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Vikings Rumors Zero In on the New Harrison Smith, a Jordan Addison Trade, McCarthy’s Shaky Future

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Harrison Smith warming up before a Vikings home game against the 49ers.
Minnesota Vikings safety Harrison Smith (22) goes through pregame drills before kickoff against the San Francisco 49ers on Sep. 15, 2024 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. Smith loosened up on the field as fans filled the stands ahead of the early-season matchup. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-Imagn Images.

Saturday’s Purple Rumor Mill brought theories about J.J. McCarthy, Derek Carr, and free-agent cornerback Jaylen Watson. It’s time for Sunday’s batch of Minnesota-Vikings themed rumors. You can read Saturday’s here.

Vikings rumors are stacking up fast, spanning a safety succession plan, Addison trade fodder, and growing uncertainty around McCarthy.

The rumor mill is louder than usual because free agency is just three weeks away.

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Latest Nuggets in the Vikings’ Rumor Mill

All the fascinating tidbits in Minnesota’s evolving rumor mill.

Kamren Curl runs onto the field during pregame introductions at FedExField. Vikings rumors.
Washington Commanders safety Kamren Curl (31) sprints out of the tunnel during introductions before kickoff on Oct 23, 2022, at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, as the Commanders prepared to host the Green Bay Packers. The defensive back charges toward the sideline amid pregame smoke and pageantry. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

Rumor: From free agency, to possibly replace Harrison Smith, the Vikings could sign safety Kamren Curl.

Zachary Pereles of CBS Sports mapped out landing spots for the league’s Top 50 free agents next month, and when Curl’s name surfaced, Minnesota landed in the projection.

He explained, “With Harrison Smith potentially retiring, Minnesota gets his replacement in Curl, a strong-tackling safety who has done solid work with both the Commanders and the Rams. Other suitors: Rams, Jets, Bears.”

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Pereles also tagged Minnesota as a potential destination for Coby Bryant (S, SEA), Bryan Cook (S, KC), Rashid Shaheed (WR, SEA), Aaron Rodgers (QB, PIT), and Cade Mays (C, CAR).

Curl stands out as a 7th-round win. Washington drafted him in 2020 — two days after the Vikings selected Justin Jefferson — and he logged four seasons in the nation’s capital on his rookie contract. He joined the Rams in the 2024 offseason and has started 33 games under Sean McVay since.

In total, Curl has appeared in 93 NFL games with 86 starts, compiling 586 tackles, 28 passes defended, 18 tackles for loss, 14 quarterback hits, eight sacks, and five interceptions. He moves around the formation and fills multiple roles in the secondary.

Fans would rejoice at the Curl signing; it’s just unclear whether Smith will actually retire. Shouldn’t he have announced that by now?

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Rumor: The Kansas City Chiefs would be a trade fit for Jordan Addison.

Bleacher Report’s Alex Ballentine ran through trade targets for every team, and when he reached the Chiefs, he connected the dots to Minnesota. He wrote, “There’s still room for a smart GM like Brett Veach to add talent to the roster that won’t hurt their cap situation. For instance, Jordan Addison is now extension-eligible, but the Vikings will have a new general manager.”

“Minnesota could be looking to move on from Addison after he was arrested and charged with misdemeanor trespassing. The charges were later dropped, but he’s had mutliple arrests since being draft. He could get a fresh start in Kansas City. He would only account for a $2.6 million cap hit this season.”

Kansas City stumbled to a 6-11 finish last year, a sharp dip for a franchise that had been operating in dynasty territory.

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Jordan Addison gets ready before a preseason game at U.S. Bank Stadium.
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jordan Addison (3) loosens up during pregame drills on Aug. 10, 2024, at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota, ahead of a preseason contest against the Las Vegas Raiders. The 2023 first-rounder moved crisply through routes and stretches as he prepared for his second NFL season. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports

Despite his game-changing potential and flashes of WR1 ability, Addison’s past legal issues and failure to surpass 920 receiving yards in a season likely limit his trade value. While Vikings fans recognize his upside, his overall performance and off-field history make a first-round pick an unlikely return.

If Minnesota were to explore a trade, a more realistic expectation would be a 2nd-Roun pick plus additional assets to even out the deal. Anything less would probably discourage serious offers. Furthermore, interim general manager Rob Brzezinski has until May to decide on Addison’s fifth-year rookie option, which Minnesota is widely expected to exercise.

Generally speaking, though, Minnesota probably won’t trade Addison.

Rumor: Per ESPN, “all bets are off” regarding J.J. McCarthy’s future in Minnesota.

Kevin Seifert zoomed out on the Vikings’ offseason last week after Kwesi Adofo-Mensah’s firing and zeroed in on J.J. McCarthy’s suddenly murky outlook. He wrote, “The best way to put this, based on what sources have said, is that all bets are off. The general manager who drafted McCarthy No. 10 in 2024 has been fired, and the coach who was in full agreement with that decision is now under considerably more scrutiny.”

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“In the big picture, McCarthy is a talented player who just turned 23 and has a total of 10 NFL starts. Few NFL teams would give up on a quarterback with that profile, and many team builders are particularly enamored with optimizing a quarterback’s rookie contract.”

McCarthy’s rookie deal remains affordable (or somewhat affordable) for up to three more seasons.

J.J. McCarthy flips in the air after being tackled by Jack Campbell at Ford Field.
Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy flips through the air after contact from Detroit linebacker Jack Campbell on November 2, 2025, at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan, as defenders close in during a divisional matchup. The mid-fall moment captures the force of the tackle before players regroup for the next snap. © Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images.

Seifert added, “Adofo-Mensah was one of them, but his departure is a reminder of the range of outcomes that approach can lead to. If anything, these events increase the chances that the Vikings will take a big swing at finding a veteran quarterback who could start in 2026,” he continued.

“The only thing more damaging than making the mistakes the Vikings made last season would be to repeat them this year.”

The bottom line: All bets are off. A new quarterback could indeed be on the way.

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Anthony Joshua, Tyson Fury and Martin Bakole all on one heavyweight’s hit list: “It’s personal”

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Anthony Joshua, Tyson Fury and Martin Bakole are all being targeted by a world-ranked heavyweight contender, with Bakole representing a particularly “personal” option.

The 34-year-old has not fought since his controversial draw with Efe Ajagba in May, when many believed he should have been handed a points defeat.

Prior to that, Bakole had suffered a second-round stoppage loss to Joseph Parker, who he faced on just two days’ notice, which followed his stunning fifth-round finish over Jared Anderson.

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It was back in 2022, though, that the Congolese giant claimed arguably a more surprising upset victory by edging a majority decision against Tony Yoka.

Back then, this was considered little more than a development fight for Yoka, who had crafted an unbeaten record after claiming gold at the Rio Olympics in 2016.

After losing to Bakole, though, the Frenchman later suffered split decision defeats to Carlos Takam and Ryad Merhy, before reigniting his career with four wins on the bounce.

Now gearing up to face former world cruiserweight champion Lawrence Okolie at the Adidas Arena, Paris, on April 25, the 33-year-old hopes to eventually exact his revenge on Bakole.

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Speaking with Playbook Boxing, Yoka – who is of Congolese descent – named Bakole, Joshua and Fury as three potential opponents after his clash with Okolie.

“I need to beat Bakole – that’s personal. That’s the first fight I lost, we’re both from the same country [The Democratic Republic of the Congo] and we need to make that happen over there, in Kinshasa.

“So I need to beat Bakole first, then I would love to fight Anthony. That would be a great fight, just because it would be so big – especially in my country [France]. It would be two Olympic gold medallists fighting in a stadium.

“And why not Tyson Fury? Tyson Fury’s one of the greatest [heavyweight] boxers ever. He’s so strange, but also he’s just too good.”

It is yet to become clear who Joshua will face in his comeback fight, which has been slated for July by Matchroom promoter Eddie Hearn.

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Fury, meanwhile, will face Arslanbek Makhmudov at London’s Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on April 11 after ending his year-long retirement in January.

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India cruise past Wales 4-1, confirm Women’s Hockey World Cup spot | Other Sports News

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The Indian women’s hockey team delivered a commanding 4–1 victory over Wales in their Pool B clash at the FIH Hockey Women’s World Cup Qualifiers 2026 in Hyderabad, confirming their place in the upcoming FIH Women’s Hockey World Cup.

 


Star forward Navneet Kaur stole the spotlight with a brilliant hat-trick, while Sakshi Rana opened the scoring at the G. M. C. Balayogi Hockey Stadium on Wednesday evening. With the emphatic win, India not only finished strongly in the pool stage but also secured qualification for the global event set to be held next year in Belgium and the Netherlands.

 
 

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India Start Strong Against Wales

 


India began the match with intensity, overwhelming Wales with aggressive pressing and quick attacking moves.

 

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The breakthrough came in the 7th minute when Salima Tete surged down the right flank and set up Sakshi Rana, who unleashed a powerful reverse hit from the edge of the circle to give the hosts a 1–0 lead.

 


Wales attempted to respond midway through the second quarter but Indian goalkeeper Bichu Devi produced a crucial save to deny their first penalty corner opportunity.

 

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Just before halftime, Navneet Kaur doubled India’s advantage. The forward converted a penalty corner with a precise low drag-flick in the 29th minute, sending India into the break with a comfortable 2–0 lead.

 


Navneet Kaur Leads the Charge

 

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Navneet continued her outstanding performance in the second half. She added her second goal with another penalty corner conversion, extending India’s lead to 3–0 and firmly putting the hosts in control of the contest.

 


The Indian attack maintained relentless pressure, with players like Sunelita Toppo combining effectively with Sakshi Rana to stretch the Welsh defence.

 

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Wales Show Brief Resistance

 


Wales managed to pull one goal back in the 39th minute through Betsan Thomas, who capitalized on a counterattack and slotted the ball home from a tight angle.

 

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The visitors briefly threatened to close the gap further but India quickly regained control of possession and territory.

 


In the final quarter, Wales had a chance to reduce the deficit after earning a penalty stroke, but the attempt was missed.

 

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Navneet Kaur then wrapped up the match in style by converting a penalty stroke in the 55th minute, completing her hat-trick and sealing India’s dominant 4-1 victory. 

 


India Secure Top Spot in Pool B

 

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The win ensured that India finished top of Pool B in the Hyderabad qualifiers. Importantly, it also helped the hosts avoid a potential semifinal clash with England, giving them a more favorable route as the knockout stages approach.

 


Head coach Joerd Marijne had earlier stressed the need for improved finishing following India’s 2–2 draw against Scotland, and the team responded with a clinical attacking display against Wales.

 

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India will now face Italy in the semifinals as they aim to secure a place in the final of the qualifiers.

 


How India qualified for the Women’s Hockey World Cup before semis?

 

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Qualification for the FIH Women’s Hockey World Cup is being determined through two separate qualifying tournaments, each featuring eight teams, making 16 teams in total competing for seven World Cup spots.

 


The first qualifying event in Santiago, Chile, has already concluded, with Chile, Australia, and Ireland confirming their World Cup places.

 

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The Hyderabad qualifiers provide three automatic spots for the teams that finish in the top positions.

 


The seventh and final spot is reserved for the highest-ranked team (in the FIH World Rankings) that finishes fourth in either tournament.

 

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In the Santiago event, Japan, currently ranked No. 15 in the world, finished fourth. India, however, are ranked No. 9 in the world.

 


Because of this ranking gap, India would have to suffer a massive points drop from losing their remaining matches to fall below Japan in the rankings, a scenario that is mathematically impossible. As a result, India secured their World Cup qualification even before the semifinals of the Hyderabad event.

 

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A boost ahead of the global stage

 


India’s dominant performance, highlighted by Navneet Kaur’s hat-trick, not only secured a convincing win but also confirmed their participation in the next Women’s Hockey World Cup.

 

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With momentum on their side and a semifinal clash against Italy ahead, the Indian team will now aim to carry this form forward as they prepare for the biggest stage in international women’s hockey.

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What are Cradle Breaches in Warzone Black Ops Royale

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Cradle Breaches are a new gameplay feature added in Warzone Black Ops Royale as a part of the latest update. These are basically hotspot areas on the Avalon map where players can find high-tier loot and take part in some activities during a match. The zones are dangerous as they spawn zombies, powerful bosses, and real opponents. If you manage to complete the activities, you can earn various rewards, including Exotic Weapons and Armors.

Read on to know more about Cradle Breaches in Warzone Black Ops Royale.


Cradle Breaches in Warzone Black Ops Royale: Explained

Cradle Breaches are the new hotspot locations in Warzone Black Ops Royale that offer high-risk, high-reward gameplay. These zones are extremely dangerous as they are filled with hordes of zombies, along with real opponents to face off against. During a match, a jet will fly over the area and drop a Cradle Gas Bomb into the ground.

A still of  Cradle Breaches gameplay in Warzone Black Ops Royale (Image via Activision)A still of  Cradle Breaches gameplay in Warzone Black Ops Royale (Image via Activision)
A still of Cradle Breaches gameplay in Warzone Black Ops Royale (Image via Activision)

Read more: How to get Blundergat & Sundergat Wonder Weapon in Black Ops 7 Zombies Paradox Junction

This drops a tube structure that releases red smoke, which soon covers the surrounding areas. Any players inside the zone will then start hallucinating and encounter zombies. The real challenge during this time is that the zombies can easily distract you, and you’ll struggle to fight actual opponents.

An image showcasing the Mystery Box after defeating zombies  (Image via Activision) An image showcasing the Mystery Box after defeating zombies  (Image via Activision)
An image showcasing the Mystery Box after defeating zombies (Image via Activision)

Check out: All Warzone and Black Ops 7 Season 2 Week 6 Challenges and rewards

The red smoke stays for a certain period of time, and when it clears out, all enemies and reward opportunities disappear. Cradle Breaches also offer players two activities, which are fighting the Mangler and opening the Mystery Box.

The Mangler is a powerful Cradle Boss that offers high-tier loot once you defeat it. To get the Mystery Boxes, you need to defeat the hordes of zombies. Once they are defeated, a wooden box will drop, which contains Exotic Weapons as a reward.

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