A New England Patriots helmet rests on the sideline before preseason action against the Carolina Panthers at Gillette Stadium. The scene captured the atmosphere on Aug. 19, 2022, as the Patriots prepared for another exhibition matchup during training camp season in Foxborough while evaluating roster depth ahead of the regular season. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports.
During the 2021 NFL Draft, the Minnesota Vikings selected an outside linebacker named Janarius Robinson, who never really took off in the Twin Cities. Five years later, he’s getting a look from the Super Bowl runner-ups.
Robinson could turn a June audition into a roster battle if New England wants more depth.
The veteran EDGE will work out for the Patriots this week, and a summer roster spot could be the result.
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Robinson’s NFL Path Has Included Many Stops
Do you remember Robinson from the Mike Zimmer era?
Philadelphia Eagles defensive end Janarius Robinson lines up during preseason action against the Cleveland Browns at Lincoln Financial Field. Robinson continued competing for a depth role on Aug. 17, 2023, after joining Philadelphia following his brief tenure with the Minnesota Vikings organization and practice squad during the early stages of his NFL career. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports.
NE Auditions Robinson
Robinson could make it five NFL teams in five years. NBC Sports‘ Josh Alper wrote Tuesday morning, “The Patriots will be checking out a potential addition to their defense on Tuesday. Ian Rapoport of NFL Media reports that defensive end Janarius Robinson will be working out for the team.”
“Robinson spent last season with the Chiefs, but he did not appear in any games after fracturing his foot in the offseason. Robinson was a Vikings fourth-round pick in 2021 and moved on to the Eagles in 2022, but spent most of both seasons on injured reserve.”
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Through three months of open free agency, Robinson has no known nibbles from EDGE-needy teams. That could change as early as this week.
The Patriots’ EDGEs
Do the Patriots need more pass-rush help? From a role player and fringe roster bubble commodity like Robinson — probably not. Still, here’s the embattled Mike Vrabel’s OLB group in mid-May:
Harold Landry III
Dre’Mont Jones
Gaba Jacas
Namdi Obiazor
Bradyn Swinson
Quintayvious Hutchins
Jesse Luketa
Xavier Holmes
If signed, Robinson would likely slide onto the depth chart behind Jacas, a 2nd-Round rookie, and above Obiazor, a 6th-Round rookie.
Robinson’s Career to Date
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Robinson initially arrived in Minnesota via the 2020 Stefon Diggs trade with the Buffalo Bills. After sending Diggs to Buffalo, the Vikings leveraged the returned draft capital to select several players, including Justin Jefferson, Camryn Bynum, Zach Davidson, Kenny Willekes, and Robinson.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Janarius Robinson and linebacker Amari Gainer greet Chargers defenders Asante Samuel Jr. and Derwin James Jr. after a divisional matchup at SoFi Stadium. The postgame moment unfolded on Sep. 8, 2024, following Robinson’s continued effort to carve out a rotational NFL role after stops with multiple franchises. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images.
Drafted by former general manager Rick Spielman in the 4th Round of the 2021 NFL Draft, Robinson’s tenure with the Vikings was short-lived and unproductive. His rookie season in 2021 was cut short by a season-ending injury, and he failed to make the 53-man roster in 2022, instead being relegated to the practice squad. During that 2022 season, Patrick Jones and D.J. Wonnum served as the primary backup EDGE rushers behind starters Danielle Hunter and Za’Darius Smith.
The Philadelphia Eagles acquired Robinson in September 2022, signing him after defensive end Derek Barnett tore his ACL and was placed on injured reserve. Notably, Barnett himself had a prior connection to Robinson’s former team, having joined the Vikings in 2016 as part of the Sam Bradford trade.
Robinson never played in a regular season game for Minnesota before the Eagles acquired him.
Since entering the league, Robinson has appeared in 16 career games, making 3 starts. His career totals include 13 tackles, 4 quarterback hits, and 1.5 sacks. He has logged 187 defensive snaps and an additional 77 on special teams. His 2024 season was his most active as a professional, despite receiving a stinky 42.6 defensive grade from Pro Football Focus.
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His full work history:
Minnesota Vikings (2021–2022)
Philadelphia Eagles (2022)
Las Vegas Raiders (2023–2024)
Kansas City Chiefs (2025)
ArrowheadAddict‘s Matt Conner on Robinson, “Before the 2025 draft, Robinson sounded excited to join the Chiefs and said he was a ‘perfect fit’ for Kansas City. However, the Chiefs spent two early picks on the defensive front — a second-round choice on Omarr-Norman Lott and a third-round pick on Ashton Gillotte — and Robinson was buried on the depth chart early.”
“From there, a fractured foot landed him on injured reserve before the regular season even began. Robinson will now hope to prove he’s healthy as a journeyman defensive end for a team fresh off of a Super Bowl appearance.”
The Big-Name EDGEs Left in Free Agency
Suppose the Robinson tryout does not net a contract. The Patriots — and other teams that need EDGE rushers — still have an accredited list of alternatives, including these men:
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Denico Autry
Derek Barnett
Joey Bosa
Jadeveon Clowney
Marcus Davenport
A.J. Epenesa
Leonard Floyd
Cameron Jordan
Von Miller
Haason Reddick
Kyle Van Noy
Minnesota Vikings outside linebacker Janarius Robinson watches practice during training camp activities at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. Robinson participated in workouts on Jul. 29, 2022, while attempting to earn a roster spot entering his second NFL season after missing his rookie campaign because of injury rehabilitation and developmental setbacks. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images.
The Vikings, too, may need an OLB3 behind Andrew Van Ginkel and Dallas Turner, depending on the summer performances from Bo Richter, Tyler Batty, and rookie Jake Golday (an inside linebacker).
Robinson turned 28 two weeks ago. New England’s defense ranked 11th in the last year per EPA/Play, a propelling force for their Super Bowl appearance.
Dustin Baker is a novelist and political scientist. His second novel, The Invaders , is out now. So is … More about Dustin Baker
Anthony Joshua could be presented with a world title shot in 2027, but first he must take care of Tyson Fury later this year.
The two British heavyweights are expected to collide in November, yet we are still awaiting the announcement of a specific date, location and promoter.
The first of which will take place at the Max Muay Thai Stadium in Pattaya, Thailand, on July 24, with 46-year-old veteran Wach having been selected as a low-risk opponent.
It would also seem that there are no plans to broadcast this fight, but rather for it to be treated as an exclusive event for the 2,000 fans in attendance.
Joshua, meanwhile, has equally been matched with a low-risk opponent, only it could be argued that even Kristian Prenga poses a greater threat than Wach.
Regardless, the 36-year-old is heavily favoured to come through his contest in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on July 25, before entering a long-awaited showdown with Fury.
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If he defeats ‘The Gypsy King’, Joshua is then likely to pursue three-time world championship glory, potentially against newly-crowned WBC ruler Agit Kabayel.
Speaking with Sky Sports, the German insisted that he will be waiting for either Joshua or Fury, having previously sparred both heavyweights on numerous occasions.
“Tyson Fury, Anthony Joshua, when you think you have a chance to be a three-time world champion, let’s do it. Kabayel will wait for you.
“We can make the fight but first of all I think all the fans, the British fans, want to see the Anthony Joshua versus Tyson Fury fight and, after that, we can see who’s best for the fight with me.
“First of all AJ [for Fury] and after, why not? This is a big fight. We can make this also in Germany in a stadium. We can make this in the UK in a stadium.”
Jun 27, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Michael Lorenzen (24) delivers a pitch to Minnesota Twins third baseman Brooks Lee (22) in the second inning at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Blewett-Imagn Images
Mickey Moniak is beginning to perform like a No. 1 overall draft pick again.
Moniak will try to keep his latest hot streak going for the Colorado Rockies when they oppose the Miami Marlins in the finale of a four-game series on Thursday afternoon in Denver.
Moniak came within a single of hitting for the cycle in the Rockies’ 6-3 win against the Marlins on Wednesday. The first pick in the 2016 draft also homered in Colorado’s 14-3 loss to Miami on Tuesday.
“He was a first overall (pick) for a reason, so it’s never been a thing of talent,” Marlins manager Clayton McCullough said of Moniak following the Wednesday game. “Guys take a circuitous route to find a place that they settle into in a part of their career. It seems like he’s found a place here in Denver that he’s comfortable in, and certainly swings the bat very well in this ballpark, and he was a big factor for them (Wednesday) evening.”
The Marlins fell on the first day of July after finishing June with a 20-6 record, the best mark in the majors and the best month in their history (.769). It was only the second time in franchise annals that Miami won at least 20 games in a month, following a 21-8 ledger in May 2012.
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Miami starter Max Meyer came into the Wednesday game with a shiny 9-0 record, but with one out in the first, Moniak hit the second pitch he saw from Meyer over the fence for a 1-0 lead.
“Staying on a fastball, drove it out to left-center,” Moniak said. “When I’m doing that, things are usually feeling pretty good.”
McCullough would like to see a better approach at the plate from his hitters in the series finale. Miami struck out 11 times on Wednesday, with Esteury Ruiz (four), Kyle Stowers (three) and Owen Caissie (two) accounting for nine.
McCullough did witness something he’d never seen before: a pinch-hit inside-the-park homer. Joe Mack circled the bases after his long fly ball took an odd bounce off the center field wall in the seventh inning.
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“I didn’t have Joe Mack doing that on my bingo card,” McCullough said. “This ballpark’s crazy.”
Colorado plans to send veteran right-hander Michael Lorenzen to the mound in hopes of splitting the series after dropping the first two.
Lorenzen (3-9, 6.83 ERA) showed signs of rebounding from a difficult stretch in which he went 10 straight starts without a victory and lost seven times. He ended the skid on Saturday when he allowed two runs and seven hits in 5 2/3 innings during an 8-5 victory against the Minnesota Twins. It was his first win since April 24.
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“He pounded the zone. He got ahead. He didn’t try to do too much,” Colorado manager Warren Schaeffer said. “He was efficient with his pitches. He threw his sinker a ton and got some quick outs. Didn’t hunt the punchout, which was great. I thought Mike was very, very good.”
Lorenzen faced the Marlins in the second game of the season and went 4 1/3 innings in a no-decision at Miami. He allowed three runs and seven hits.
Lorenzen has had decent success against the Marlins in his career overall, going 4-2 with a 2.62 ERA in 18 appearances, including seven starts.
Following the Wednesday game, McCullough named Ryan Gusto as his starting pitcher for Thursday.
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Gusto (0-2, 5.06 ERA) tossed 3 1/3 shutout innings in his latest outing, on Saturday in a no-decision against the host St. Louis Cardinals. That came after a similar performance on June 21, when the right-hander limited the San Francisco Giants to one run and three hits in 4 1/3 innings. Miami won both games.
Gusto has never faced the Rockies in his two-year major league career.
Former Germany and USMNT star Jermaine Jones has called for consistency after Lionel Messi was not sent off for a similar foul by Folarin Balogun at the FIFA World Cup. He believes that the officials need to know the difference between an intentional foul and an accidental one.
Speaking on ESPN, Jones said that it was never a red card for Balogun as it was an accidental touch. He added that everything will look bad when it is seen in slo-mo and said:
Thanks for the submission!
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“No, definitely now. When you look at the game straight away, and I say that for me, not a red card, because he’s not looking even. So if the ball is in front of you and you go through and you pull through and you hit the guy over the ankle most of the time, then it’s a clear red card. But for that, like he’s trying to step and find a way to step back out of that collision with the Bosnian player, and he steps with his right foot on the guy.”
“Yes, if you slow it down, if you go to review and you look at the pictures, everything looks worse. But then, yeah, but the next point is: if you give a red card here, the consistency – why isn’t Messi getting the red card? So, and that’s just something.”
Jones spoke about how Balogun will now miss the key Round of 16 match, and that could cost the USMNT. He said:
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“Now we can look at it and go and say, he’s missing this game. No, he’s an important player. He scored three goals for this country, and he would be missed now for the next game. And that’s something that is not good, even on FIFA’s side, because you have to find consistency in the calls you do and not hurt some people or some teams, and some teams not. So, if I was Pochettino, I would go hard on that, and I would be saying something because. Now you’re in the next round, and you’re missing one of your top players.”
Balogun scored the opening goal of the match for the USMNT, before getting sent off in the second half. However, Pochettino’s men kept their calm and Malik Tillman added another to seal a 2-0 win in the FIFA World Cup clash.
What next for Lionel Messi at the FIFA World Cup?
Lionel Messi will be in action against Cape Verde this week in the FIFA World Cup Round of 32. He has been in fine form this summer, scoring six goals in just three matches so far.
Argentina topped their group by beating Jordan, Algeria and Austria, and Lionel Messi managed to score at least once in all games.
Marcus Rashford is set to return to Manchester United this summer after loan spells with Barcelona and Aston Villa
Marcus Rashford’s chances of reclaiming his place in the Manchester United first team have received a significant lift after a long-standing colleague voiced his support for the forward’s comeback. The 28-year-old is due to return to Old Trafford this summer after a successful loan stint with Barcelona.
The England star enjoyed one of his finest seasons in recent memory while in Spain, contributing to the Catalan club’s La Liga triumph with an impressive tally of 14 goals and 14 assists in all competitions. While Barcelona were widely tipped to make the move permanent, they instead splashed out £70million on Newcastle United’s Anthony Gordon, leaving Rashford’s future uncertain.
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When questioned about whether he and his team-mates would embrace Rashford’s return, the United centre-back told The Rest Is Football: “Yeah, of course, I have an amazing relationship with Marcus and have had some great times with him over the years. I know what a wonderful player he can be. I’m sure it’s up to the club and up to Marcus to find a mutual agreement
“Of course, if Marcus does come back, we want him to come back and play and be happy and confident. It needs to be right for himself, it needs to be right for the club, but everyone knows what a great player Marcus can be for whatever club he plays for next season.”
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Maguire’s position stands in sharp contrast to that of United legend Paul Scholes, who previously called on his former club to “banish” Rashford following his controversial remarks. “I think Marcus has let a lot of people down really, with his attitude, and I think that’s what the manager is trying to say,” Scholes told The Overlap Fan Debate.
“OK, he’s not refusing to play, but in the way he’s behaving and the way he’s training, in a way he is saying I don’t want to be involved with these. So I think the fact of letting your team-mates down in that dressing room – he should be banished from the dressing room really. If he’s in and around that and young people are seeing that as an example, the sooner he’s gone the better.”
Rashford’s controversial comments are said to have upset several United players – particularly given they came just days after the club’s impressive derby triumph over Manchester City in December 2024. “Some of the players are really annoyed at what Marcus said and why he chose to say it at the time,” a source close to the squad told The Sun.
“They were all buzzing after beating City and then he basically put in a transfer request after being dropped for one game.”
The local lad remains under contract for another two years, earning a reported £325,000 per week, and is anticipated to rejoin Carrick’s squad once England’s World Cup campaign concludes – if there are no transfer developments in the meantime, that is.
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United officials have assured the BBC that they will sign players this summer. They are said to be calm about the situation, given that it is still the relatively early stages of the window, while stressing that they will not be going after big names and instead prioritising performances.
The club are credited with an interest in Alex Scott, Aurelien Tchouameni, Carlos Baleba, Felix Nmecha and Tyler Adams after missing out on Matheus Fernandes. But the former two are reportedly unavailable, with Bournemouth saying Scott is not for sale, and the feeling being that Tchouameni will remain at Real Madrid.
(Image: Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images)
Obiena eclipsed the previous meet record of 5.74 meters, set by Austin Miller in 2024, while also matching his outdoor personal best, which he set during his runner-up finish in Düsseldorf, Germany, last month.
“5.75m here at Eisenstadt. For the win and new stadium record,” said Obiena.“After many, many, many runs and 3rd attempt makes, we needed to call it a night after 11pm.”
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Great Britain’s Owen Heard placed second, while Czech Republic’s Dan Barta settled for bronze after both cleared 5.55m.
It took three attempts for Obiena to clear 5.75m.
He recently won the Czesław Cybulski Memorial in Poland, leaping 5.72m last Monday.
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Former India player Saba Karim has opined that Ishan Kishan pressed the self-destruct button in the first T20I against England. The analyst highlighted that the wicketkeeper-batter was responsible for his run-out as he attempted a non-existent run.
Kishan was run out for a two-ball duck as India set England a 190-run target in Durham on Wednesday, July 1. However, with rain preventing England from starting their chase, the game ended as a no-result.
During a discussion on JioHotstar, Saba noted that there would have been a slim chance of Kishan and Abhishek Sharma completing the run had the latter responded to the call immediately.
“It was self-destruction. Both Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan were watching the ball. They should have been looking at each other. There might have been a possibility had Abhishek Sharma responded very quickly, but normally, the non-striker waits for the ball to beat the fielder in the infield, and he runs after that only,” he said.
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The former India wicketkeeper-batter reckoned that Abhishek would have struggled to reach the striker’s end, urging the visiting batters to improve their communication.
“In my opinion, there was no run there. Even if Abhishek Sharma had tried, it would have been difficult for him to reach the other end because Jos Buttler did an excellent job. He came to the stumps very quickly. Both batters need to work on their communication. It happened in Ireland and here as well,” Saba observed.
Ishan Kishan was run out after being sent back by Abhishek Sharma, with Harry Brook’s throw to Jos Buttler finding him short of the crease. He was run out in the second T20I against Ireland as well after a mix-up with Tilak Varma.
“There was no run at all” – Irfan Pathan on Ishan Kishan’s run-out in ENG vs IND 2026 1st T20I
In the same discussion, former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan also reckoned that Ishan Kishan attempted to steal a non-existent run.
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“There was no run at all. You would have heard Abhishek saying that he (Kishan) should have allowed the ball to pass the midwicket fielder, and then the mid-on fielder also wasn’t standing on the 30-yard circle. He was standing slightly ahead. When that happens, he is also attacking the ball,” he said.
The cricketer-turned-commentator concurred with Saba Karim that Abhishek Sharma would have gotten run out had he responded affirmatively to Kishan’s call.
“You played the ball softly. You have to take the run only after the ball passes the fielder who is trying to cut the ball. In my opinion, there was no run. I totally agree with Saba bhai. Abhishek would have gotten run out. It means you took a high-risk run, and when you do that, someone will be sacrificed. You got run out yourself. So it was a wrong decision from Ishan Kishan,” Pathan observed.
Ishan Kishan’s run-out reduced India to 6/2. Abhishek Sharma (59 off 24) and Shreyas Iyer (68 off 47) then bailed the team out of trouble with an 82-run third-wicket partnership before Shivam Dube’s unbeaten 21-ball 42 took them to a fighting total.
Germany forward Nicole Anyomi has joined London City Lionesses on a three-year contract.
She joins the London club after her contract expired at German side Eintracht Frankfurt, where she scored 60 goals in 130 appearances over five seasons.
Anyomi said she is relishing the challenge of playing in the Women’s Super League: “The WSL is fast and direct and there is a need to be more physical and to improve myself.”
The 26-year-old has 34 Germany caps, was part of the squad that reached the final of Euro 2022 and helped her country claim bronze at the 2024 Olympics.
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Anyomi said she was excited by the club’s ambitions and the chance to play in England.
“I always wanted to play abroad and to have the offer from this club with their project means the world.
“My best friend is Shekiera Martinez, who was at West Ham and has now joined Tottenham. She has already told me about the league, London and about the country so I’m ready.”
Earlier this week, London City also announced defender Poppy Pattinson had signed a new contract.
The U.S. was often mocked leading up to this World Cup for not being a “soccer” country, but what about its fans? Antoine Besse went to a bar in Boston during a game to check out the atmosphere.
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