Minnesota
Minnesota Vikings adjusting after Christian Darrisaw’s season-ending injury
MINNEAPOLIS — The Vikings have experienced two losses in a short amount of time. But perhaps an even bigger loss is that of Pro Bowl left tackle Christian Darrisaw, who is gone for the year with a knee injury.
Now, the rest of the offensive line has to adjust.
“It’s really tough. Especially watching the replay,” said rookie tackle Walter Rouse. “You’re like dang. You’re wishing for nothing but the best. When you’re going back in halftime and you’re seeing him, it just hurt my soul.”
Rouse’s locker is right next to Darrisaw’s, who has become a mentor.
“He’s kinda taken me under his wing a little bit,” said Rouse. “Getting to learn from him has been amazing because he’s one of the best tackles in the league. So it’s been awesome. CD’s just an overall great dude. So I’m praying for nothing but the best for him.”
Rouse is not likely to replace Darrisaw. For now, if Minnesota doesn’t make a roster move, it’s David Quessenberry’s job.
“I go into a game preparing like I’m going to start,” said Quessenberry. “I’ve seen a lot being the swing guy and being the starter. Always one play away. I’ve seen guys go down in warmups. I’ve seen guys go down the night before, all that. So I prepare like I’m going to start the game.”
For left guard Blake Brandel, it’ll be impossible not to miss lining up beside one of the best tackles in football.
“Oh, I’m gonna miss that guy a ton. Obviously a great football player, but great guy,” said Brandel. “Devastating. My heart goes out to him. It’s a tough deal and it’s the worst part about football. But, next man up mentality and we just gotta roll.”
The Portland Trail Blazers picked Minnesota Timberwolves assistant Micah Nori as their next head coach on Tuesday, after making the playoffs for the first time in five years under the direction of interim coach Tiago Splitter.
Nori, who spent the past five seasons with the Timberwolves, has interviewed for multiple head coach vacancies, including the Chicago Bulls earlier this month, the New York Knicks last year, and the Los Angeles Lakers in 2024.
Nori, 52, was the lead assistant under Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch while the club made the playoffs each season, won five series, and reached the Western Conference finals in 2023 and 2024. Nori, who began his NBA career in 1998 as a scout with the Toronto Raptors, has also been an assistant for the Raptors, the Sacramento Kings, the Denver Nuggets, and the Detroit Pistons. His son, Dante, is a minor league baseball player in the Philadelphia Phillies organization.
Splitter, who was hired last week as head coach of the Chicago Bulls, was promoted from assistant to interim coach when then-head coach Chauncey Billups was arrested in October in a federal takedown of a sprawling gambling operation. Billups has pleaded not guilty to charges of wire fraud and money laundering.
The Blazers went 42-40 with a five-game loss to NBA finalist San Antonio in the first round of the playoffs, the first postseason appearance and first time they finished with a winning record in five years.
The news comes a day after the Wolves reportedly traded three-time All-Star Julius Randle to the Brooklyn Nets in a three-team trade that sends Nic Claxton to the Chicago Bulls.
The Minnesota Timberwolves are reportedly trading three-time All-Star Julius Randle to the Brooklyn Nets in a three-team trade that sends Nic Claxton to the Chicago Bulls.
Minnesota is sending the 28th pick to the Nets and will be receiving the No. 33 pick that will be made in the second round on Wednesday night, according to a person who spoke to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the deal has not received the required approvals from the league office.
For Minnesota, the trade opens up a slew of financial possibilities. It creates a $33 million trade exception, plus gives the Timberwolves room they can use to re-sign Ayo Dosunmu and target more players in free agency.
Randle, a three-time All-Star, will be moving to his fifth team after stints with New York, the Los Angeles Lakers, New Orleans and the Timberwolves. He averaged 21.1 points this past season, though shot just 39% from the field and 24% from 3-point range in Minnesota’s 12 playoff contests.
Claxton just finished his seventh NBA season, all with Brooklyn. He averaged 11.7 points this past season.
The 2026 NBA Draft begins Tuesday night.
At Senator Westrom’s St. Paul office, visitors are greeted by the classic Minnesota state flag, which the DFL leaders should not have taken away from Minnesotans.
However, local communities have the authority to keep flying it, like many have done, and Senator Westrom encourages communities interested in keeping it to do so.
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