The Minnesota Vikings return from a late bye week second in the NFC North and with renewed faith in quarterback Joshua Dobbs after a disappointing two-game slide. 

While other teams have closed in on the Vikings during their off week, two-time Pro Bowler and former Minnesota tight end Kyle Rudolph believes the return of Justin Jefferson could help turn things around in the Vikings’ final stretch of the season.  

Head coach Kevin O’Connell told reporters Wednesday Dobbs would start Sunday’s game against the Las Vegas Raiders despite committing six turnovers in the last two games. He said the time off allowed them to evaluate Dobbs and the offense for the week ahead, but he added it was not a commitment to Dobbs through the rest of the season. 

Star wideout Justin Jefferson is also expected to make his return Sunday, more than a week after being activated to the roster. It’s an addition that could help the Vikings seal a playoff spot. 

“If the season ended this past week and the wild-card round was this Saturday, the Vikings would be playing,” Rudolph told Fox News Digital in an interview Wednesday.

“I think if there’s anything that would make Josh Dobbs more comfortable as the quarterback, it would be having Justin Jefferson out there alongside him.”

Dwight Lowery (20) of the San Diego Chargers tackles Kyle Rudolph (82) of the Minnesota Vikings during the second quarter of a game Aug. 28, 2016, at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. (Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)

FROM OUTKICK: VIKINGS LEGEND JARED ALLEN SAYS TEAM MUST MOVE ON FROM KIRK COUSINS ASAP

Rudolph, who played 12 years in the NFL before officially retiring as a Viking in September, told Fox News Digital Jefferson’s return could serve as a morale booster for more than just the offense. 

“I think that would provide a huge boost for not just the offense. You know, the offense is immediately better when Justin Jefferson is on the field, but just the overall excitement for the whole team,” Rudolph said. 

“It’s going to make the defense better. It’s going to make special teams better. Guys will just be so excited to have him back out there on the field. I feel like it could be a great lift for them as they head down this final stretch of the season, making that push for a playoff spot.”

Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson catches a touchdown pass against the Carolina Panthers during the second half of a game Oct. 1, 2023, in Charlotte, N.C.  (AP Photo/Rusty Jones)

With uncertainty surrounding the quarterback situation in Minnesota, the organization will have to deal with even more questions with Kirk Cousins’ contract expiring at the end of the season. 

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His season-ending Achillies injury from late October complicates that matter further. 

“I think that’s something that the market will decide in the off-season,” Rudolph said of the likelihood of Cousins’ return next season. “You’re looking at a pocket passing quarterback who has had a ton of success with that style.” 

As Rudolph explains, the decision is more focused on the future of the organization as opposed to Cousins’ ability to fully recover. 

“I’m a firm believer in medicine today and getting him to a point where certainly he can come back and play at a high level. I just believe that, at what price point would the Vikings be comfortable? Because, you know, I mentioned Justin Jefferson. He’s a guy who needs a new contract,” Rudolph said.

“You know, where are they going to go? What direction are they going to go in? Not only is Kirk older and coming off an Achilles tear, but, you know, he’s coming close to the end of his career. So, at what point do you decide where we’re going to address that position and look for someone more suited for the future? Or is Kirk a guy that we can get back at a price that we’re comfortable with to continue to build around these guys and try to make another run at it?” 

Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins (8) walks off the field after getting sacked during the second half of a game against the Los Angeles Chargers Sept. 24, 2023, in Minneapolis.  (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn)

For now, O’Connell is taking a week-by-week approach, he told reporters Wednesday. 

The Vikings travel to Las Vegas Sunday to face an equally rested Raiders team coming off a bye week.

A two-time Pro Bowl tight end, Rudolph played with the Vikings from 2011-2020. The following season he signed with the New York Giants and played his final year in the NFL with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2022. 

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LeBron James had just gotten knocked to the floor by Zion Williamson, New Orleans’ door-frame-shaped power forward, when the refs blew the whistle and signaled for a first-quarter charge.

James sprang to his feet and sprinted — like, really sprinted — down the floor to the far corner where he was the first player back ready for the next possession.

It was a signal. The miles run on his tires hadn’t disrupted the treads. And he was going to show the young guys he still had plenty to give.

More than an hour later, the Lakers having ripped the New Orleans Pelicans to shreds, James walked to the same spot on the floor. He theatrically shook his head in disbelief. He put both of his index fingers to his head and circled them.

Cuckoo. Crazy. Total insanity.

“Extraordinary,” Lakers coach Darvin Ham said. “Otherworldly.”

What James and the Lakers did to New Orleans inside T-Mobile Arena, the home of UFC, had to make the the locals uncomfortable — usually they stop fights that are this one-sided.

The Lakers advanced to the NBA in-season tournament final in dominant fashion, blowing out the Pelicans 133-89.

James scored 30 points, dished out eight assists and finished a plus-36 — in less than 23 minutes. No one in the history of the league has ever had a game with those three numbers. No one in the history of the league has done anything like this at 38 years old.

The Lakers will play for the first NBA Cup on Saturday against Indiana, which beat the Milwaukee Bucks 128-119 earlier on Thursday.

Players from the winning team will each receive a $500,000 prize.

James opened the game by putting his defender, Herb Jones, one of the best in the NBA, on his hip for an and-one. With the Lakers down a point in the second quarter, James flipped the game, scoring a trio of threes on consecutive possessions. They never trailed again.

“It’s impressive to watch him just turn it to another gear in these big games,” D’Angelo Russell said. “Honestly, he can shoot it better. He’s faster. He’s more athletic. He’s not getting tired. I just don’t understand.”

The Lakers outscored New Orleans 81-41 over the next two quarters, dominating every inch of the court with James orchestrating.

Anthony Davis had 16 points and 15 rebounds, controlling the defensive paint. Russell and Austin Reaves combined for 31 points on just 19 shots, high-level efficiency from the team’s two point guards. And Taurean Prince equaled a season high by canning five threes while he and Cam Reddish hounded the Pelican wings.

Davis played 31 minutes. No other Lakers player logged more than 23.

Brandon Ingram and C.J. McCollum both scored nine points for the Pelicans. They took a combined 27 shots.

As the horn sounded, James laughed and smiled with his teammates, the sweat long dried after he took the fourth quarter off.

After 21 years, James is a game away from winning the league’s first in-season tournament.

And there’s no doubt he’s playing like a player intent on getting it.

“He’s the ultimate tone setter,” Ham said.

Saturday, he can add another jewel to the crown. And stopping him? That seems as hard as ever.

“Trying to lead by example,” James said. “Make plays on the floor, be unselfish, try to make the right plays offensively, defensively, cover for my teammates and live with the results.”

Jon Rahm officially joined LIV Golf Thursday, joining Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson and Brooks Koepka in spurning the PGA Tour for the Saudi-backed series.

The reigning Masters champion made the announcement on Fox News Channel’s “Special Report” wearing a black and white letterman jacket with “LIV Golf” emblazoned across his right shoulder.

The No. 3 golfer in the world stunned golf fans who likely believed he was going to stay on the PGA Tour.

He touted the organization’s history and his own legacy just last year while chiding LIV for its 54-hole tournaments. Those days are clearly over.

“It is not an easy decision because I’ve had a really successful career, and I’ve been very happy. But there’s a lot of things that LIV Golf has to offer that were very, very enticing, starting with team golf,” he told Fox News’ Bret Baier. “Being part of a team is something that’s been really big for me throughout my career. 

“I was part of the Spanish national team from the age of 14 till I graduated college. I was part of the Arizona State golf team. And you know, as a pro, you don’t have that chance very often. And if you are European or American, you barely have that chance, right? 

“So, it’s something that is very, very fun to play for something more than just yourself. And simply the growth that LIV Golf has brought to the game of golf. Right? It’s something fresh, something new, something with a ton of potential and opportunity and something I’m really excited about.”

Money may also have been a motivating factor.

ESPN reported earlier in the day that Rahm’s deal was worth $300 million over three years. Rahm wouldn’t comment on the reported numbers but doubled down on his claim he doesn’t play golf for the money.

Jon Rahm makes an eagle from a greenside bunker on the 15th hole during the second round of the WM Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale Feb 10, 2023. (Rob Schumacher/The Republic/USA Today Network)

“Yeah, the money is great. Obviously, it is wonderful. But what I’ve said before is true. I do not play golf for the money. I play golf for the love of the game and for the love of golf. But as a husband, as a father and as a family man, I have a duty to my family to give them the best opportunities and the most amount of resources possible. And that’s where that comes in. 

“Obviously, it is a factor, and it was an important one, obviously, in this decision. But there’s many other things, like I mentioned earlier, that make it so exciting. Once you get past that, the love of the game and wanting to grow it to a global market, being part of the team, being a captain, hopefully being a leader to teammates. It’s something that is so, so special that, you know, it makes me want to work harder than I have until now to actually prove myself. 

JON RAHM TO JUMP TO LIV GOLF MORE THAN YEAR AFTER SAYING ‘HEART’ WAS WITH PGA TOUR: REPORTS

“And, you know, being a European and growing up being a fan of athletics, that will allow, hopefully, some kids in the future growing up in Spain … to be part of this team that I’m going to build, right? (It is) something that hopefully I’m related to for a very long time. Hopefully, until I die, I can make it something very special.”

Rahm pushed back on the notion LIV was buying a sport, saying nobody “was forcing us to do this,” adding players are making their own choice to make the jump.

Crushers GC team captain Bryson Dechambeau celebrates with teammates Paul Casey, Charles Howell III and Anirban Lahiri after winning the team championship during the final round of the LIV Golf Miami golf tournament at Trump National Doral in Doral, Fla., Oct. 22, 2023. (Sam Navarro/USA Today Sports)

“It was a choice for me and my family and the better of our future,” he said. 

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