FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — The Atlanta Falcons made a free agency splash this spring by signing former Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins to a nine-figure mega deal at the start of free agency.

Now, on a much smaller scale, the Vikings are adding a former Falcons starter.

Minnesota signed cornerback Fabian Moreau to a contract Tuesday, according to NFL Network.

Moreau spent the 2021 season with the Falcons, starting all 16 games in which he played. He totaled 61 tackles, 11 passes defended and three tackles for loss.

Atlanta added Moreau after four years with the Washington Commanders, who selected him in the third round of the 2017 NFL Draft. Across four seasons with Washington, Moreau played in 60 games with 18 starts, making 125 tackles and six interceptions.

The Falcons let Moreau walk in free agency, and he signed with the Houston Texans in late May. He was released before the start of the regular season but caught on with the New York Giants, appearing in 14 contests with 11 starts and recording 61 tackles and 10 passes defended.

But after the season, Moreau remained unsigned into August, ultimately joining the Denver Broncos on a one-year deal. Just like in New York, Moreau went from late signee to starter, playing 16 games and making 11 starts.

As a Bronco, Moreau tallied 46 tackles, one interception and seven passes defended. He was serviceable in coverage with a 62.9 pass-defense grade from Pro Football Focus. He entered unrestricted free agency once more and again stayed on the open market until training camp — and now, he’s hoping to continue his personal trend of starting despite his late summer signing.

Should Moreau make the team, he will have a chance to face Cousins and the Falcons in Week 14, when Minnesota hosts Atlanta for a 1 p.m. kickoff inside U.S. Bank Stadium.

ROSEVILLE, Minn. — Box after box arrived at the Wildlife Rehabilitation Center of Minnesota on Tuesday. In total, 113 patients were dropped off that day alone. 

“I found a robin lying in the street with a broken wing,” said Madeline Douglass, from Minneapolis.

“We had a little baby finch in our yard that its mom was taking care of but something was wrong with her wing,” Roger Appelholm, from St. Paul, said.

The WRC has admitted more than 15,000 patients this year — about 2,500 more than this time last year. 

The influx of baby animals is due to a mild winter and stormy summer. 

“A lot of our adult animals were allowed to have babies earlier, lay eggs earlier, migrate back earlier, so our spring started in March versus in April and May,” said Wildlife Rehabilitation Center veterinarian Amanda Rappaport. 

Rappaport said some squirrels and rabbits have already started having second liters, contributing to the rise in patients needing medical care.

“We don’t expect to see that until the fall time,” Rappaport said. 

The conditions of the animals vary. One bird was found stuck in a fishing line, while another was found alone, too young to have left the nest.

A young fox being cared for at the center is recovering from mange and malnourishment. Rappaport said the fox is doing better, in part, thanks to a blood transfusion provided by a dog on the center’s donor list.

“After he started getting the first half of his blood transfusion he changed completely,” she said. 

It’s thanks to donations, volunteers and dedicated staff that the center is able to handle the surge in animals needing care.

“We would not be able to take care of all these animals coming in without them,” she said.

To learn more about the Wildlife Rehabilitation Center of Minnesota or to donate, click here.

UNDATED (WJON News) — The combination of heat, humidity, and an incoming storm system will bring the potential for severe thunderstorms across the region Wednesday.

The National Weather Service says there are still questions regarding how far north and east the storm threat will exist, but the environment will support damaging winds, large hail, and perhaps a tornado with any storms that develop.

Confidence is highest in a destructive damaging wind threat across southwest Minnesota.

So far in July, St. Cloud has officially had 3.69 inches of rain which is .20 inches above normal.

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