The Minnesota Vikings are back to work, with training camp well underway, and one of the best sights so far is a happy and healthy Christian Darrisaw getting to work without any limitations.

Christian Darrisaw’s Big Claim Would Be A Huge Boost For Vikings

Darrisaw missed the start of last season due to still being on the road to recovery from a knee injury that occurred during the 2024 season. When he returned he didn’t look right and wasn’t the dominant tackle we had been used to seeing on the left side of the Vikings’ offensive line. His knee was visibly still a problem, with stiffness leading him to sit out practices, and at times going through pre-game fitness checks to see if he could play.

Eventually, he ended up back on injured reserve to finish the season. It was a bitterly disappointing end to the year for both Darrisaw and the team, as Darrisaw had proved himself to be one of the best tackles in the game before this knee injury stopped him in his tracks.

Health has been an issue for Darrisaw ever since the Vikings drafted him with the 23rd overall pick of the 2021 NFL Draft. Fully healthy and at his best, Darrisaw has shown that he is right up there with the likes of Penei Sewell and Tristan Wirfs. However, injuries have been a regular occurrence that have held him back. He only played in 10 games last season, but even more concerning was that he only played in 100% of snaps in half of those. The offensive line is not an area where players rotate in and out through choice.

Asked if he expects to play every snap going into the start of this season, Christian Darrisaw said: “100%. That’s the goal. Just go out there and dominate.” That is welcome news for Minnesota as whoever winds up being the Vikings quarterback will greatly benefit from a fully healthy Christian Darrisaw protecting the blindside. Speaking to the media during training camp Darrisaw has claimed he “feels the best I’ve felt in two years,” and that he is “just feeling like myself”. Great news for anyone associated with Vikings football

A Healthy Christian Darrisaw Can Be the Catalyst For a Dominant OL

Minnesota invested heavily in their interior offensive line last year since a poor performance was a big reason they were dumped out of the playoffs in 2024. Will Fries was signed to a huge contract and Donovan Jackson was drafted in the first round to give the Vikings two new guards. Ryan Kelly was added to give the team a solid veteran presence at center. Adding that trio to a very good pair of tackles in Darrisaw and Brian O’Neill was supposed to solve the Vikings’ problems.

That’s not what happened.

Kelly had recurring concussions that led to his retirement, Jackson had some early injury trouble but overall a solid rookie campaign. Fries struggled to live up to his price tag – though he was the only lineman who managed to stay healthy for all 17 games. We have touched on Darrisaw’s issues and O’Neill had knee and heel injuries that caused him to miss three games and he had to play through the pain in others. A fully healthy Darrisaw helps his teammates. He can be left one-on-one with any edge rusher, leaving help for extra help at other points of the line.

Minnesota recently extended Brian O’Neill’s contract ensuring the Vikings duo will stay together for the next few seasons.

A big key will be getting the play on the interior somewhere near the standard the Vikings have on the edge. Development from Jackson and Fries will be important as will the success (or not) of the move of Blake Brandel to starting center. Brandel has been a solid depth player who could play all across the OL but now he is being entrusted with one of the most important positions in the game.

First and foremost, a fully healthy Christian Darrisaw would be the key that makes the rest of the OL, and ultimately the offense, work. There could be no bigger boost for Minnesota than Darrisaw back at 100%.

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

Katsina United have announced the signing of former Akwa United captain Ubong Essien, popularly known as Kante, ahead of the 2026/2027 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) season.

The defensive midfielder has signed a two-year contract with the Katsina-based club as he begins a new chapter in his career.

Ubong was the captain of Akwa United during the 2025/2026 season, when the Uyo-based club competed in the second tier of Nigerian football.

His move to Katsina United will see him return to the NPFL as he looks to bring his experience and leadership to the team.

The 2026/2027 season will not be his first experience of life in northern Nigeria. Having grown up in the North, Ubong is familiar with the weather, culture and language, which should make it easier for him to settle into his new environment.

Katsina United unveiled Ubong alongside a number of other new signings during a ceremony at the club’s secretariat inside the Muhammadu Dikko Stadium in Katsina.

The club’s Chairman and Supervising Coordinator, Surajo Malumfashi, expressed confidence in the quality and experience of the new players.

He said the recruitment was part of the club’s efforts to build a competitive squad capable of achieving its targets in the new season.

Other players unveiled by Katsina United include goalkeeper Koroma Francis, striker Samson Obi, midfielder Michael Ibeh Okoro, defender Eric Ekpere, central defender Chinedu Ozor Benjamin, striker Lius Dadong, goalkeeper Kolawale Oladipo, winger Joshua Akpan, left-back Emmanuel Bakare and central defender Abba Musa.

Most of the new players have signed two-year contracts, while Lius Dadong has agreed to a one-year deal.

For Ubong Essien, the move represents another opportunity to continue his football career at the highest level in Nigeria after captaining Akwa United in the second tier last season.

Katsina United will be hoping the experience and leadership of the former Akwa United skipper can help the club make a strong push in the 2026/2027 NPFL season.

The U.S. Women’s Amateur assembles one of the strongest fields in amateur golf. The 126th championship at The Honors Course continues that tradition, bringing together 156 players from 16 countries and 33 states to compete for one of the game’s most prestigious titles.

As we’ve seen year after year, there is no single path to the U.S. Women’s Amateur — and this year’s field reflects that. Junior champions, collegiate standouts, seasoned amateurs and international contenders have all earned their place in Tennessee. 

This week, the average age of competitors is just 19.9 years old, although the field spans five decades — from 14-year-old Maggie Jiayi Ma to Australia’s Sue Wooster, who is 64.

The championship’s international reach is just as evident, with players representing 16 countries, including Canada, Australia, China, Japan and the Republic of Korea. While players from 33 states make up the U.S. contingent, with California leading the way with 25 entrants, followed by Florida (13) and Texas (11).

Experience and pedigree are abundant too. Rianne Malixi, the 2024 winner here, headlines a group of nine USGA champions in the field, joined by reigning U.S. Girls’ Junior champions Aphrodite Deng and Clairey Lin. Accomplished veterans like Lara Tennant and Dawn Woodard bring multiple USGA titles of their own, while seven Curtis Cup players, five members of the U.S. National Junior Team and five athletes from the USGA’s Elite Amateur Program further illustrate the championship’s depth.

The world’s top amateurs are equally represented. Twelve players ranked inside the top 20 of the Women’s World Amateur Golf Ranking are in the field, led by NCAA champion Farah O’Keefe and fellow top-20 players Asterisk Talley, Soomin Oh, Jasmine Koo and Malixi. Former NCAA champ and Stanford star Rachel Heck is also teeing it up.

You can watch this week’s event on Golf Channel. The TV schedule is below.

Thursday: 11 am.-2 p.m. (ET)
Friday: 3-6 p.m. (ET)
Saturday: 9 a.m.-12 p.m., 3-6 p.m. (ET)
Sunday: 3-6 p.m. (ET)

The progressive mare Gatwick has propelled herself into Stakes race calculations following a determined front-running performance to claim Saturday’s Ranvet Handicap (1200m) at Rosehill.

Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr’s mare achieved her second win from her past three starts, leading throughout under Zac Lloyd before digging deep to fend off all challengers.

Sent out as the $2.70 favourite, Gatwick held off Ernaux ($9) by a short neck, with Kwirky Smile ($5.50) a further 5¾ lengths behind in third.

Stable representative Ben Elam lauded the mare’s tenacity and Lloyd’s tactical ride, noting that the race was effectively won early.

“She was dynamic out of the gates, and it was probably won in the first part of the race,” Elam said.

“She is by Ole Kirk, so I always thought she’d run it out strongly. Even though she did a little bit in the early stages, he got a breather midrace, and she toughed it out well.

“Back on better footing for her, she showed that dynamic little turn of foot she’s got, and then she sustains that speed, which is crucial.”

Gatwick’s campaign has been carefully managed, with her runs spaced since returning in April. Elam indicated the stable is now considering whether to continue racing her while she holds a fitness edge over many rivals.

This could see the mare tackle an early-season black-type assignment if a suitable opportunity arises.

“She’s a horse we’ve always had a good opinion of, and it’s an interesting time of year,” Elam said.

“She’s rock-hard fit and there are probably some lower grade stakes races that might pop up where she’s the rock-hard fit horse, and there are some more proven horses returning from a break.

“There is a little bit to ponder there… it’s a good problem to have when you’ve got a progressive horse like this.”

It shapes as another significant week for the Price and Kent stable, with Golden Rose hopeful Guest House set to return in a Warwick Farm barrier trial on Tuesday.

The Golden Slipper Stakes winner completed his final piece of work at Rosehill on Saturday morning ahead of his trial as preparations ramp up for his spring campaign.

“He had his final gallop here (at Rosehill) this morning on the course proper and went through his gears really nicely,” Elam said.

“I’m looking forward to getting him back to the trials where we can let him do a little bit more.”

Early spring feature race markets are available through Australia’s leading Top 10 Betting Apps.

Gatwick’s impressive win has her in line for bigger targets; check the latest racing odds with betting markets for the race.

The Akwa Ibom State Football Association and football stakeholders in the state have endorsed Rt. Hon. Otuekong Nse Essien Udofot for a second term as the NFF Executive Board Member representing the South-South zone.

Otuekong Nse Essien first emerged as an NFF Executive Board Member representing the South-South after winning a keenly contested election on September 30, 2022.

Having obtained his nomination form to seek another term, the former member of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly has now received the backing of his home state.

The endorsement was announced during a meeting with the Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Sports, Elder Paul Bassey, and the Akwa Ibom State Football Association Chairman, Mr Samuel Umoh.

Delivering the endorsement of the Football Association, Mr Samuel Umoh praised Otuekong Nse Essien for what he described as outstanding leadership and his contributions to the development of football and sports in Akwa Ibom, the South-South and Nigeria.

He said Essien’s performance during his first term had provided a strong reason for the Football Association to support his bid for another term.

“One good term deserves another,” Umoh said, while describing Essien as an “Amazon and shining light” in football administration.

The Football Association chairman also stated that football stakeholders and the wider football community in Akwa Ibom were united behind Essien’s candidacy ahead of the NFF elections in September.

The Commissioner for Sports, Elder Paul Bassey, also praised Essien for his performance during his first term.

Bassey described his first term as remarkable, saying his work had made Akwa Ibom proud and brought satisfaction to the South-South zone. He added that he had no doubt Essien would do even more if given another term.

The Commissioner endorsed Essien’s bid for another term and wished him success in the forthcoming election.

Responding, Rt. Hon. Nse Essien thanked the football family in Akwa Ibom for the support he has received.

He highlighted some of his achievements during his first term and promised to do more if re-elected.

Otuekong Nse Essien also assured football stakeholders across Akwa Ibom and the South-South of his continued commitment to developing the game and improving football in the region.

Meanwhile, the NFF Electoral Committee has released the timetable for this year’s NFF Executive Committee elections, which will be held on September 27 in Lafia, Nasarawa State.

According to the roadmap, the publication of the rules and guidelines and the sale of nomination forms began on August 1, while August 12 is the deadline for submitting the collected forms.

Notification of candidates about irregularities in their documents will take place from August 13 to 19, followed by regularisation from August 20 to 27.

Candidate screening is scheduled for August 27 to 30, with the list of cleared candidates to be published on August 31.

Disqualified candidates will have from September 1 to 3 to appeal, while appeals will be considered between September 4 and 10.

The final list of cleared candidates will be published from September 11 to 12, followed by the publication of the delegates’ list on September 13.

Cleared candidates will be allowed to campaign from September 14 to 24, while the deadline for submitting election petitions is September 30.

With the election drawing closer and the complete backing of Akwa Ibom State, Otuekong Nse Essien will now look to secure the support of other delegates across the country as he seeks another term on the NFF Executive Board.

Gianni Infantino is in a dogfight to save his FIFA presidency. The national soccer federations of Sweden and Wales have withdrawn their support for his re-election bid, with the English Football Association reportedly set to do likewise. Those follow similar rebukes from Europe’s UEFA and North America’s CONCACAF. Football fans and clubs have been up in arms over Infantino’s now-scrapped plans to sell off shares of World Cup profits to private investors.

Stefon Diggs is still looking for his next NFL team with the 2026 season approaching.

Diggs enjoyed a productive season with the New England Patriots in 2025, helping the team reach the Super Bowl. However, they chose not to bring the veteran receiver back for another year, leaving him on the open market heading into August.

One team to watch is the Washington Commanders. In a report published on Tuesday, ESPN insider Jeremy Fowler said Diggs is on Washington’s radar and that the interest appears to be mutual.

Fowler noted that Diggs, a native of the Washington area, likes the possibility of returning home.

“The Commanders are still in see-what-we-have mode at receiver, but I’m told free agent Stefon Diggs is on the team’s radar,” the article read. “Washington is monitoring the situation with Diggs, who’s intrigued by the chance to play in Washington (he’s from the area).

“Let’s see how things play out, but it seems like this is a realistic option as the sides keep in contact.”

During his one year in New England, Diggs started every game and emerged as Drake Maye’s preferred target. He finished the regular season with 85 catches for 1,013 yards and four touchdowns, then added 14 receptions for 110 yards and a touchdown in the playoffs.

A move to Washington would likely position Diggs as the team’s No. 2 receiver behind Terry McLaurin. Given his recent production, he stands out as one of the most appealing veteran receivers still on the market, even with names such as Tyreek Hill, Keenan Allen and DeAndre Hopkins also available.

Also read: $60,500,000 Bills star recruits Stefon Diggs to Buffalo for reunion as All-Pro WR looks for new home

Also read: WATCH: Stefon Diggs’ ex-GF Cardi B poses in yellow bikini while flaunting floral tattoo and pink pixie for her new song “AH HA”

Bills also leaving the door open for a potential Stefon Diggs reunion

Stefon Diggs was impressive in his four-year run with the Buffalo Bills, catching 445 passes for 5,372 yards and 37 touchdowns before being traded to the Houston Texans ahead of the 2024 season.

Speculation about a return to Buffalo has surfaced this week, and head coach Joe Brady’s latest comments have only fueled that conversation. Appearing on “Up & Adams” on Saturday, Brady credited Diggs with helping transform the team’s offense and also helping QB Josh Allen’s growth into an elite quarterback.

“Stef was awesome for us here. I mean, look, Stef, the success that he had in Buffalo, like part of the offense that I’m running and we’re continuing to elevate, it was him coming here and what he was able to do with our offense to continue to get us to this point. Josh wouldn’t have continued to elevate the career that he had without a guy like Stefon Diggs.

“I don’t know anything (about Diggs returning). I know (Brandon) Beane’s always with the mindset that we’re always out there and rolling,” Brady said.

The Bills have received encouraging early-camp performances from D.J. Moore and rookie Skyler Bell, but Diggs’ track record makes him difficult to ignore as one of the top free agents still available.