Dec 21, 2025; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy (9) and head coach Kevin O’Connell hug before the game at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-Imagn Images
Back in rookie minicamp, the Vikings welcomed a veteran passer to town in an effort to keep the pigskin spinnin’. Cooper Rush has been a pro for a long time, leading to some attention about him going out for a cluster of practices meant for the NFL’s newest employees.
Kevin O’Connell demonstrated some good self awareness on the matter. In fact, he made jokes about hoping that Rush didn’t hang up the phone due to being asked about coming to the Twin Cities for an unusual arrangement.
Part of O’Connell’s hope was to build a communication avenue should there be a need for an emergency passer. Pursuing that initial plan may now need to occur at the front office level since Rush is no longer unemployed.
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Look at what ESPN’s Adam Schefter said in the update: “With Atlanta QB Tua Tagovailoa dealing with a tight back and Michael Penix still not practicing due to a knee injury, the Falcons are signing veteran quarterback Cooper Rush, per sources.”
The Vikings’ Emergency QB Plan
The Falcons are being led by Kevin Stefanski. If that name sounds familiar, then that’s for good reason. Coach Stefanski got his start in the NFL with the Vikings, rising up to being the offensive coordinator before getting stolen away to be the head coach of the Browns.
Stefanski is now in Atlanta to work alongside a pair of southpaw passers. Most notably, there’s Michael Penix Jr.. He’s the quarterback who got chosen at No. 8 in the same draft where J.J. McCarthy went at No. 10. Part of what made that decision wild (other than the move being a huge reach) was that Kirk Cousins had just been signed to a monstrous contract. Atlanta created a mess and is still digesting the consequences.
Sep 10, 2023; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski congratulates quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) for his touchdown run against the Cincinnati Bengals during the second quarter at Cleveland Browns Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott Galvin-USA TODAY Sports
Otherwise, there’s Tua Tavogailoa in town to battle for the starting spot.
Upon first glance, employing these two quarterbacks would appear to leave little room for a third passer. The issue is that both are working through injury, albeit of a different severity.
Marc Raimondi (ESPN) with an update on Penix: “Penix said it might be another four weeks to get cleared or maybe earlier, depending on how his body feels during camp.” Meanwhile, Tagovailoa is inching closer. Schefter sent a quick word on the matter: “Falcons HC Kevin Stefanski said QB Tua Tagovailoa ‘will be out there sooner rather than later.’”
So, the pivot is toward Cooper Rush. He’ll quickly learn his assignment while allowing for Atlanta to function in training camp practices.
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Dec 7, 2025; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (1) walks on the field after the game against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ed Mulholland-Imagn Images
Minnesota’s passer depth chart is pretty stuffed. Check out how most view things:
QB1 Kyler Murray
QB2 J.J. McCarthy
QB3 Carson Wentz
QB4 Max Brosmer
Of those options, Max Brosmer is the most insecure in his roster spot. What’s somewhat ironic is that the firmest assignment belongs to Carson Wentz. He’s close to assured of being the emergency quarterback. Where there’s room for some debate is who secures the top spot.
What threatens things is the ever-present danger of injury. The 2023 season was undermined largely by shuffling through four quarterbacks. Something similar could be said of the 2025 season due to the three different quarterbacks who were needed last year. Minnesota’s approach has been to hope for the best while planning for the worst.
In Cooper Rush, the Vikings felt as though they had a break-glass-in-case-of-emergency option sitting in free agency. Leaving him there, in free agency, meant allowing for some risk of losing him. Minnesota will need to look elsewhere for a veteran shepherd for their complex scheme if injury runs amok on the QB room yet again.
Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy drops back and delivers a first-quarter throw at U.S. Bank Stadium, Jan 4, 2026, in Minneapolis against the Green Bay Packers. The snapshot captured McCarthy operating within the structure of the offense early, as Minnesota looked to establish rhythm and tempo during a high-stakes divisional matchup. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images.
Cooper Rush, 32, has played in 42 NFL games dating back to 2017.
Oscar De La Hoya claims to have unearthed boxing’s next Mexican-American superstar, who he believes has one key advantage over Ryan Garcia.
During his own fighting career, De La Hoya was undoubtedly the most popular boxer of Hispanic descent, consistently generating monstrous pay-per-view and ticket sales.
And now, as a promoter, the Golden Boy boss is confident that his rising star will snatch the mantle from Canelo Alvarez and endear himself to a mammoth Mexican-American audience.
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As things stand, the two flagship names of such heritage appear to be Garcia and David Benavidez, while Canelo remains the ultimate face of Mexican boxing.
But while Garcia could, in theory, become boxing’s leading Mexican-American star, De La Hoya has suggested that the WBC welterweight champion’s lack of Spanish represents a slight disadvantage.
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Instead, the Hall of Famer has told Ariel Helwani that 17-year-old prospect Dylan Capetillo has all the ingredients to be ‘the one’.
“[Garcia can be the next Mexican-American star] if he wants to. It’s all about performances inside the ring; it’s all about winning world titles; it’s all about who you fight.
“And you obviously have to make the effort and speak [Spanish] – you have to care. Can he be ‘the one’? Absolutely. But I truly feel ‘the one’ is [Capetillo].”
Capetillo has won both of his fights to date, one of them coming by knockout, and he will have his third outing when he features on the undercard of William Zepeda vs Lamont Roach this weekend.
Training camp is underway and Stefon Diggs remains a free agent. The former All-Pro wide receiver is searching for a new home ahead of Year 12.
Buffalo Bills offensive lineman Dion Dawkins took to Instagram to recruit Diggs. Here’s a look at the duo’s interaction:
Thanks for the submission!
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Dawkins has been trying to recruit his former teammate for some time. In June, the veteran tackle revealed that he wouldn’t mind a reunion with the wideout.
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According to Yahoo Sports, Dawkins uploaded a post himself. Diggs replied. Dawkins answered back with a message that said: “It’s time.”
Dion Dawkins has spent his entire professional football career with the Buffalo Bills. The five-time Pro Bowler signed a three-year, $60.5 million contract extension ahead of the 2024 season.
Dawkins featured in 15 regular season games and two postseason showdowns in 2025. He earned his fifth consecutive Pro Bowl nod for his efforts.
Stefon Diggs endured mixed fortunes since leaving the Buffalo Bills
Stefon Diggs spent four impressive seasons with the Buffalo Bills. The shifty wide receiver was Josh Allen’s primary target during that spell, earning numerous Pro Bowl nods and leading the Bills to perennial deep postseason runs.
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The Bills traded Diggs and draft consideration to the Houston Texans after the 2023 season. Diggs was poised to help C.J. Stroud and the Texans in their quest for a Super Bowl ring.
Diggs started the 2024 season in decent form, amassing a stat line of 47 receptions, 496 receiving yards, and three touchdowns in eight games. However, his season ended in disaster as he suffered an ACL injury in Week 8 against the Indianapolis Colts. He missed the rest of the campaign and wasn’t re-signed by DeMeco Ryan’s team.
The New England Patriots signed Diggs to a three-year, $63.5 million contract in the lead-up to the 2025 season. Diggs amassed a stat line of 85 receptions, 1,013 yards, and four touchdowns in 17 regular-season games as the Patriots reached Super Bowl LX, where they lost to the Seattle Seahawks. The perennial Pro Bowler was released in March.
Stefon Diggs is now searching for a landing spot ahead of Year 12. The Buffalo Bills, Washington Commanders, Baltimore Ravens and Indianapolis Colts are among rumored suitors for his route-running skills.
The LIV schedule could be on the brink of retracting even further.
According to a pair of reports, the latest from the Wall Street Journal, LIV is on the brink of canceling its “team championship” event, which was originally scheduled to conclude the league’s season at the end of August. The news marks the latest in a string of cost-cutting measures from LIV as the league continues its dire push for outside investment necessary to keep it afloat.
The team championship, which was originally scheduled for Michigan in the last week of August, would be the second event to be canceled since the league’s initial financial backer, the Saudi Public Investment Fund, announced plans to cease its funding of LIV at the conclusion of the 2026 season.
LIV has not commented publicly about any potential schedule changes, including the cancelation of the team championship, which was first suggested by league captain Martin Kaymer at LIV UK last week. Still, a league source indicated LIV was willing to “take a disciplined approach” to “long-term sustainability” while it continues its search for outside investment.
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“Discipline” can take on many forms, but one path to cost-savings is to postpone or cancel events, saving millions owed to vendors and on-site fees. It’s a lever LIV has already pulled in the post-Saudi era; in June, the league announced it was “postponing” an event originally scheduled for Louisiana after the PIF withdrew funding. Earlier this month, a LIV vendor sued the league for failing to pay its bills.
LIV is keen to point out that it will remain solvent through at least the end of the 2026 season. As part of the PIF’s exit strategy from LIV, the PIF has promised to keep operations afloat for the league they founded through the remainder of the summer.
But the path beyond Saudi divestment is murky. Even with fewer events, the league continues to burn enormous amounts of cash each quarter, and its costs have ballooned to more than $6 billion since launch. These economics have increased the pressure on LIV CEO Scott O’Neil, who has appeared in public repeatedly to pitch the league to potential investors — calls that have grown increasingly urgent as the league moves closer to a desired deal deadline of September 1.
“What we don’t have a lot of is time,” O’Neil told Sporticoat the beginning of July. “So we’re very urgently out there talking to those who are interested.”
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While LIV would not comment publicly about the reports of a team championship cancellation, the same source cautioned LIV would not make a final decision around the team championship until the conclusion of next week’s event in Bedminster, N.J. Should the team championship be canceled, LIV’s visit to Trump Bedminster would mark the penultimate event of the 2026 season, with the final event — the individual championship — expected for late-August in Indianapolis.
O’Neil is certainly hoping that LIV will have positive news to report by then, ideally in the form of a new majority investor in the league. The Associated Press reported in June that O’Neil is hoping to raise upwards of $300 million to keep the league afloat, and has had conversations with at least five potential investors.
The LIV CEO has taken to calling the “new” vision of the league “LIV 2.0.” Reports have suggested that vision could look like fewer events with purses as low as $10 million — though neither LIV nor its players have commented publicly about the vision.
“I’m always optimistic, I play golf for a living,” Jon Rahm said last week in the UK, before offering a word of caution. “I’m not going to share anything that I can’t share with you guys right now.”
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No matter how “LIV 2.0” looks, statements like these reveal the totality of the change facing LIV in the post-Saudi era. The private jet-flaunting, champagne-popping, hundred-million-dollar-signing-bonus iteration of the league that attracted Rahm is a relic of the past.
In its place, there are questions about funding, about lawsuits, and now, about plans for the end of the month.
Oct 6, 2025; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Toronto Raptors guard Scottie Barnes (4) drives with the ball against the Denver Nuggets in the first half at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images
Preseason NBA games in Canada will take place in Quebec City and Vancouver involving the Toronto Raptors, Los Angeles Clippers and Miami Heat, the league announced Wednesday.
The NBA Canada Games 2026 will see the Raptors meet the Heat on Oct. 3, at Videotron Centre in Quebec City, and the Raptors face the Clippers at Rogers Arena in Vancouver on Oct. 10.
“Every time we wear the Raptors jersey, we’re representing the entire country, so it’s always special to have the opportunity to play games in communities across Canada,” Toronto forward Scottie Barnes said. “It’s important to us that fans from coast to coast have the chance to experience Raptors basketball, and we can’t wait to share those moments together this preseason in Quebec City and Vancouver.”
The slate features the first-ever NBA preseason contest in Quebec City, the eighth in Vancouver and the 21st and 22nd held in Canada since 2012.
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To date, 16 NBA teams have played a total of 20 preseason games north of the border in front of more than 377,000 fans in six different cities. Quebec City will be the seventh.
Mike Tyson has named his all-time favourite fighter, a man he always found to be more relatable than Muhammad Ali.
While being in awe of Ali’s greatness, Tyson knew he could never successfully replicate the elegance of his style.
So, instead, the Brooklyn-born puncher focused on cultivating his own unique approach, designed to utilise his raw power, brute strength and explosiveness.
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With no shortage of help from legendary trainer Cus D’Amato, ‘Iron’ Mike managed to achieve this style and, in turn, became the youngest heavyweight champion in history.
His second-round stoppage of Trevor Berbick in 1986 was then followed by a series of equally ruthless WBC title defences, only for his reign to end via a shock defeat to James ‘Buster’ Douglas in 1990.
Yet still, Tyson will always be remembered as one of the sport’s most formidable champions, along with his favourite fighter Roberto Duran.
Duran then went on to encounter Sugar Ray Leonard, Marvin Hagler and Tommy Hearns, contending with a significant size disadvantage against each of his fellow Four Kings.
In that sense, it is perhaps no wonder that Tyson – a relatively small heavyweight – named the Panamanian as his favourite fighter at an event covered by ESNEWS.
“Roberto Duran. The reason why is because he comes from filth – like I did. I wasn’t handsome like [Muhammad] Ali; I was from the gutter.
“So I wanted to be like [Duran], because he represented me.”
It is therefore not only Duran’s height and reach disadvantages, but also his deprived background, that resonated with a young Tyson.
Manchester United and Mauricio Pochettino have been linked with each other for a decade now, every time that there has been a change in the dugout at Old Trafford
Reports linking Mauricio Pochettino with becoming the next Manchester United head coach should soon be a thing of the past.
Negotiations with the United States Soccer Federation (USSF) over a new contract are reportedly going well. It is said that the proposed deal is for four years through to the 2030 World Cup in Morocco, Portugal, and Spain.
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Pochettino became the first U.S. men’s national team coach to win a knockout round match in 24 years this summer. However, because of the tournament’s expansion, they still only reached the round of 16, as they did in 2010, 2014 and 2022.
Nevertheless, as Telemundo broadcaster Andres Cantor first reported, U.S. Soccer intends to announce his renewal soon. The Athletic have clarified that a deal is “close” but not quite done, with talks ongoing.
Assuming that extension does become official and Pochettino sees it out, he will have spent six years Stateside. That would make it the longest tenure of his coaching career.
He was sacked by Tottenham Hotspur five-and-a-half years into his time there in 2019. The only period of his professional life longer than that is the amount of time he has been linked with becoming the United manager this century.
Pochettino was a candidate to replace Louis van Gaal a decade ago, before Jose Mourinho ultimately got the job. United had previously overlooked the Portuguese when appointing David Moyes as their successor for Sir Alex Ferguson.
However, unlike Mourinho, Pochettino has never ended up in the home dugout at Old Trafford. In a cruel twist of fate, the now Real Madrid head coach – another job the Argentine has regularly been talked up for – replaced him at Spurs three years after United snubbed him.
Pochettino acknowledged to FourFourTwo earlier this year: “United have always shown interest. But the ideal scenario to manage there has never quite materialised.”
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Speaking about when United were looking to replace Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in 2022 permanently, he said: “I was under contract at PSG. After our Champions League elimination against Real Madrid, we had no option but to make sure we secured the Ligue 1 title at least.
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“United were in a hurry to announce their new manager before the end of that season because the situation had become unsustainable. I couldn’t negotiate, whereas Ajax gave Ten Hag the flexibility to do so.”
Four years on, months after United handed Michael Carrick a two-year contract, when Pochettino was again under contract. However, he now appears to be about to commit his long-term future away from Old Trafford, ending a decade of rumours.
Jun 7, 2022; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell looks on during mandatory mini camp at TCO Performance Center. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports.
GM Nolan Teasley proclaimed his desire to constantly search for talent at yesterday’s press conference. Maybe a small glimpse of that approach can be seen in the news of the Vikings bringing a pile of players in for a chance to prove their mettle.
Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 offered the update online: “#Vikings worked out Jamal Adams (signed), Kendrick Blackshire, Romello Brinson, Victor Dimukeke, Brandon Jayes, Curtis Jacobs, Anfernee Orji, Derek Robertson, Roc Taylor.” Most already know that veteran safety/linebacker Jamal Adams got snagged. What of the other players?
The Vikings Brought Players in for Workout
By a Minnesota mile, Adams is the best-known talent in that cluster of players. There is, nevertheless, reason to note who else was brought to town.
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Check out which player plays which position. Doing so offers some of the most basic criteria for where Minnesota may feel the roster needs help:
Jamal Adams, Safety/Linebacker
Kendrick Blackshire, Linebacker
Romello Brinson, Wide Receiver
Victor Dimukeje, Edge Rusher
Brandon Hayes, Guard
Curtis Jacobs, Linebacker
Anfernee Orji, Linebacker
Derek Robertson, Quarterback
Roc Taylor, Wide Receiver
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tyler Boyd (83) turns downfield after completing a catch as Seattle Seahawks safety Jamal Adams (33) defends in the first quarter during an NFL football game between the Seattle Seahawks and the Cincinnati Bengals Sunday, Oct. 15, 2023, at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati. – Credit: USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
Note, as many already have, that Adams is viewed as a versatile piece of the puzzle. The accomplished veteran is going to be tasked with ample responsibility as somebody who can play like a normal safety but who can also be a linebacker and slot.
Based on position, bringing a quarterback to town is somewhat odd, but perhaps the inclusion of Robertson was about facilitating the workout rather than trying to find a fifth arm.
Taking a look at linebackers, edge rushers, and wide receivers makes sense. In fact, many believe that the edge rusher spot is aching for more depth, former Vikings GM Jeff Diamond them.
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Teasley took on a direct question about needing more help at edge rusher yesterday, deflecting the specific inquiry by saying his front office is always searching for talent. At the very least, somebody has been brought to town for a workout.
Does Minnesota circle around to Dimukeje at some point in the future? The Vikings do need help here and the pass rusher is only 26. He was a 6th-Round selection of the Falcons in 2021 and has played in roughly 2,000 career snaps across defense and specials since that time.
At guard, there are questions about who is going to function as the main backup. LG1 Donovan Jackson is entering his sophomore NFL season; RG1 Will Fries is entering his second season with the Vikings. Both are being tasked with elevating their game. Even if they do, what happens if one guy goes down?
Right now, the top backup looks like Michael Jurgens, but that’s written in pencil. Before too long, the Vikings would like to arrive at a spot where they can write somebody’s name in ink.
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Minnesota Vikings offensive guard Will Fries celebrates in the end zone after a touchdown during second-quarter action on Jan. 4, 2026, at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The scoring play highlighted Minnesota’s offensive execution against the Green Bay Packers and gave the Vikings another memorable moment in a rivalry matchup late in the regular season. Mandatory Credit: Matt Blewett-Imagn Images.
The Vikings had roughly $13 million in cap space moving into the recent flurry of moves. The major factor to watch is how much cap space gets created due to the Brian O’Neill extension. As a rough guide, look for the Vikings to be sitting on about $25 million.
Minnesota Vikings players huddle before a snap during a road matchup against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. Christian Darrisaw stands at left as the offense organized assignments and communication before the play. On Nov. 23, 2025, Minnesota navigated another crucial NFC North battle while attempting to strengthen its postseason position. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images.
Minnesota’s o-line is considerably better when Christian Darrisaw is out there. Accordingly, the update from Kevin O’Connell should be seen as cause for cartwheels.
Coach O’Connell chatted alongside GM Nolan Teasley yesterday. Occasionally, the conversation demonstrated some knowledge of football being a sport that goes beyond the quarterback position. Per O’Connell, the Vikings’ star left tackle isn’t going to be hindered by injury: “No, there’s not [any limitations].” The skipper then said that Darrisaw has “had a healthy offseason” while saying that there’s an individualized plan to work toward keeping the LT1 healthy.
The Vikings’ Star Left Tackle is Healthy
Sometimes, football lingo can obfuscate rather than clarify. The proclamation that football is a matchup sport can sometimes lose its luster since it’s said so often.
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There is, nevertheless, plenty of truth in the overused saying.
Boasting an elite left tackle means being able to counteract the other side’s best effort. Traditionally, a defense would put its best pass rusher on the left tackle’s side — the blind side — since most quarterbacks throw with their right hand, making it harder to see a pass rusher coming. The idea, then, is to insert one’s foremost blocker at that left tackle spot to neutralize the most potent threat against the passer.
Sep 29, 2024; Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA; Minnesota Vikings safety Josh Metellus (44) celebrates with offensive tackle Christian Darrisaw (71) after catching a touchdown pass against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Tork Mason/USA TODAY Network via Imagn Images.
Even better, of course, is if a team can toss the left tackle out there without there being any help.
Picture a Packers game. Micah Parsons is a monster of a pass rusher who threatens to wreck games. Seeing Darrisaw fulfill his potential could involve letting the left tackle wrestle with Parsons in a true one-on-one fashion. Not only would Parsons be neutralized — itself an ambitious, laudable goal — but Minnesota could use an extra blocker to double-team the next most dangerous pass rusher.
Christian Darrisaw boasts a perfect build to be an NFL left tackle. He’s a 6’5″ and 315 pound athlete with elegant, explosive feet and efficient, electric mitts. Part of what makes him so formidable is that he can stun edge rushers with his punch without looking like he’s breaking much of a sweat. Being able to snag him at No. 23 overall in 2021 — ironically, a draft slot that has some connections to GM Nolan Teasley and Jamal Adams — was an instance of highway robbery.
Combined with LG1 Donovan Jackson, Darrisaw is at such a level that he should be capable of winning the line of scrimmage on a weekly basis. A lofty goal, no doubt, but that’s the sort of expectation that accompanies sending out a pair of 1st-Round selections on the same side of the o-line.
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On Sep 8, 2024, at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, Minnesota Vikings cornerback Byron Murphy Jr. (7) celebrated alongside Christian Darrisaw and other teammates after a defensive stop against the New York Giants. The energetic scene captured how the defense tilted the momentum during a tense second-half stretch, showing the unity and impact of Minnesota’s group effort in a pivotal sequence. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images.
Lately, much praise has been kicked over to new o-line coach Keith Carter. Likewise, Frank Smith — the former OC with the Dolphins who is the Asst. HC in Minnesota — is thought of as being a key component of unlocking the running game. Boasting a terrific tackle can only help in these ambitions.
Oh, and the QB1 — whoever it ends up being — will benefit from a fantastic blind side protector.
Christian Darrisaw is 27. Health permitting, Darrisaw could be an excellent player for another five (or more) years. The Vikings’ ambition is to work toward that future by seeing the left tackle start the full 2026 season, doing excellently along the way.
Alexandra Eala of the Philippines returns a shot during a women’s singles match against Leylah Fernandez of Canada during day three of the Mubadala Citi DC Open 2026 at William H.G. FitzGerald Tennis Center on July 29, 2026 in Washington, DC. Emilee Chinn/Getty Images/AFP
MANILA, Philippines — Alex Eala ousted defending champion Leylah Fernandez with an impressive 6-2, 7-6 (1) victory to secure a spot in the quarterfinals of the Mubadala DC Open in Washington, D.C.
Showcasing grit once again, Eala rallied from a 5-1 deficit in the second set before overwhelming Fernandez in the tiebreak to level their head-to-head series at one win apiece.
“I think I definitely had some tough moments in that match, and credit to Leylah, she put me in some really tough positions,” Eala, who previously lost to Fernandez in the Stuttgart Open in April, said. “So, I think I’m super proud of how I fought and how I stayed in there.”
On the verge of playing another three-setter, Eala responded by winning five straight games to take a 6-5 lead, but Fernandez held serve to force a tiebreak.
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The Filipino tennis star wasted no time in the tiebreak, building a 3-0 advantage before Fernandez got on the board. Eala then won four straight points to close out the match in one hour and 53 minutes.
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Eala will face the winner between Polina Kudermetova and Elina Svitolina in the quarterfinals.
The world No. 28 came out firing in the first set with a 3-0 lead, opening the match with a love hold to set the tone. She traded holds with Fernandez before sealing the set with her second break.
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Alexandra Eala of the Philippines returns a shot during a women’s singles match against Leylah Fernandez of Canada during day three of the Mubadala Citi DC Open 2026 at William H.G. FitzGerald Tennis Center on July 29, 2026 in Washington, DC. Emilee Chinn/Getty Images/AFP
But Eala admittedly struggled in the second after Fernandez, currently ranked No. 34 with a career-high No. 13, found her rhythm and reeled off five straight games to move within a game of forcing a decider.
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That was when Eala regained her composure—reminiscent of her Round of 32 win over Zheng Qinwen, when she rallied from a set down—and retook control of the match.
“I know that she was playing a little better, and maybe my level dropped a little bit. I think those are very tricky moments when you know your level has dropped, and you want to do better, but things just, for one reason or another, aren’t coming out,” Eala, who beat Zheng 4-6, 6-4, 6-1, said.
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“I think patience was key there, and just trying to work it out, and have a strong mentality in terms of trying to find solutions.”
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Eala eyes another semifinal appearance this year in her first tournament of the North American swing as part of her buildup to the US Open.
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