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The Vikings’ secondary suffered a blow Wednesday when second-year cornerback Mekhi Blackmon suffered a torn ACL, according to Ben Goessling of the Star Tribune. Blackmon is likely lost for the year on the first day of training camp for his sophomore campaign.
Blackmon surpassed draft expectations last year going in the third round out of USC after being projected as a Day 3 pick. After starting cornerbacks Byron Murphy and Akayleb Evans, Blackmon was the third-most utilized cornerback on the Vikings defense last year, even earning three starts as a rookie as an injury replacement for Murphy and Evans. The USC product was third on the team with eight passes defensed while tallying 41 total tackles and an interception, as well.
The Vikings’ cornerback group was set to enter 2024 with impressive depth after the signing of free agent Shaquill Griffin. Griffin is set to lineup across from Murphy as the starting pair next year with Josh Metellus starting in the slot. Evans is available off the bench after starting all last year and was likely to be pushed by Blackmon for those first snaps coming off the bench.
The tragic death of rookie fourth-round pick Khyree Jackson led to further loss in the room. Despite spending little time at slot in his rookie season, Blackmon and Jackson were both considered candidates to compete with Metellus for the starting nickelback job. With both players now unavailable, the Vikings signed veteran free agent Duke Shelley yesterday to add to the depleting depth at the position. Shelley reunites with the Vikings after spending last year in Los Angeles with the Rams. Back in 2022, Shelley started five games for Minnesota.
The team will also look to former second-round pick Andrew Booth, who has been a major disappointment so far over his first two seasons. The Clemson product was facing questions of whether or not he would make the roster in 2024, but with the diminishing numbers in the room, Booth’s experience around the team may be too valuable to part with.
Blackmon’s year may be over before it began, as is Jackson’s NFL career, sadly. Still, the season doesn’t come to a stop just for Minnesota. The Vikings have addressed the position and may need to continue addressing the position. They’ll also try to squeeze every contribution out of their rostered players as much as possible to cover their losses.
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Steelers Sign Former Eagles Versatile OL
With Pro Bowl left guard Isaac Seumalo banged up heading into a Week 9 game against the Indianapolis Colts, the Pittsburgh Steelers have brought in some additional depth on the offensive line. Pittsburgh Signs Former Eagles OL The Steelers signed offensive lineman Jack Driscoll amidst a slew of practice squad moves earlier this week that also included adding safety Darrick Forrest and wide receiver John Rhys Plumlee, who had been a fan favorite during his initial tenure with the team last summer. Driscoll's Career After beginning his collegiate career at UMass and playing a combined 22 games there between the 2016 and 2017 seasons, Driscoll transferred to Auburn ahead of the 2018 campaign. After spending two years with the program and playing in 25 contests, Driscoll declared for the 2020 NFL Draft and was selected in the fourth round by the Philadelphia Eagles. He started four games as a rookie before starting all nine contests he suited up for in 2021 while both beginning and ending the year on the reserve/injured list. The Miami Dolphins signed Driscoll in March 2024, though he didn't make their 53-man roster and let go at final roster cuts. He ultimately landed back with the Eagles, first signing to their practice squad before joining the active roster. From 2022 to 2024, Driscoll played in 47 games for the Eagles and started five of them while logging a total of 636 offensive reps over that stretch. The 28-year-old didn't see the field throughout Philadelphia's playoff run last year, but he still came away with a Super Bowl ring after the team defeated the Kansas City Chiefs. Driscoll's Potential Role with Steelers The only other offensive linemen on Pittsburgh's practice squad are Dylan Cook and Steven Jones. Considering neither of them have ever appeared in a regular season game, Driscoll immediately becomes the most obvious elevation candidate among that trio. Seumalo has been listed as a non-participant on each of the Steelers' two injury reports so far this week. If he can't play against the Colts, it wouldn't come as a surprise if Driscoll were to be a part of the game day roster as a backup option along the offensive line. He's never played left guard in the NFL, as most of his time has come at right tackle and right guard with some left tackle reps sprinkled in. With Spencer Anderson in line to start at left guard if Seumalo is ruled out, however, Pittsburgh could also choose to use Driscoll as part of its jumbo package if he is in fact elevated and active for this week's contest.
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Steelers, Jaylen Waddle Trade Window May Have Reopened
The Pittsburgh Steelers want a wide receiver. They thought about the addition of Marques Valdes-Scantling, only to leave the door open for a bigger name. With days remaining before the trade deadline, there are a few, but one may have just reopened that could top their list. The Miami Dolphins have mutually parted ways with long-time general manager Chris Grier after 25 years of working in the position. The team sits at 2-7 and may be nearing the end of head coach Mike McDaniels as well, which could lead to significant changes being made everywhere, including the wide receiver position. Steelers Could Go After Jaylen Waddle The Steelers have reported interest in Jaylen Waddle. According to NFL insider Tony Pauline, the team has Waddle and Tennessee Titans' Calvin Ridley circled, with the Dolphins' firing becoming an interesting turn in the possible outcome at the deadline. "The Pittsburgh Steelers are in the market for another wide receiver and have been inquiring about players available at the position," Pauline wrote. "Two names I am hearing as trade targets are Jaylen Waddle of the Miami Dolphins and Calvin Ridley of the Tennessee Titans." Up until this point, the Dolphins have made it known that they were not open to a trade at the deadline. That likely changes with a change at general manager, and the move signals a bigger rebuild in the making. At 26 years old and a former first-round pick, he is likely their player with the highest price tag, but could also be their easiest to trade. Several teams are looking for a wideout, including the Steelers. What might give Pittsburgh the advantage is that they've been willing to make some splash moves this season. What Would Steelers-Dolphins Trade Look Like? Waddle already has three 1,000-yard seasons in the NFL, and is on pace to add another in 2025. With 586 yards and four touchdowns, he'd lead the Steelers in yards by 125 yards over DK Metcalf. He'd be second on the team in receiving touchdowns. The Steelers would need to give up a Day 2 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft to open the conversation for Waddle. The Dolphins would be foolish not to push for a second or third round selection for a young wideout who's been producing. The Steelers shouldn't budge, though. Giving themselves a young wideout to finalize their room for the future is precisely what they need. Waddle is easily their best option, and therefore, they should hope the door has reopened and be willing to make another splash to land him.
Dodgers' Mookie Betts opens up about his World Series struggles
Los Angeles Dodgers star shortstop Mookie Betts is coming off the worst offensive season of his 12-year career, hitting .258/.326/.406 with 20 home runs, posting career lows in all slash line metrics. Now in the postseason, the 2018 MVP is costing the Dodgers their shot at consecutive World Series titles. After a hot start, Betts is 15-for-64 in the playoffs. In the World Series against the Toronto Blue Jays, he is just 3-for-23 without an extra-base hit. So far, Betts is one of two Dodgers players with more than 11 at-bats and no home runs, the other being Andy Pages. When asked by reporters about his struggles after the Dodgers' Game 5 loss, Betts had this to say as reported by Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic: “I don’t want to speak on anybody else. But for myself, I’ve just been terrible … “I wish it were from lack of effort. But it’s not. I mean, that’s all I can say.” Mookie Betts is leading the Dodgers towards their demise With their loss on Wednesday, the Dodgers are on the ropes, down 3-2, facing elimination in Toronto on Friday. Overall, the Los Angeles offense has gone through detrimental quiet spells in inopportune times, scoring three runs in the past two games. If we include parts of the 18-inning game on Monday, that’s four runs in 29 innings. These lulls have greatly harmed the team’s chances at winning the World Series this season. And while the Dodgers have more than their fair share of laggards, Betts plays a crucial role for the team. His spot towards the top of the batting order is nestled among his fellow MVPs and top-producers. But unlike the other top bats around him, Betts has only accounted for a total of one run, scoring no RBI in this World Series. Every time the Blue Jays walked Ohtani, they did so inconsequentially, experiencing no trouble from Betts hitting behind him. Needless to say, if the Dodgers are going to hop back into the driver’s seat, their offense will need to wake up. Los Angeles has seen success despite Betts’ slump; but with no room for error, this is an all-hands-on-deck situation, and they will more than likely need something from their star shortstop aside from his stellar defense.
George Springer's status for Game 6 is becoming more clear
George Springer’s status for Game 6 of the World Series is becoming more clear. Springer has missed the last two games of the World Series after hurting his side on a swing in his Toronto Blue Jays’ 18-inning loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 3. The Blue Jays were able to win Game 4 on Tuesday and Game 5 on Wednesday despite the outfielder’s absence. On Thursday, Blue Jays manager John Schneider said that Springer is physically ready to play in Game 6. “He’s checked every box physically so far,” Schneider said of Springer. Getting Springer back would be a nice boost to the Blue Jays’ lineup, which has performed well even without him. Springer went 0-for-3 with two strikeouts in Game 3 before leaving the game. He’s batting .246 with an .884 OPS this postseason and has mashed 6 doubles and 4 home runs in 57 at-bats. Springer went 1-for-3 in Game 2 against Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who is the Dodgers’ scheduled starter for Game 6. Springer’s double was the Blue Jays’ only extra-base hit of the game, and he scored their only run that contest. His presence would be a big help for Toronto.
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