Some fans want the Minnesota Vikings to draft a defensive tackle like Peter Woods or Kayden McDonald in Round 1, but the club could wait until the following day by picking “Big Citrus” Domonique Orange.
The Vikings may need a DT, and Orange looks like one of the more realistic paths.
Minnesota met with Orange last week, a man who obviously snagged his moniker from his last name and size.
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Orange Stands Out in Minnesota’s Mid-Round Search
The Vikings’ newest DT could come from Round 2 or 3.
Iowa State Cyclones defensive lineman Domonique Orange (95) celebrates after bringing down the quarterback, delivering a momentum-shifting sack in a high-profile matchup. Dec 7, 2024 captured the play at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, where Orange helped disrupt Arizona State’s offense with pressure in the first half. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images.
Orange Chats with Vikings
Orange made the rounds last week, with the NFL draft upcoming on April 23rd. He’ll have plenty of suitors.
Click2Houston‘s Aaron Wilson wrote, “Iowa State defensive tackle Domonique Orange impressed NFL teams at his campus workout, showing that he has recovered from a quadriceps injury. The Texans attended his Pro Day workout and helped run the drills. Orange, nicknamed “Big Citrus,’ is scheduled to visit the Texans at NRG Stadium, per a league source.”
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“Orange is also set to visit the Buffalo Bills, Minnesota Vikings, Carolina Panthers and the Chicago Bears. He’s regarded by NFL teams as a classic, space-eating anchor in the middle of the defense. Orange (6-foot-2, 322 pounds) was a third-team All-Big 12 Conference selection last season.”
The Cyclone lives at No. 66 on the Consensus Big Board, meaning he’s likely to hear his name called at the end of Round 2 or beginning of Round 3.
The Scouting Report
Orange is 6’2″ and 325 pounds and known for his first-step speed, his anchor, and long arms. A year ago, he earned a spot on Bruce Feldman’s popular “Freaks” list. However, Orange is not known for rushing the passer and doesn’t have many bull-rush tendencies. He’s a nose tackle.
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NFL Draft Buzzon his skill set: “Orange’s value at the next level is straightforward: he can fill a nose tackle role in an odd-front defense and give you honest, dependable reps against the run on early downs. His combination of first-step quickness, anchor strength, and length makes him someone who can eat blocks and hold gaps, which frees up linebackers to flow to the football.”
“The performance against Iowa in 2025, where he held up against one of the best centers in college football, speaks to what he can do against quality competition at the point of attack. The tackling regression in his final college season is also worth watching, as his missed tackle rate jumped well above career norms.”
Orange turned 22 last month. He’s got youth on his side.
TBD added, “His testing numbers suggest limited range and pursuit, meaning he needs to win early in the play or he probably won’t make the stop. In the right scheme, Orange can be a useful early-down nose who absorbs blocks and keeps the interior clean.”
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“A 3-4 defense that values gap control and doesn’t ask its nose to do much as a rusher is the ideal landing spot. He has the frame, the hands, and the anchor to hold up at the pro level in that role. His floor is a capable run-stuffing rotation piece; his ceiling is a starting nose in a defense that can scheme around his limitations on passing downs.”
2 Starting DTs Out This Offseason
The Vikings’ pre-draft meeting with Orange takes on greater significance given the uncertainty at defensive tackle. Currently, Jalen Redmond, Levi Drake Rodriguez, and Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins are in line for considerable playing time. While this group is intriguing, a rookie could find a role — especially if the Vikings don’t sign a free agent like Christian Wilkins.
And the DT need developed recently. In March, Minnesota released Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave, a tandem that played nearly 1,400 defensive snaps in 2025. The duo, former general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah’s major free-agent acquisitions on the defensive line last offseason, failed to meet expectations. To add insult to injury, Allen signed with the Bengals, and Hargrave joined Green Bay.
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Iowa State Cyclones defensive lineman Domonique Orange (95) reacts following a strong defensive play, showing energy and presence along the line of scrimmage. Sep 6, 2025 highlighted the rivalry setting at Jack Trice Stadium in Ames, where Orange contributed to Iowa State’s defensive effort against the Hawkeyes in the second half. Mandatory Credit: Reese Strickland-Imagn Images.
Therefore, with Minnesota’s defensive tackle situation rapidly evolving, the meeting with Orange appears particularly important.
The Other DT Options
Suppose for a moment that Minnesota wants to leave the draft with a defensive tackle but not Orange. The list from a mid-April viewpoint looks like this:
Peter Woods (Clemson | R1)
Kayden McDonald (Ohio State | R1-R2)
Caleb Banks (Florida | R2)
Christen Miller (Georgia | R2)
Lee Hunter (Texas Tech | R2)
Gracen Halton (Oklahoma | R3)
Darrell Jackson Jr. (Florida State | R3)
Kaleb Proctor (Southeastern Louisiana | R4)
Chris McClellan (Missouri | R4)
Dontay Corleone (Cincinnati | R4)
Zxavian Harris (Mississippi | R4)
Zane Durant (Penn State | R4-R5)
DeMonte Capehart (Clemson | R5)
Rayshaun Benny (Michigan | R5)
Iowa State defensive lineman Domonique Orange (95) poses during media day, offering a clear look at his build and presence ahead of the upcoming season. Aug 2, 2024 showed the setting at Jack Trice Stadium in Ames, where Orange took part in team media availability before fall preparations began. Mandatory Credit: Zach Boyden-Holmes-Imagn Images.
Hunter of Texas Tech is a popular mock-draft favorite among fans, and Minnesota met with Jackson Jr. of Florida State, as well.
The draft is nine days away. The Vikings have two picks to explore Orange in Round 3: Nos. 82 and 97.
Charlotte Flair recently claimed that her current rivals in WWE have a bright future in the company. The veteran is on the SmackDown roster and is in an alliance with Alexa Bliss.
Jacy Jayne, Fallon Henley, and Lainey Reid are known as the Fatal Influence faction in WWE. The trio was recently called up to the main roster and has already made an impact on SmackDown.
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Speaking on ESPN’s First Take, Charlotte Flair praised Fatal Influence and suggested that they were destined to become major stars on the promotion’s main roster.
“So here’s the thing, nobody likes to lose even if it’s a three on one scenario. But I think Jacy Jayne, Lainey Reid and Fallon Henley have a extremely bright future. But being that I’m a 14 time women’s champion, I have lost 13 times. So I’ve come back stronger every time and we either we win or we lose or we either we win or we learn. So that’s the thing,” she said. (H/T: Fightful on X)
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You can check out the veteran’s full appearance on First Take in the video below:
Jacy Jayne defeated Charlotte Flair in a singles match this past Friday on SmackDown. Flair and Alexa Bliss also came up short in the Fatal 4-Way match for the Women’s Tag Team Championships at WWE WrestleMania 42.
Paige replaced an injured Nikki Bella at The Show of Shows and won the Women’s Tag Team Championships at The Show of Shows. Brie Bella and Paige successfully defended the titles against Lash Legend and Nia Jax last week on the blue brand.
Major WWE star discusses her relationship with Charlotte Flair
Becky Lynch recently commented on her relationship with Charlotte Flair and noted that trying to get a top spot in WWE negatively impacted their friendship.
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In an interview with Vulture, the Women’s Intercontinental Champion noted that striving for success impacted her friendship with Flair, but added that it was the nature of the wrestling business.
“Yeah, badly. Yeah, poorly, poorly. And look, I suppose that as well, the business, you know, and you’ve got two very competitive women who want to be at the top of the industry,” Lynch said.
Becky Lynch names her Greatest rivals in WWE: • Charlotte Flair • Bianca Belair • Lita She also mentioned Lyra Valkyria and Maxxine Dupri are the ones she really enjoyed working recently (@ChrisVanVliet)
It will be interesting to see what the future holds for Fatal Influence in the promotion.
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Nov 30, 2025; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; New York Jets quarterback Tyrod Taylor (2) reacts after a touchdown against the Atlanta Falcons during the second half at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
The Green Bay Packers are signing veteran Tyrod Taylor to back up starting quarterback Jordan Love, NFL Network reported Monday.
No further details of the agreement between Taylor and the Packers were immediately available.
Taylor will take on a role the Packers have been looking to fill since former backup QB Malik Willis signed a three-year, $67.5 million deal with the Miami Dolphins in March.
The Packers will be the eighth team Taylor has played for as he enters his 16th season in the league after being drafted by the Baltimore Ravens in the sixth round of the 2011 NFL Draft.
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He spent the past two seasons with the New York Jets. He appeared in two games in 2024 backing up Aaron Rodgers before missing training camp last summer after arthroscopic knee surgery.
Taylor started in place of an injured Justin Fields in Week 3 of 2025 then replaced an ineffective Fields in Week 12. However, he only started three more games before a groin injury in the first series of Week 14 took him out, continuing a trend of injuries throughout his career.
He hasn’t started more than six games since the 2017 season with the Buffalo Bills, where the majority of his experience as a starter came. He was 22-20 in 44 games (43 starts) with the Bills from 2015-17.
Taylor, who turns 37 on Aug. 3, has a 29-31-1 record in 62 career starts with the Ravens (2011-14), Bills, Cleveland Browns (2018), Los Angeles Chargers (2019-20), Houston Texans (2021), New York Giants (2022-23) and Jets.
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He finished last season with 779 passing yards, five touchdowns and five interceptions. He has a career 61.8% completion percentage for 13,033 yards, 73 TDs and 34 interceptions.
DENVER — For the first time, Kirill Kaprizov is trying to grow a playoff beard during the Stanley Cup tournament’s second round, and so far the grooming mission is not flourishing.
His beard is sparse, a little like sprouting wheat during a drought.
“I’ve never had (one), I think,” the 29-year-old Russian said Monday. “Usually every morning, before every game, yeah, I shave all the time. But now we’ll see how long it can be. I hope a long one.”
The duration of the Minnesota Wild’s playoff beard-growing season depends partly on Kaprizov.
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The world’s most expensive hockey player was excellent in a six-game win against the Dallas Stars in the opening round of the National Hockey League playoffs.
But in the offensive rave party that was the Wild’s 9-6 loss Sunday in their second-round opener against the Colorado Avalanche, Kaprizov was strangely ineffective, managing only one shot on target and a second assist.
As with half of Minnesota’s lineup, this is Kaprizov’s first playoff foray beyond the opening round, which was the final resting place of Wild playoff hopes in nine series over 11 seasons before their breakthrough last week against the Stars.
Like Kaprizov’s baby beard, the second round is entirely new to 10 Minnesota players and most of their best ones, including wingers Kaprizov and Matt Boldy, top-pairing defenceman Brock Faber and starting goalie Jesper Wallstedt.
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As a team, the Wild weren’t ready for the Stanley Cup-favourite Avalanche, whose seven five-on-five goals in Game 1 were three more than Minnesota surrendered in its entire series against Dallas.
Everybody understood Colorado would be a difficult out. But after such a slack, uncharacteristic performance in Game 1, do the Wild understand that playoffs only get harder as the tournament progresses?
“I mean, from my experience, the first round has never been easy,” veteran winger Vladimir Tarasenko, a two-time Stanley Cup winner elsewhere, said during off-day media availability at the Wild’s downtown hotel. “It’s hard to say which rounds are harder because in the first round, everybody is full of emotions, you know, everybody is kind of fresh.
“I think the most important part is to share the experience that things can go wrong sometimes. How you show up the next day is what’s important. There is no point to, you know, feel sad about yesterday; you have to take your lessons and move on. Because some series take longer, some series you play every other day, and if you’re not able to get (the) lessons and move on to the next game with the right mindset, it might be too late.”
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Minnesota coach John Hynes noted that his roster does include players with significant playoff experience — Tarasenko, Mats Zuccarello, Marcus Johansson, Zach Bogosian — and that the team’s identity guards against it becoming overwhelmed by the playoffs’ big stage.
“I think it goes back to, one, we do have a lot of guys with experience and I think that certainly helps,” he said. “The way we handle our business as a team, in general, over the course of 82 games — not getting too high, not getting too low, making sure the results of a game don’t overwhelm you … you just need to react the right way and respond to what was presented. That’s how we go about our business. That’s ingrained, that’s a habit, that’s how we do business as a team.
“We learned some good lessons in Game 2 of the Dallas series. We lost the game (4-2), but I’d say we took lessons out of that and (those mistakes) didn’t happen again over the course of the series. We got better and stronger and the issues in that game were rectified, and that to me shows you where your team’s at. And it’s no different than last night.”
Hynes reiterated that the Wild’s many defensive mistakes in Game 1 are correctable.
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Although he defended Wallstedt, who failed to make key saves when Minnesota needed them in the third period, the coach was non-committal about his goalie for Game 2 here Tuesday. So it’s possible the Avalanche may see Filip Gustavsson.
But whoever is in net, Colorado will likely see a far different Minnesota team, heavy and robust and defensively tight.
The loss looked immediately like a reality check for the Wild and certainly got the players’ attention. The way they were ventilated may actually turn out to be a good thing.
“(Quinn) Hughes said it after the game: you go in and you’re so focused on one series,” Hynes explained. “When you get through that … it’s two weeks’ worth of games and one opponent and one thing. And then you come in (to another series) … you can see it on video, right? But until you feel it, and ‘OK, there’s the speed and yes, this is a little bit different.’ Colorado did a good job of that. We know they’re a good team, but I do think that feeling it, going through it, not on point — we didn’t get away with not being as good as we need to be in certain areas last night. And that was the learning lesson.”
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“Last night wasn’t my good game or my best game,” Kaprizov said. “How to say it, I don’t know exactly. I know I need to play better and create more offence and play good defensively because playoffs, you don’t want to give easy goals against. Offensively, you always can have some chances, especially when you play a lot of minutes. You just need to play the right way and help your team.”
Boldy, the Wild’s other elite offensive driver up front, also had only a single assist in Game 1’s track meet.
“I think it’s more not about who’s able to score yesterday,” Tarasenko said. “We have to play better defensively and try to limit their chances. Obviously, (they’re) a very good team, and we have to keep going on our plan. People usually say everything could happen in the playoffs, and it was another thing I (have) never been part of. At the end of the day — I’ve said it before — it’s important how you react. I don’t think there is such a big difference to lose 9-6 or 0-1. It’s down by one in the series. We have time to get some rest today and be ready for tomorrow.”
And what does Tarasenko think of Kaprizov’s wispy beard?
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“I didn’t pay attention,” he said. “I have to take a look. I saw something yesterday, so I hope he grows it very long this year.”
Tarasenko’s one-handed breakaway deke on Sunday was reminiscent of former Avalanche superstar Peter Forsberg’s gold-medal-winning goal for Sweden against Canada at the 1994 Olympics. Tarasenko was two years old. Does he remember Forsberg?
“Yeah, yeah, I saw his goal in the Olympics,” Tarasenko said. “I know what you’re talking about.”
Forsberg’s defining play against goalie Corey Hirsch was commemorated in Sweden by a postage stamp.
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“I saw that, too,” Tarasenko said. “It was a very big stage.”
NEW DELHI: Lucknow Super Giants captain Rishabh Pant admitted his side fell short despite posting a huge total against Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede Stadium on Monday, saying his struggling team now needs “some good luck” to turn things around in IPL 2026.LSG posted an imposing 228/5 after explosive knocks from Nicholas Pooran, Mitchell Marsh, Aiden Markram and Himmat Singh. However, Mumbai chased down the target comfortably with six wickets in hand, thanks to a stunning 143-run opening partnership between Rohit Sharma and Ryan Rickelton.Reflecting on the defeat, Pant felt his team left runs behind despite a flying start. “Definitely, the way we started, I think we should have gotten more runs. But definitely some good signs,” Pant said after the match.The LSG skipper believed his side was at least 10-15 runs short on what was an excellent batting surface.“Definitely, we were short 10-15 runs because it was a 220-230 wicket for sure. And the way we started, we had that edge over them,” he said.Pant, however, refused to blame the bowlers despite another disappointing result in a difficult season for Lucknow.“In a wicket like this, you can’t blame bowlers all the time. They’ve been doing a fantastic job for us. So definitely can’t say much to them,” he added.When asked what LSG need to revive their campaign, Pant gave a candid response.“I think we need some good luck, man. That’s the only thing I’m going to say.” He added with a smile: “Yeah, I think a lot of blessing is going to work around it. And it’s going to take some more effort from us, for sure.”The loss leaves LSG at the bottom of the IPL 2026 table with just two wins from nine matches, while Mumbai remain mathematically alive in the playoff race.
69′ GOAL! Barry punishes Guehi error to equalise [EVE 1-1 MCI]
Two goals in four minutes and three in 12 means City need favours from West Ham, Burnley or Crystal Palace, Arsenal’s last three opponents. Their destiny is out of their hands now. When this seemed it would be a comfortable, professional win, it turned into an anarchic draw. And if City showed their spirit in a frantic finale, it was nevertheless them, rather than Arsenal, who lost their nerve in the run-in.
The turning point was an awful error from a player who had been almost impeccable in his City career. Everton’s equaliser could be attributed to a Moyes change, bringing on Thierno Barry for Beto, but it owed more to a horribly under-hit back-pass by Marc Guehi. The substitute advanced to beat Gianluigi Donnarumma. The striker had been flagged offside when Merlin Rohl tried to find him; but Guehi’s deliberate, if misjudged, intervention meant the goal stood. It was a gift.
Richard Jolly4 May 2026 23:31
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David Moyes on Everton’s fightback and late Man City equaliser
Everton have conceded a goal after the 90th minute for the third Premier League game in a row, after conceding winners against Liverpool and West Ham and now an equaliser against Manchester City.
David Moyes’s side could have been in the race for Champions League without those dropped points. Mixed feeling for the Everton manager, speaking to Sky Sports:
“We let ourselves down because we defended the second goal so poorly. That was probably the main reason for it.
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“But at half-time we would have taken this result because we were hugely outplayed in the first half.
“Getting a point against City is not a bad result, but when you’re 3-1 up you think you’re in with a great chance of winning.”
(Getty)
Jamie Braidwood4 May 2026 23:01
Erling Haaland’s two-word message to Man City team-mates
Erling Haaland told his Manchester City team-mates that the title is “still there” despite his side’s dropped points at Everton in a dramatic encounter.
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After Everton stunned the visitors with three goals in 12 minutes, Haaland sparked City’s late comeback with a goal straight from kick-off.
Jeremy Doku’s equaliser keeps City in the race, but only just: Arsenal will win the title if they win their next three games, starting with a trip to West Ham on Sunday.
(Getty)
Jamie Braidwood4 May 2026 22:41
Pep Guardiola gives his verdict on Jeremy Doku’s late eqauliser
Jeremy Doku’s late goal means Manchester City took at least a point from their collapse against Everton, even if it’s a huge blow to their title chances.
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Guardiola told Sky Sports: “It’s better than a loss. We played to win. It just shows what the team are. We tried and we have done it. It’s not in our hands. Before it was in our hands. Now, no.
“We have to do it in our four games that we have in the Premier League. It will be quite similar against Brentford. We will see what happens.”
(Reuters)
Jamie Braidwood4 May 2026 22:37
Pep Guardiola: ‘We’re going to continue’
Pep Guardiola, speaking to Sky Sports, praises Manchester City’s performance but says his side lost control of the second half. He says they will take the point and “continue”. He’s not giving up just yet.
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“Really good performance. We played an outstanding first half. It was so difficult with their physicality.
“Second half, they made a step up. We didn’t have as much control and we gave away the goal. After that they come back and make a proper English game, so aggressive in the duels.
“We take the point and until it’s over, we’re going to continue.”
(Reuters)
Jamie Braidwood4 May 2026 22:32
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The 12 minutes of mayhem where Man City threw the title race away
Manchester City refused to accept defeat and yet, in the final reckoning, it may be the game that means they are beaten. There were seconds remaining when Jeremy Doku curled in his second spectacular goal of an extraordinary evening. City still have not lost in the Premier League since January, but it may have been the night the title slipped from their grasp.
The winners were not Everton, though they were seconds away from their biggest scalp at Hill Dickinson, but an old Evertonian. If Mikel Arteta makes Arsenal champions, his debt to David Moyes and Everton will be still greater. It is definitively advantage Arsenal after in the title race after a stunning spell and a City collapse. Even their subsequent comeback, with two late goals, only reduced the damage done in the second half on Merseyside.
Richard Jolly, at the Hill Dickinson Stadium4 May 2026 22:24
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Arsenal’s first Premier League title in 20 years is three games away
As the dust settles, the simple fact is this: Arsenal are three wins from glory. Sunday’s trip to West Ham could be their toughest of the remaining fixtures, followed by relegated Burnley and a Crystal Palace side who may have a European final to prepare for.
How will the Arsenal team have followed that as they prepare for a Champions League semi-final against Atletico Madrid tomorrow?
Jamie Braidwood4 May 2026 22:12
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Everton v Man City: How the drama unfolded
A silly, silly second half of football. Game of the season, with huge consequences!
68’ Barry punishes Guehi to equalise for Everton
73’ O’Brien heads in from corner as Everton take lead
81’ Barry capitalises on another error as Man City crumble
83’ Haaland then responds straight from kick-off
90+7’ Doku whips in stunning strike deep into stoppage time
(Reuters)
Jamie Braidwood4 May 2026 22:09
Arsenal’s remaining fixtures, compared to Man City’s
Arsenal
Played: 35 | Points: 76 | GD: 41
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10 May – West Ham (A)
17 May – Burnley (H)
24 May – Crystal Palace (A)
Man City
Played: 34 | Points: 71 | GD: 37
9 May – Brentford (H)
13 May – Crystal Palace (H)
17 May – Bournemouth (A)
22 May – Aston Villa (H)
Jamie Braidwood4 May 2026 22:04
How big will that Jeremy Doku goal be by the end of the season?
Guys, who knows. But if Arsenal win their next three games they will be champions.
David Njoku spent nine seasons with the Cleveland Browns. Now a free agent, the tight end visited the Los Angeles Chargers on Monday, and NFL fans had plenty to say about it.
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported the visit. It’s Njoku‘s second free-agent visit this offseason, after a trip to the Baltimore Ravens that didn’t result in a deal. The Browns have since moved on, drafting two tight ends and signing another in free agency.
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Former #Browns FA TE David Njoku is visiting #Chargers on Monday, source said. Interesting one.
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•
“He is a weirdo. Did anyone see him in Receiver season 2? Hard to watch, a bizarre fella,” one said.
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“Good blocker and even better red zone threat, Justin Herbert would definitely benefit,” another added.
“Am I the only Charger fan with a big NO thank you?” one fan posted.
“This guy really hasn’t done much. That’s why he’s always getting bounced around, what they’re paying him isn’t worth what they’re getting,” another wrote.
“Did he not have a bad season last year?” a third asked.
“Please!!! This would be an awesome addition!” One added
David Njoku’s 2025 season was limited. He played 12 games, catching 33 passes for 293 yards and four touchdowns. His role shrank after young tight end Harold Fannin Jr. took over as Cleveland’s starter.
What David Njoku could mean for Justin Herbert and the Chargers
NFL: San Francisco 49ers at Cleveland Browns – Source: Imagn
The Chargers have two tight ends on their roster, Oronde Gadsden II and Charlie Kolar. Gadsden is a pass catcher. Kolar is a blocker who saw just 15 targets last season. Los Angeles needs someone who can do both, and that’s where David Njoku fits.
New Chargers offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel runs an offense that relies heavily on tight ends. Njoku’s best season came in 2023: 81 catches, 882 yards and six touchdowns. According to Spotrac, he’s projected to earn around $10 million over two years.
Wu Yize hails from Lanzhou in the northwest of China, a city famous for its beef noodles. The dish is a clear beef broth with radish slices, chilli oil and herbs, and aside from his family, it is the thing he misses most: there are plenty of Chinese restaurants in Sheffield, but they don’t hit like home.
It is one small cost of being one of the best young snooker players in the world. Wu moved his life to Yorkshire three years ago to be part of the growing stable of Chinese players in the city, and he could be the next superstar from the group. The 22-year-old reached finals at the English Open and Scottish Open last season, and now the 10th seed has made history by winning the World Snooker Championship for the first time. He showed incredible heart to down Shaun Murphy 18-17 in a first final-frame decider in the Crucible showpiece for 24 years.
He is another player off China’s impressive production line, like Zhao Xintong before him, who became the first Chinese world champion last year. Wu began playing snooker as soon as he could hold a queue; his mother ran the family antiques business while his father spent time taking him to tournaments to nurture his talent.
Aged 11, his dad took him to the Yushan International Billiards Academy to be seen by Australian coach Roger Leighton.
“When he came to me, his highest break was 49,” Leighton tells The Independent. “After a couple of weeks, he hit an 86. I said, ‘That’s great, amazing.’ He said, ‘It’s no good, because Ronnie would have cleared up.’ That’s his mentality. But he was a fun-loving kid. If he missed a ball he hated it, but he laughed a lot and that was his way of releasing pressure.”
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There were some technical issues to iron out. Wu’s arm would drop through his takeaway and his wrist would move as he pushed the cue through. “He had a few big problems with consistency,” Leighton says. “He would miss too many easy balls.”
But Wu improved rapidly and won the Under-21 World Championship, aged only 14. At 15, he pushed John Higgins to a deciding frame at the 2019 International Championship in China, eventually going down 6-5. Wu turned professional at 17 and made it to the Crucible at 19. His first ranking title came at last year’s International Championship, beating Higgins in the final.
Wu is the youngest player in the current top 16 (PA)
Wu delivered a whirlwind of potting and break-building in Nanjing that week, in front of his parents watching on, scoring 14 centuries in 63 frames. He was 4-0 down to the world No 1 Judd Trump in the last 16, in a race to six, and proceeded to win six frames on the bounce. He kept up the streak to knock out Barry Hawkins 6-0, before beating world champion Zhao in the semi-finals.
After the final, Higgins paid Wu a huge compliment. “He reminds me so much of the late, great Paul Hunter, the way he plays the game. He’s a new superstar. I’m glad that I’ll probably be retiring in a couple of years with guys like that potting them off the lampshades.”
Asked about the comparison, Wu smiled: “Paul Hunter was a really good-looking guy.”
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Wu Yize in action during the 2026 Masters at Alexandra Palace (PA)
Higgins is not the only player to have been impressed by Wu’s talent. Shaun Murphy tipped him to be a future world champion, and Ronnie O’Sullivan likened Wu to a “more dynamic” version of Steve Davis. “I practised with him for two or three days in Hong Kong,” O’Sullivan said. “It’s not until you practise with someone that you can really appreciate how good they are. After day two, I was like, ‘This kid is really special’.”
Leighton agrees. “I think he could be world champion in three to five years, and definitely world No 1. He punishes mistakes, he scores well. He didn’t get into the top 16 as soon as he wanted, but he’s got there. He is slowly creeping up, and now he’s won a tournament, he’s very confident. If he can get one or two more wins, he’s going to be a real threat. He’s beaten Zhao this season, and not many people can say that.”
And Leighton points to another hidden strength. “He has a special mentality, to be able to do it under pressure. He feels nerves, but it’s a different mentality; it’s a cultural thing, built into [Chinese players]. I’ve seen them playing matches, knocking in long balls, big breaks, and then they say, ‘I felt so nervous, I was shaking.’ And I think, really?”
Wu has been hailed by Ronnie O’Sullivan as China’s next great player (PA)
Wu may be honing his talent a long way from home, but his family is never far away. When he was struggling with a damaged tip during his impressive debut at the Masters in January, Wu’s father flew all the way from Lanzhou to Alexandra Palace to help fix it.
“My parents are everything,” Wu said. “My dad has been with me since I was a kid, always by my side. He’s helped me so much, especially during difficult times in the UK. I’m so grateful for what he has done for me.”
He is the youngest player in the world’s top 16, and his run to this year’s Crucible final has already featured impressive wins over Mark Selby and Hossein Vafaei, before a dramatic semi-final victory over Mark Allen. The final against 2005 champion Shaun Murphy is his greatest test yet. But Wu has a long list of big-name scalps already in his career, and Murphy will not relish meeting one of the game’s rising talents, in his hometown from home.
In doing so, the American became a three-division undisputed king – and five-weight world champion – before retiring with a record of 42-0 in December.
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Other than perhaps an immediate rematch with Canelo, there was little more for Crawford to achieve after proving to be the top dog at 168lbs.
Alvarez, on the other hand, is determined to reclaim one quarter of his undisputed super-middleweight crown later this year.
Standing in his way is WBC world champion Christian Mbilli, who is set to defend his title against Canelo in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on September 12.
Like Canelo, Mbilli has not fought since last September, back when he boxed to a 10-round draw against Lester Martinez on the Canelo-Crawford undercard.
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The Frenchman was then elevated from ‘interim’ to full WBC champion following Crawford’s retirement, while Alvarez has been recovering from elbow surgery.
In response, the 38-year-old said in a social media video, reposted by FightHype, that he still has no desire to return to the ring.
“They still want me to come out of retirement and whoop some people. What more can I ask for, man? I’m blessed. Life is beautiful right now, and I’m enjoying every bit of it.”
Clearly, Crawford feels no urge to reignite a Hall of Fame-worthy career that saw him become one of the premiere fighters of his generation.
Benavidez proved that he was capable of carrying his power up to 200lbs as he claimed the sixth round win over Ramirez to capture the WBA and WBO cruiserweight titles at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
It was a performance that has made the entire boxing world take notice, with ‘The Mexican Monster’ also still in possession of the WBC light heavyweight title, while he has previously reigned as world champion at 168lbs too.
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De La Hoya serves as Ramirez’s promoter so was ringside on Saturday to watch the action unfold, and though he may have wanted his man to come out on top, he admitted to Fight Hub TV that it was a masterful performance from Benavidez.
“Beautiful. The buzzsaw of Benavidez, punches in bunches, and the only shot that Zurdo had was to throw a punch right in the centre. The speed was too much, Benavidez was too much, The Monster is here for a long time. Very proud of him.”
Benavidez is now expected to drop back down to 175lbs for his next fight, and De La Hoya also revealed what he thinks should be next for ‘The Mexican Monster.’
“He’s got many options. I think right now he is the man at that weight class. Whoever is going to fight him has to wait in line…Benavidez right now is the man.”
The Green Bay Packers upgraded their backup quarterback position on Monday behind Jordan Love, signing Tyrod Taylor after months of fans wondering who might snag the QB2 job.
Green Bay swapped one backup quarterback plan for another, and Minnesota will see the change up close.
Love has missed games in each of the last two seasons, and with Green Bay living in a tough division, the reserve signal-caller spot is rather important.
Veteran Insurance Arrives in Wisconsin
The Minnesota Vikings could see Taylor if Love goes down.
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New York Jets quarterback Tyrod Taylor runs onto the field ahead of kickoff, with Nov 23, 2025 set at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore as he prepares for a road matchup against the Ravens, capturing a focused pregame moment as players complete warmups and transition toward game action. Mandatory Credit: Peter Casey-Imagn Images
Taylor to GB
It’s a done deal for Taylor. ESPN’s Rob Demovsky wrote Monday, “A little more than a week after the NFL draft came and went without the Packers adding a quarterback, Green Bay is signing veteran Tyrod Taylor, a source told NFL Network. Taylor is expected to be the favorite to back up Jordan Love, who is entering his fourth season as a starter. Taylor is a replacement for Malik Willis, who played behind Love the past two seasons before signing with the Miami Dolphins in free agency.”
“Before signing the 36-year-old Taylor, the only other quarterbacks the Packers had on the roster were Desmond Ridder and Kyle McCord. Taylor missed training camp with the Jets last summer due to arthroscopic knee surgery — an issue that flared up in the middle of the season. He was named the starter on Nov. 17, replacing the ineffective Justin Fields, but he made only three starts from that point.”
Taylor is considered one of the more dependable backup passers in the league. If Love falls injured, Packers fans won’t feel the utmost anxiety.
Taylor’s Resume
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Taylor experienced an awful year in 2025, ranking 34th among 43 qualifying quarterbacks per EPA/Play (minimum 180 dropbacks). He played substantially in 2023 with the New York Giants (244 dropbacks) and checked in at 26th of 40 passers in the same metric.
Here’s his NFL resume to date:
Baltimore Ravens (2011–2014)
Buffalo Bills (2015–2017)
Cleveland Browns (2018)
Los Angeles Chargers (2019–2020)
Houston Texans (2021)
New York Giants (2022–2023)
New York Jets (2024–2025)
Green Bay Packers (2026)
Taylor has started 62 games in his career, and when his 17-game average sample is extrapolated, his numbers look like this over the course of a full season:
3,299 Passing Yards
18 Passing TDs
8 INTs
61.9% Completion
573 Rushing Yards
5 Rushing TDs
Acme Packing Co.’s Justis Mosqueda on the transaction: “It’ll be interesting to see if the Packers keep all of these quarterbacks or if Kyle McCord and/or Kyron Drones will get cut moving forward. Green Bay’s coaches have stated in the past that it’s difficult to rep four quarterbacks in camp, and now the team is up to five: Jordan Love, Taylor, Ridder, McCord and Drones.”
“So far, there have been no details on the Taylor contract. Generally, veteran backups cost north of $5 million (up to $8 million) per year. Since this move was done post-draft, the addition of Taylor will not count against the Packers in the compensatory pick formula, preserving the 2027 picks they’re expected to earn from losing Romeo Doubs, Malik Willis, Quay Walker and Kingsley Enagbare.”
No More Malik Willis
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Why do the Packers need a new quarterback next to Love? Simple — Willis vamoosed in March for the Miami Dolphins, following two former Packers personalities: Jon Eric-Sullivan, Miami’s new general manager, and Jeff Hafley, Dolphins’ next head coach.
New York Jets quarterback Tyrod Taylor reacts following a scoring play, with Nov 30, 2025 centered at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford as he celebrates a touchdown against the Falcons during second-half action, showing energy and leadership in a home performance during the late-season contest. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
Willis electrified an NFL audience last year, ranking No. 1 per the aforementioned EPA/Play metric and needing a spot to forge his reclamation tale that Green Bay could not provide at QB1 because it has Love. Therefore, like Baker Mayfield and Sam Darnold in recent years, formerly highly-touted signal-callers who were left for dead, Willis will get his shot at QB1 redemption in Miami.
So, it’s Willis out, and Taylor in for the Packers.
Other GB Signings This Offseason
Since the start of the offseason, the Packers have added these notable newcomers:
New York Jets quarterback Tyrod Taylor delivers a pass during live action, with Oct 19, 2025 placed at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford as he throws in the third quarter against the Panthers, showcasing pocket presence and decision-making during a midseason matchup at home. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
These players have left for new teams:
Zayne Anderson (S) GB → MIA
Romeo Doubs (WR) GB → NE
Kingsley Enagbare (ED) GB → NYJ
Nate Hobbs (CB) GB → SF
Elgton Jenkins (C) GB → CLE
Quay Walker (LB) GB → LV
Rasheed Walker (LT) GB → CAR
Malik Willis (QB) GB → MIA
Emanuel Wilson (RB) GB → SEA
Taylor has never attempted a pass against the Vikings, despite playing in the NFL for 15 seasons. He’ll turn 37 this summer.
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