 for the visitors.

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Atlanta pounded out 15 hits, led by a 3-for-4 effort by Smith. He scored twice, drove in a pair and raised his batting average to .357. All nine Braves either scored or drove in at least one run.

–Field Level Media

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Ryan Garcia sets sights on one man after u-turn on Teofimo Lopez fight

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WBC welterweight champion Ryan Garcia appears to have had a change of plan when it comes to his future, seemingly looking elsewhere after previously announcing his next opponent.

‘King Ry’ dominated his clash against Mario Barrios back in February, utilising the right-hook, rather than his trademark left, to catch ‘El Azteca’ by surprise and comfortably claim a unanimous decision win to finally get his hands on world honours.

That triumph seemed to tee up a grudge match rematch and now title unification against fierce rival and WBO welterweight champion Devin Haney, but the latter was instead targeting an alternate champion in Rolando Romero (WBA).

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Then, at the beginning of the month, Garcia revealed that he would be taking on Teofimo Lopez on Saturday, July 25, but collapsed talks for a fight between Haney and Romero seem to have intervened on those plans.

Instead, on a Kick stream, Garcia told UFC lightweight title hopeful Arman Tsarukyan that he is currently hoping that the Haney rematch can happen next.

“Hopefully, [it is Devin Haney next]. He doesn’t really want to call me out, I put a lot of fear into him last time.”

Additionally, WBC mandatory challenger Conor Benn is intending on fighting Garcia later this year, but a unification bout between Garcia and Haney would trump any mandated fight between Benn and the WBC champion.

Haney-Garcia II was previously touted for September, with Haney wanting a fight beforehand, seeking to give himself the optimal chance to right the wrongs of their initial encounter.

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I can’t control none of that

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LSU Tigers star Flau’jae Johnson has been widely projected to be a lottery pick in the 2026 WNBA draft. Johnson’s collegiate career ended last month, and she has her eyes set on Monday’s draft.

In her interview with NBC Sports on Thursday, Johnson was asked by hosts Natalie Esquire and Terrika Foster-Brasby about her preferred destinations in the WNBA.

“My mindset right now is really just like, I can’t control none of that,” Johnson said. “I’m not even thinking about that. Honestly, I’m like, whoever picks me, I’m grateful, you know, to even have the opportunity to play in the WNBA. Like that sounds crazy. And whoever doesn’t pick me, like I get to see them all the time. I get to play them.

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So for me, it’s a win-win situation. For whoever drafts me is a win-win situation. I’ll be very thankful to bring my talents to that city and represent how I do. But I can’t control any of it. It’s not like I could be like, ‘I wanna go there.’ So I’m just thankful for where I’m at right now. I just wanna hear my name get called.”

In her final collegiate season with the Tigers, Johnson averaged 14.2 points, 4.2 rebounds and 2.5 assists on 46.5% shooting, including 39.3% from 3-point range. She was a finalist for the John R. Wooden Award as the National Player of the Year this year and ranks No. 6 in LSU history with 2,050 career points.

Johnson was part of LSU’s 2023 championship team. Following that, she led the team to two Elite Eight appearances and a Sweet 16 berth this season.

In ESPN analyst Michael Voepel’s mock draft on Wednesday, Flau’jae Johnson is projected to be selected by the Chicago Sky with the No. 5 pick.

Flau’jae Johnson is part of the official WNBA draft invitees

On Friday, the WNBA released a list of 15 prospects who will attend Monday’s draft day at The Shed at Hudson Yards in New York City. The list notably includes LSU Tigers star Flau’jae Johnson, Spain’s Awa Fam, UCLA’s Lauren Betts, Connecticut’s Azzi Fudd and TCU’s Olivia Miles.

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Before the traditional “orange carpet,” the invited prospects will visit the Empire State Building for a lighting ceremony to celebrate the draft. Also invited are Nell Angloma, Angela Dugalić, Gabriela Jaquez, Raven Johnson, Gianna Kneepkens, Ta’Niya Latson, Cotie McMahon, Madina Okot, Kiki Rice and Marta Suárez.

The Dallas Wings have the top pick in the WNBA draft for the second straight season. The Minnesota Lynx have the No. 2 pick, followed by the Seattle Storm, Washington Mystics and Chicago Sky. The expansions teams, Toronto Tempo and Portland Fire, will have the No. 6 and No. 7 picks, respectively.