Cleveland Browns defensive end Za’Darius Smith lines up during a road matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field. The veteran pass rusher took the field on Oct. 13, 2024, in Philadelphia as Cleveland’s defense tried to generate pressure against one of the NFC’s most physical offenses. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images
The Minnesota Vikings may or may not have a hole at the OLB3 position in 2026, depending on the maturation of young in-house candidates like Bo Richter, Tyler Batty, and Chaz Chambliss. The club could also utilize second-year defensive tackle Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins in an EDGE capacity or bring rookie off-ball linebacker Jake Golday along sooner than expected in a hybrid OLB function.
Or — the club could sign Za’Darius Smith for cheap, who stopped by Minnesota in 2022 and reached the Pro Bowl that year.
Vikings Could Use Another Proven Rotational Rusher
Minnesota Vikings outside linebacker Za’Darius Smith watches practice activities during training camp at U.S. Bank Stadium. The veteran defender was photographed on July 29, 2022, in Minneapolis as he prepared for his first season with the Vikings and acclimated to the team’s defensive system during the early days of camp. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports
Smith Out in PHI
The Philadelphia Eagles parted ways with Smith earlier this month, as PennLive‘s Johnny McGonical wrote, “The Philadelphia Eagles made a flurry of moves on Wednesday, signing edge rusher A.J. Epenesa and guard Michael Jordan while cutting ties with a pair of reserves. But one more move might have been lost in the shuffle. The Eagles released edge rusher Za’Darius Smith from the reserve/retired list.”
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“That makes Smith a free agent, months after abruptly retiring from football. There’s no word on if Smith will keep playing. But now the three-time Pro Bowl edge rusher is free to sign with another team and continue his career, if he so chooses.”
Smith is 33 and could have a season or two left in the tank, especially as a situational pass rusher. Some Vikings fans have thought since his release: Why not Minnesota?
Career Stats and Recent Downturn
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Smith remains a viable option for an OLB3, so long as expectations are tempered and folks are not anticipating his 2022 performance.
His career statistics are impressive: 145 games, 98 starts, 70.5 sacks, 87 tackles for loss, 176 quarterback hits, 16 passes defensed, 10 forced fumbles, and 3 Pro Bowl selections. He was particularly effective with Green Bay and Minnesota, accumulating 36 sacks in three full seasons between 2019 and 2022.
His tenure with the Vikings was notably strong, featuring 44 tackles, 15 tackles for loss, 24 quarterback hits, and 10 sacks, earning him consideration for Comeback Player of the Year.
Concerns now primarily revolve around his age. His 2023 stint with the Eagles yielded only 1.5 sacks in five games. Nevertheless, Pro Football Focus still assigned him a favorable pass rush grade — 77.7 — which is obviously crucial for the would-be Vikings role.
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As an OLB3 supporting Andrew Van Ginkel and Dallas Turner, Smith is a sensible choice, especially as an economical rotational rusher.
A Wise Fit in Minnesota?
Smith knows the Vikings — and even most of the current coaching staff, stopping by Minnesota after his Packers chapter in 2022. He curiously asked for a ticket out of town after just one productive season, but in all likelihood, he has a positive opinion of Kevin O’Connell.
And let’s face it — what else is he going to do? He’s winding down his career, and NFL teams won’t bang on his door in full force. He’d also have the perk of joining a Top 3 defense, led by Brian Flores, over the last few years.
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Cleveland Browns defensive end Za’Darius Smith speaks with teammate Jordan Elliott during a preseason matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field. The interaction occurred on Aug. 17, 2023, in Philadelphia as the Browns evaluated personnel and prepared for the upcoming regular season. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
For Minnesota, it might just need a seasoned pass rusher who can get after quarterbacks on 3rd Down and be in line for spot starting duty if Van Ginkel and Turner miss time. Smith isn’t unfathomably old; he can likely still start in a pinch.
Overall, a reunion angle makes sense, and Smith can likely be signed for a few million bucks.
SI.com‘s Will Ragatz wrote this week, “On paper, Smith has the kind of skill set that should work in a Flores defense. He can line up on the edge or present a blitz look in the A gap. He’s always been a solid run defender, even if that’s not the most notable part of his game. The three-time Pro Bowler has all kinds of experience in various schemes from his 11 seasons with six different teams.”
The Other Options in Free Agency
Suppose Smith does not move the needle for the Vikings in summer free agency, but they still want a veteran OLB. The options are plentiful:
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Derek Barnett
Haason Reddick
Jadeveon Clowney
Joey Bosa
Kyle Van Noy
Leonard Floyd
Marcus Davenport
Preston Smith
Von Miller
Minnesota Vikings linebacker Za’Darius Smith watches from the field during fourth-quarter action against the Dallas Cowboys at U.S. Bank Stadium. The moment was captured on Nov. 20, 2022, in Minneapolis as the veteran pass rusher remained engaged during a difficult afternoon for Minnesota’s defense. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports
Bosa and Clowney, for example, will be more expensive than Smith, but the moral of the story is that a litany of EDGE options remains.
Smith will turn 34 in September. New Vikings general manager Nolan Teasley has about $13 million to spend on free agents, more than enough to sign Smith if he’s in the mood.
For cheap, the guy seems like a wise choice for OLB insurance. Why not?
Dustin Baker is a novelist and political scientist. His second novel, The Invaders , is out now. So is … More about Dustin Baker
There has been a concerning update regarding a popular WWE star and their injury situation. The promotion is set for SummerSlam 2026 this weekend at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minnesota.
Speaking on NotSam Wrestling, Lee shared a concerning update about his injury. The popular star noted that if he required surgery, he could miss 3-4 months of action, but he was hoping that would not be the case.
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“I don’t know how long I will be out, but I don’t want to get surgery because if I get surgery, I’ll be out for 3-4 months, and I don’t want that,” he said.
The veteran also shared that he was told that he could “probably wrestle” with the injury and was hoping that the promotion would let him do so.
“They told me with this injury I can probably wrestle. Hopefully they will let me wrestle,” he added. (H/T: Ringside News)
Dragon Lee has been appearing on both RAW and AAA in recent months for the company. The 31-year-old captured the World Tag Team Championships alongside AJ Styles last year. Styles retired from in-ring competition following his loss to Gunther at Royal Rumble 2026.
Dragon Lee comments on teaming up with AJ Styles in WWE
WWE RAW star Dragon Lee recently opened up about getting the opportunity to be in a tag team with AJ Styles.
Speaking with Chris Van Vliet on the INSIGHT podcast, Lee stated that he was honored to work with Styles during his final run and that he was proud of himself.
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“I feel honored to be part of his last matches, and even John Cena’s last match [event], I was part of that too. I feel like you know so many things that I’m proud of myself, you know, because if you’re not, if you don’t recognize yourself, who else will? You just look at the mirror and say, ‘You’re doing well, keep working. I’m proud of you, brother. Keep working.’ My family, that’s it, that’s all the energy I need.” said Lee [H/T: INSIGHT]
OH MY GOD???? Was that the greatest Styles Clash EVER?! 😂 AND STILL YOUR WORLD TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS: AJ Styles & Dragon Lee!
It will be interesting to see what WWE has planned for Dragon Lee moving forward.
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Twitch streamer Zoil, who has over 240,000 followers on the platform, has found himself at the center of a fresh controversy after a clip from one of his recent livestreams went viral online. During the stream, viewers noticed what appeared to be the streamer anonymously gifting subs to his own channel while he was live, leading to allegations that he was artificially inflating his sub count.
The moment was captured in a clip shared by X user @ChumBucketDrama, where the complete anonymous gifting part appeared on stream. The clip was later reposted by another X user @WyydoggWYG, who called the situation “depressing” by writing:
“this is depressing, the fact that numbers can get to someone’s head like this especially subs scares me.”
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The incident quickly sparked discussion on X, with several users criticizing the streamer.
“If you’re scared in any sense you’re child brained. The guy’s a ****** weirdo loser for this and needs to be bullied a bit about the situation.” Another user @areyous76505851 wrote
“Not only is he giving his viewers an ad-free stream (that’s what gifting subs does), but this could easily be a joke given Zoil’s streaming persona.” @kotp_joel remarked
Twitch streamer Nick “Nmplol” says he reached out to Zoil over the controversy
Zoil’s friend and fellow Twitch streamer Nick “Nmplol” also addressed the viral clip during one of his livestreams. He revealed that he had already reached out to Zoil for clarification before drawing any conclusions. In a clip shared by user @ChumBucketDrama, he said:
“Yeah, man, I’ve been talking about that all morning in my Discord. I actually reached out to Zoil to see if he has a comment on it before I get too deep into the topic. Hopefully he’ll have something to say.”
Nmplol went on to say that if the allegations turned out to be true, it reflected a deeper issue within the streaming community. He also encouraged creators to be content with their real growth rather than chasing numbers.
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He said:
“But my God, man. If that’s what I think it is, I’m just defeated. The deception runs so deep in this community, bro. My God, guys, just be happy with where you’re at. You know? If you need an uptick in numbers or something, just call me. I’ll come over, bro. Why do we have to be doing all this other stuff? It’s just crazy.”
Towards the end of the discussion, he added:
“It goes from the top, to the middle, to the bottom. It’s like, holy **** guys, how insecure are we? Just be happy with the numbers we get. We’re lucky to even have this job in the first place.”
Inter Milan are willing to pay £30m for England midfielder Curtis Jones, but Liverpool value the 25 year-old at £35m. (Mail), external
Inter Milan’s move for Tottenham‘s Cristian Romero has stalled over his personal terms and the Argentina defender’s representatives are now exploring a move to Spain, with Real Madrid, Barcelona and Atletico Madrid all interested in the 28-year-old. (Teamtalk), external
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Real Madrid have no plans to increase their latest renewal offer to Vinicius Jr and are open to selling the Brazil forward, 26, if he does not agree a new contract. (ESPN), external
Hull City face a fight to secure the signing of Neom’s Amadou Kone as Leeds and West Ham are among the other clubs interested in the Ivorian midfielder, 21. (Teamtalk), external
West Ham are looking to sign English winger Morgan Whittaker, 25, from Championship rivals Middlesbrough before the start of the new season. (Talksport), external
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Middlesbrough are finalising an agreement to sign USA wing-back Max Arfsten, 25, from Columbus Crew in a deal worth up to £5.6m. (Goal), external
Wolves have rejected a bid from Real Sociedad for Czech Republic centre-back Ladislav Krejci, 27. (Fabrizio Romano), external
The 23-year-old had 21 goals and 25 assists in 81 games last season with a plus-6 rating in a breakthrough campaign.
Graf entered the league as an undrafted free agent out of Quinnipiac University late in the 2023-24 season. He played seven games that season and 31 the following year before becoming a regular in the lineup as a strong two-way player.
“Collin was a big part of our team’s improvement this past season, being an effective penalty killer for us and his versatility in the lineup was extremely valuable,” general manager Mike Grier said. “His hard-working attitude and work ethic is a big reason why his game took another stride last year, and he continues to be an important person in our young group of players. We’re happy we are able to keep him a Shark for the next several seasons.”
Graf has 26 goals and 33 assists in 121 career games.
UEFA has announced its opposition to FIFA President Gianni Infantino’s plan to open the World Cup’s commercial rights to private investors. At an emergency meeting, UEFA’s 55 member associations unanimously voted to withdraw from the World Cup should the reform be adopted.
Also in this edition:
In the transfer market, France defender Maxence Lacroix has officially joined Chelsea. Matthis Abline has strengthened Monaco‘s attack, while Paris Saint-Germain have reached an agreement with the principality’s club to sign Maghnes Akliouche. Meanwhile, Lens’ Malian midfielder Mamadou Sangaré is on the verge of completing a move to Brentford.
In fencing, France were crowned men’s team sabre world champions on the final day of the World Championships in Hong Kong.
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In basketball, Sylvain Francisco left ASVEL just one month after joining the club to sign for Panathinaikos.
Finally, AS Monaco are expected to return to the Betclic Elite after the French Basketball Federation approved the club’s new takeover plan.
Meanwhile, a boxer from Tuvalu claimed her country’s first ever Commonwealth Games medal without winning a fight.
Because there were only five entrants, Tarona Taafaki received a bye to the last four, meaning she was automatically guaranteed at least a bronze medal.
The 20-year-old lost her first and only fight in the women’s 75kg division – which was a semi-final – to India’s Lovlina Borgohain on Friday, losing every round on all three of the judges’ cards.
Taafaki’s coach and father, Badi Taafaki, says the population of the tiny Pacific island nation – at 10 square miles the fourth smallest in the world – will celebrate the medal and use it to highlight a climate change emergency.
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“For the people of Tuvalu, this medal means everything,” he said. “We’re one of the smallest nations in the world, so a medal like this is hugely significant.
“If we can win medals, more people around the world will recognise Tuvalu and begin to understand the challenges we face because of climate change.
“It is very real for us. The coastal erosion is unbelievable, and the countdown is now measured in years, not decades.”
India’s Tejaswin Shankar competes in the men’s decathlon 110m hurdles at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, Friday, July 31, 2026. (AP Photo)
Tejaswin Shankar became the first Indian to win a Commonwealth Games medal in the men’s decathlon after battling a long-standing knee injury to claim bronze in Glasgow on Friday.The national record holder finished with a total of 7,976 points in the 10-event competition, which is held over two days. He competed despite dealing with chronic patellar tendinitis, also known as jumper’s knee, an injury that had forced him to withdraw from the men’s high jump event earlier in the Games.The 27-year-old was left emotional after having to pull out of the high jump following his opening attempt because of the injury flare-up.This was Tejaswin’s second Commonwealth Games medal after winning bronze in the men’s high jump at the 2022 Birmingham Games. His national record in the decathlon stands at 8,057 points.Tejaswin, who also won silver in the decathlon at the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games, ended the opening day in second place after five events, behind Canada’s Damian Warner.He moved into third after the ninth event, the javelin throw, and held on to that position after finishing fifth in the 1,500m, the final event of the competition.Grenada’s Lindon Victor, the Paris Olympics bronze medallist, won the gold with 8,096 points, while Warner took the silver with 8,036 points.“I don’t know if it was adversity or not. But I do know that the competitiveness in me is alive, and in these conditions and environment, I got the kick and the competitiveness,” he said, as quoted by news agency PTI.“I feel good to be in that position where I want to chase something but it is not guaranteed (to get success or not). I feel I am an adrenalin junkie … I was enjoying the challenge, when I was standing for the 1500m (the last of the 10 events).”“I will try to get that feeling back, get fitter and healthier and go and try to win gold in the Asian Games.”
Twenty-year-old Tarona Taafaki has secured Tuvalu’s first ever Commonwealth Games medal in Glasgow despite not winning a single fight.
Competing in the women’s 75kg division, which only have five entrants, Taafaki was guaranteed at least a bronze as she was given a bye directly into the semi-finals.
She lost her opening bout on Friday to India’s Lovlina Borgohain, with judges unanimously scoring every round against her.
But as per competition rules, both semifinal losers were awarded bronze medals.
Her coach and father stated the medal would be celebrated by the population of the 10-square-mile nation – the world’s fourth smallest – and serve to highlight a climate change emergency.
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Taafaki (right) lost to India’s Lovlina Borgohain on Friday (Getty)
Badi Taafaki, whose son Pasoni also competed earlier in the Games, losing his opening bout at 70kg earlier this week, told the Press Association: “For the people of Tuvalu, this medal means everything.
“We’re one of the smallest nations in the world, so a medal like this is hugely significant. We have worked so hard to get here. For me as a coach, it’s a stepping stone.”
Tarona and Pasoni are the two oldest of eight children, all of whom are boxers. They are currently based in New Zealand, in order to take advantage of better facilities.
“When I was growing up, boxing barely existed in Tuvalu,” said Badi. “We didn’t have gloves, so we were forced to fight bare-knuckle, and hit bags filled with sand.
Siblings Tarona and Pasoni Taafaki lead athletes of Tuvalu during the opening ceremony (Reuters)
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“My children have very fortunate. They have opportunities and facilities that I never had. Boxing is our whole life. Strength is in our bloodline. It’s where our genealogy comes from.”
Athletes on the island famously train on its airport runway, the most stable land mass on an island increasingly threatened by rising sea levels. Climate experts predict half of the nation’s capital, Funafuti, could be submerged by 2050.
“Yes, we train on the airport runway,” said Taafaki. “When a plane comes in, everyone moves aside. As soon as it leaves, we go back on the tarmac, because there is nowhere else to train.
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“If we can win medals, more people around the world will recognise Tuvalu and begin to understand the challenges we face because of climate change.
“It is very real for us. The coastal erosion is unbelievable, and the countdown is now measured in years, not decades.
“Some islands have lost half their land. At high tide the sea comes right through. People living on the coast can’t sleep if there’s a storm, because the waves can come straight through their homes.”
Taafaki has big ambitions for his children, and for the future of the sport in Tuvalu. It was officially confirmed as a full member of World Boxing in 2024, allowing its boxers to fight in competitions organised by the Oceania Boxing Confederation.
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“The biggest thing we are missing is the exposure,” added Taafaki. “You can only improve by fighting world class fighters. But we would like to go to the Olympics. The Olympics are the pinnacle of the sport, and that’s what all these kids are working towards.”
Taafaki is not the first boxer to win a Commonwealth Games medal without winning a fight. Australia’s Taylah Robertson picked up a bronze in the women’s flyweight category on the Gold Coast in 2018 despite losing her first bout to England’s Lisa Whiteside.
India celebrated a landmark day in its sporting history on Friday as Asmita Dey and Harsh Singh became the country’s first-ever Commonwealth Games judo champions, winning gold medals in their respective categories at the Commonwealth Games 2026 in Glasgow.
Asmita opened the floodgates by defeating Canada’s Heidi Quach in the women’s -48kg final before Harsh followed it up with a commanding victory over Australia’s Joshua Katz in the men’s -60kg final.
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Their triumphs not only delivered India its maiden Commonwealth Games gold medal in judo but doubled that tally within hours, marking the country’s most successful day ever in the sport at the Games.
Asmita Dey breaks new ground
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The 22-year-old scripted history by becoming the first Indian judoka to stand atop the Commonwealth Games podium after edging Heidi Quach 2-1 by Yuko in a tense women’s -48kg final.
The contest began cautiously with both judokas locked in a tactical battle around the edge of the mat. Quach struck first midway through the bout with a well-executed throw, but Asmita responded immediately after receiving a Shido penalty, producing a sharp throw of her own to level the scores.
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As the contest wore on, the Indian gradually asserted herself, constantly forcing Quach onto the defensive with aggressive attacks while maintaining her composure whenever the Canadian threatened.
With neither athlete able to find a decisive breakthrough in regulation time, the final entered Golden Score, where Asmita once again showed remarkable composure. A perfectly timed throw near the edge of the mat earned the winning Yuko and sparked jubilant celebrations from the Indian contingent.
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The victory ended India’s long wait for a Commonwealth Games judo champion and established Asmita as one of the defining stories of Glasgow 2026.
Harsh Singh follows with second historic gold
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If Asmita opened the door, Harsh Singh ensured Indian judo kicked it wide open.
The Indian judoka defeated Australia’s Joshua Katz in the men’s -60kg final to secure India’s second Commonwealth Games judo gold medal—making it two historic titles on the same day.
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Harsh had looked impressive throughout the competition and carried that confidence into the final. Displaying excellent control and tactical awareness, he neutralised the Australian’s attacks before producing the decisive scoring move to seal victory and join Asmita in the history books.
Earlier in the day, Harsh had reached the final with a dominant Waza-ari victory over Australia’s Pedro Carlos Antun Neto, confirming India’s second medal in judo before going one better by claiming gold.
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A watershed day for Indian judo
For decades, India had never produced a Commonwealth Games judo champion.
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That statistic has now been erased in emphatic fashion.
Within a few hours, Asmita Dey and Harsh Singh rewrote Indian judo history, delivering the country’s first and second Commonwealth Games gold medals in the sport.
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Their victories also underline India’s growing depth in judo, with the national contingent producing several medal contenders across different weight categories in Glasgow.
Yamini Mourya eyes historic treble
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India’s extraordinary day on the judo mat could yet become even more memorable.
Yamini Mourya remains in contention for the women’s -57kg gold medal, having stormed into the final with a dominant ippon victory over South Africa’s Donne Breytenbach in just 1 minute and 38 seconds.
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Should Yamini also clinch gold, India would complete an unprecedented hat-trick of Commonwealth Games judo titles on a day that has already transformed the country’s history in the sport.
From having never won a Commonwealth Games gold in judo to producing two champions in a single day—with a third still in contention—Glasgow 2026 has become a defining chapter for Indian judo.
Toulouse had scored 106 points in their past two away trips, including a 46-0 whitewash of St Helens, but it was their turn to be scoreless on this occasion and they remain ninth after a 14th defeat of the campaign.
Ned McCormack was denied a sixth-minute score for Leeds in a stop-start opening when video referee Liam Rush spotted Chris Hankinson’s knock-on.
But the Rhinos had the lead after 12 minutes when Connor dummied and cut back inside to score following Lumb’s break.
Super League’s leading points scorer this season was involved again as he teed up Oledzki to power over from close range.
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Without injured playmaker Olly Ashall-Bott and fielding six academy graduates, Toulouse could not capitalise on good positions, with Tiaki Chan’s surge halted five metres short after Luke Polselli’s brilliant one-handed offload.
And Leeds pulled further clear when Presley Cassell’s fine offload gave Holroyd a simple finish under the posts.
The hosts began the second half with more intent and within minutes, quick ball through the hands saw Croft send in McDonnell for his fifth try in three games.
Holroyd was held up over the line, while last-ditch defence denied Jarrod O’Connor and Lumb as Toulouse, to their credit, continued to fight.
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But the incessant pressure told when Newman, playing just his third game on the wing in place of the injured Maika Sivo, went in at the right corner.
Connor, the 2025 Man of Steel, leapt high to grab Lachlan Miller’s pinpoint kick under the posts and register his second score.
With the game long since won, Leeds rang the changes but still pressed for more.
Croft sniped through a gap for his 24th Super League try of the season, and Lumb finished in the left corner, before Connor’s touchline conversion typified a clinical all-round display from the leaders.
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