First noticed him last year. Career path like Urlacher. Puts Pace back on full time ST/part timer which appears to be his ceiling after badly regressing. Insurance for the annual Cashman injury. Currently the best combination of need/talent. Probably have to move up Day 2 and we have plenty of ammo to do so.

37. Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State

There were times last year when Styles (6-4, 237) still looked like a safety learning how to be a linebacker. That’s not happening anymore. Now in his second season as a full-time linebacker, Styles has yet to miss a tackle in 293 snaps — and still moves like he could play safety again.

McCarthy emergency 3rd QB. Blake Brandel starting at C.

Per KO.

KO kept saying JJM is progressing, etc... Didn't say whether he was talking about the injury or rookie struggles. Hmm.

EDIT- Okay at the very end of the presser O'Connell did refer to getting JJM where they want to get him at, "health-wise".

Armchair take- I'm sticking with my prediction that JJM starts against the Chargers. TNF homefield advantage is massive and the Chargers are a good but not elite team. It's a decent spot to get him back out there. But in reading the tea leaves (can't believe I'm saying this...), I think whether or not we see McCarthy in six days hinges on how well Wentz acquits himself against Philly. Wild times in Vikingland as always.

Jefferson affirmed that since Addison’s return against the Steelers, he’s seen more man-to-man coverage and 1-high safety looks.

Jefferson’s numbers were the best they’ve been all season in the past two games: a season-high 10 catches for 126 yards against Pittsburgh and seven for 123 against Cleveland.

Phillips said Tuesday it’s much harder to go all-in defending Jefferson “when you see Jordan Addison making the plays that he’s made.”

Jefferson lauded Nailor’s selflessness and patience this season as he awaits a big game. 

And though Thielen isn’t making the flashy plays Vikings fans may have hoped for in his return to Minnesota, three of his four catches have been third-down conversions. Only one third-down pass targeted for Thielen has gone incomplete, a third-and-2 during the third quarter against the Bears.

Jefferson did note that the Steelers and Browns are traditionally man-to-man defenses, and the correlation to Addison’s return might not be direct.

“But it’s definitely a lot more easier with a little bit more extra weapons out there on the field to spread the ball around,” said Jefferson, who had 12 catches for 200 yards during the first three weeks of the season.

Jefferson’s got the talent to make it work either way, but the Eagles defense isn’t a bad one to have the full arsenal against.

Cornerback Quinyon Mitchell leads Philadelphia in passes defensed (7), a stat in which the Eagles rank third in the league with 33.
Though the defense has not been as dominant as in previous seasons because of injuries, it’s still in the top half of the league for fewest passing yards allowed (1,297) and fewest pass plays of 20-plus yards allowed (15).

Jefferson is currently seventh in the league in receiving yardage (449) and tied for sixth in plays of 20-plus yards (8).


Strib

Outside linebacker Jonathan Greenard became the third defensive starter on the Vikings injury report when he was listed as limited during Thursday’s practice because of a hamstring issue. 

Greenard, who leads the defensive line with 277 snaps played (89%), was not on Wednesday’s injury report.

Linebacker Blake Cashman again fully participated in his third practice this week. He’s attempting to return from a four-game absence due to a hamstring strain suffered in the Sept. 8 victory at Chicago. 

Outside linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel still had his reps capped as he’s returning from a neck injury that has kept him out since the Sept. 21 victory vs. the Bengals.

Left tackle Christian Darrisaw had a scheduled rest day. Right tackle Brian O’Neill remained limited with a brace on the right knee that suffered a medial collateral ligament sprain. 

Left guard Donovan Jackson (wrist) was upgraded to a full participant, a good sign for his potential return from a two-game absence.

Quarterback participation, with Carson Wentz (left shoulder) a full go and J.J. McCarthy (ankle) limited, did not change during Thursday’s session, which was moved indoors to avoid rain showers in Eagan.

Eagles starting cornerback Quinyon Mitchell, who left Philadelphia’s most recent loss because of a hamstring strain, was upgraded to a full participant on Thursday.

Kentucky MCBB Roster Reportedly Features $22M Payroll for 2025-26 Season


In the wake of the new NIL rules that went into place on July 1 thanks to the House v. NCAA settlement, Kentucky's men's basketball program is taking advantage of the ability to directly pay athletes.

Per Ben Roberts of the Lexington Herald-Leader, the Wildcats are spending at least $22 million on payroll for their 2025-26 roster. Roberts noted that figure could increase during the season with any potential legitimate name, image and likeness deals that might come along.

Specific details about NIL spending at programs is not publicly available, but Roberts did say Kentucky is believed to be spending the most money of any basketball team in the nation with several others exceeding $10 million.

To illustrate how rapid the growth of NIL has hit college sports, Roberts pointed out that Kentucky's budget for John Calipari's final season with the program in 2023-24 was "less than $4 million."

Given Kentucky's stature as one of the premier basketball programs in the country, it's not a surprise that big-money donors will provide an influx of cash. For example, one donor reportedly pledged $4 million in NIL funds in April 2024 when Pope was hired to replace Calipari.

Jayden Quaintance, an incoming transfer from Arizona State, has the highest NIL valuation among all Kentucky players and sixth-highest among all players entering the 2025-26 season at $1.9 million, per On3.com.

Kentucky's incoming transfer class ranks fifth in the country, per 247Sports.com. The group, led by Quaintance, features six players, with five rated as 4-star prospects or better.

The Wildcats also have the seventh-best freshman class, led by Jasper Johnson and Malachi Moreno.

With all of this talent and spending comes significant pressure on Pope to deliver. He went 24-12 in his first season, including an 8-8 stretch going into the SEC tournament.

Kentucky earned a No. 3 seed in the NCAA tournament and advanced to the Sweet 16 before losing to Tennessee.

Pope and the Wildcats will open the 2025-26 season against Purdue, the No. 1 team in the AP Top 25 preseason poll, on Oct. 24 at Rupp Arena.

Bleacher Report

J.J. McCarthy's status iffy as Vikings QB says ankle not 100%

Kevin Seifert/ESPN
Oct 15, 2025, 07:19 PM ET

EAGAN, Minn. -- J.J. McCarthy's high right ankle sprain is "getting there" but is not yet 100%, the Minnesota Vikings quarterback said Wednesday in his first comments since suffering the injury Sept. 14.

McCarthy also revealed that he received "well-respected second opinions" that indicated his timetable to return could be up to six weeks. He was limited in practice Wednesday.

While coach Kevin O'Connell hasn't named a starter for Sunday's game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Wednesday's circumstances indicated that Carson Wentz is in line to make his fourth consecutive start.

Wentz, who has been dealing with a sore left shoulder, was a full participant Wednesday.

McCarthy called the ankle injury "really annoying." When asked if he thinks he is at a point where he could play, he joked that he would play even if his ankle were cut off.

"But we've got to be smart here," McCarthy added, "and understand there's a lot of things that go into play, and at the end of the day, I'm just going to do what I'm told and try to get better as fast as possible."

O'Connell has said he wants McCarthy to be 100% recovered when he returns to the lineup, in part to ensure he can carry his lower-body mechanics and footwork into a game. O'Connell and other offensive coaches took McCarthy through a series of throwing workouts during the Vikings' bye week in what appears to be a process that isn't designed to be quick.

Asked what he is looking to see from McCarthy this week, O'Connell said: "I think the big thing is just getting him back on the grass in uniform, practicing, getting real live reps of a pass rush and taking drops and applying some of the things that he's worked really hard on as of late as he's kind of gotten to that phase of his rehab. Then when he does that, instant dialogue about what he's able to do and what it felt like and, 'Hey, let's log that away.' And then if he doesn't do the same thing, it's going to be [the same]. I'm having a blast coaching him. It started last week when he was able to really start ramping up a little bit as he gets there and that one-on-one work and then obviously the work he does with [assistant coaches] is going to be critical."

Wentz has led the Vikings to a 2-1 record since McCarthy's injury. Wentz's shoulder injury was the result of a hard hit he took at the end of a scramble during the Vikings' 21-17 victory in Week 5 over the Cleveland Browns.

At 6-foot-5 and 237 pounds, Wentz has always been a physical player. He joked Wednesday that he will reemphasize a long-held pledge to limit the hits he takes.

"It's definitely something you think about," he said. "It's just in the heat of the moment, how do you think? How does your mind work? What instincts take over? And so it's always something I come back to and watch film and it's like, 'That was probably dumb. I've got to be better. I've got to learn.' "I hate to say it, but I've been saying that to myself for 10 years. But still, always room to grow, and when next time I slide, I'll be just as hyped as everybody else."

Its not a prolific offense or defense...

Its not a singular or dynamic passer, runner or D stud. 

Jetta hasn't been his normal productive self for all the obvious reasons. 

A lot of FA $$'s have been dropped and this is about as middling, vanilla and nondescript a squad as I can remember. 

They haven't been very entertaining either...Least compared to y.ago (which I enjoyed till the end). 

Yawn?

JJM is not 100%.
Neither is Wentz and his sore left shoulder, but it's not his throwing arm.
Sorry Sticky...KOC is not going to throw JJM out there if he's not 100%
From the Strib:
===
The Vikings quarterback predicament has been debated and guesstimated so intensely it’s as if we’re all playing the board game Clue. Who will start Sunday against the Eagles? Will it be Professor Wentz or Colonel McCarthy in the bank with a dagger?

The head coach isn’t revealing his answer yet. The affable Kevin O’Connell was uncharacteristically terse Wednesday when asked where things stand with his quarterback decision.

“They stand in the same place they did Monday when I answered that question,” he said.

Alrighty then.

I began the week predicting that J.J. McCarthy would return to the starter’s role after missing three games because of a high ankle sprain.

I would like to retract that guess. Eyes, ears and gut tell me that Carson Wentz will remain the starter for at least one more game and quite possibly longer.

Let’s read the tea leaves, shall we?

Start with McCarthy’s answer when asked how his ankle is feeling.

“Ankle is getting there,” he said. “I wouldn’t say it’s 100 percent right now.”

That doesn’t sound like a guy who will be ready to play an NFL game on Sunday. He also called it a “really annoying injury.” He was listed as limited in practice on Wednesday.

The organization is not going to send McCarthy back onto the field until there is 100% confidence that he has no physical limitations. McCarthy’s mobility is an important part of his skill set, so “getting there” physically does not meet the threshold of being ready to run the offense.

O’Connell’s answers in media sessions both Monday and Wednesday were equally enlightening.

Unprompted, he called McCarthy’s high ankle sprain a “a unique, real injury,” which likely was intended to shoot down conspiracy theories about whether McCarthy’s absence was a soft benching disguised as an injury.

O’Connell’s openness about what has been taking place behind the scenes was especially illuminating. He went into extensive detail about the work he and McCarthy have done since returning from Europe on refining his fundamentals. O’Connell’s descriptions made it sound like a pupil going through quarterback school to drill down on footwork principles.

O’Connell noted that several negative factors came into play in McCarthy’s tough outing against the Falcons in his second start — injuries along the offensive line, his ankle injury, a lack of practice time after the birth of his child — but the coach’s willingness to discuss his bye week sessions with McCarthy on footwork fundamentals didn’t come across as random. That part didn’t sound like a quarterback ready to start Sunday, either.

“He’s an accurate passer,” O’Connell said. “What I have learned about him is when he plays with that ideal base, balance and body position, you’re going to see the ball come out with a lot of revolutions and it’s going to go where he wants it to go.”

O’Connell has wisely — and likely purposely — not given concrete timelines and assessments publicly so that he doesn’t box himself in on deciding how the situation unfolds.

This season began under a complicated premise: A first-year starting quarterback on a veteran team built to win now and become relevant in the playoffs. The picture became muddier with McCarthy’s shaky start and injury.

The organization drafted McCarthy to be a franchise quarterback and the only true way for him to work through growing pains is to gain experience in games. That was the basis for my theory that he would return as the starter this week. A wise friend reminded me that Wentz went 9-for-9 passing with a touchdown on the final drive against one of the NFL’s best defenses to pull off a win against the Cleveland Browns in the most recent game. How do you tell him to take a seat after doing that?

Realistically, O’Connell has a two-week buffer before McCarthy’s status becomes a larger story. Assuming Wentz starts Sunday, a quarterback change seems unlikely next week considering the Vikings will have only one practice day before playing Thursday night in Los Angeles against the Chargers.

That puts a spotlight on the Nov. 2 game in Detroit. McCarthy’s ankle should be fully healthy by then. Two weeks in an NFL season can feel like an eternity because so much can change. It’s the Vikings, though, so questions about the quarterback situation are evergreen.