Sports

Vikings to name Kyler Murray starting QB over J.J. McCarthy: Source

Published

34 minutes ago

August 11, 2026

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J.J. McCarthy #9 and Kyler Murray #1 of the Minnesota Vikings participate in a drill during Training Camp at Twin Cities Orthopedics Performance Center on August 01, 2026 in Eagan, Minnesota.

Veteran Kyler Murray has won the Vikings’ starting quarterback job to begin the season. David Berding / Getty Images

Aug. 11, 2026 12:31 pm EDT Updated

EAGAN, Minn. — The Minnesota Vikings are moving forward with Kyler Murray as their starting quarterback for the 2026 season, according to a league source with knowledge of the situation. ESPN first reported the news on Tuesday.

Murray winning the No. 1 job was widely expected when the team signed him early this spring in free agency. Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell said this decision does not shift the team’s focus on further development for former first-round pick J.J. McCarthy. The 23-year-old took some first-team reps this summer, but his lack of consistency made Minnesota’s decision a relatively easy one. Because the Vikings are committed to winning in 2026, they chose the player they saw as best positioned to produce immediate success.

Murray continues to acclimate to the Vikings’ system. Early in camp, miscommunications surfaced between him and his receivers. However, his willingness to push the ball vertically fits with O’Connell’s desire to remain explosive via the passing game.

The Vikings have already incorporated formations and concepts that suit some of Murray’s strengths. Adding assistant head coach Frank Smith, the former Miami Dolphins offensive coordinator, enhanced the team’s inventory of shotgun and pistol sets. The Vikings plan to pair pass designs from those looks with similar-looking run plays.

Many factors contributed to this outcome. Arizona’s willingness to move on from Murray this spring made him available. McCarthy’s 2025 season was a topsy-turvy ride. Given the uncertainty around his trajectory, specifically with his durability and his struggles with layering passes, the Vikings pursued alternatives.

Patience with a young quarterback may be more palatable when a team has produced recent postseason success. The Vikings haven’t. The organization has not won a playoff game since 2019, and O’Connell has not advanced beyond the first round of the playoffs as a head coach. Superstar receiver Justin Jefferson is also 27 years old and is winless in the postseason. Increased expectations make the need to win now paramount, and O’Connell and company believe Murray is the quarterback who makes that more likely.

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Sports

The Hundred Women: Manchester Super Giants vs Sunrisers Leeds Highlights

Published

3 minutes ago

August 11, 2026

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In a must-win match, defending champions Sunrisers Leeds hold their nerve to thrash Manchester Super Giants, securing a 41-run win that sees them qualify for the Eliminator against Southern Brave, at the expense of their opponents at Old Trafford.

MATCH REPORT: Sunrisers hammer Super Giants to reach knockouts

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Sports

The Hundred 2026 results: Jess Jonassen and Annabel Sutherland help Sunrisers Leeds reach Eliminator with victory over Manchester Super Giants

Published

10 minutes ago

August 11, 2026

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The Hundred women’s competition, Old Trafford

Sunrisers Leeds 166-4 (100 balls): Sutherland 62* (36); Villiers 2-25

Manchester Super Giants 125-8 (100 balls): Scrivens 31 (24); Jonassen 3-21

Sunrisers Leeds won by 41 runs

Scorecard. Table

Sunrisers Leeds secured their spot in the knockout phase of The Hundred at the expense of opponents Manchester Super Giants after an emphatic 41-run victory at Old Trafford.

Set 167 to win in favourable batting conditions, the Super Giants’ chase never got going – even retiring one of their players out in desperation – as they froze in the baking Manchester sunshine.

Jess Jonassen, who claimed 3-21, did the early damage for the Sunrisers when she captured the key wickets of Smriti Mandhana and Richa Ghosh for 28 and 13 and the Super Giants never recovered.

The Sunrisers leapfrogged the Super Giants into the top three and will face Southern Brave in the Eliminator at The Oval on Friday.

Trent Rockets await the winner of that match in Sunday’s final at Lord’s.

The Sunrisers bowling attack – backed up by some superb fielding – exerted scoreboard pressure despite the best efforts of Grace Scrivens, who top-scored for the Super Giants with 31 off 24 balls.

Such was the desperation during their reply that Kathryn Bryce was retired out by the Super Giants after making 15 from 14 balls.

Remarkably, it is the second time Bryce has been out this way in The Hundred, having been retired out while playing for the Manchester Originals against Northern Superchargers in August 2024.

Former Australia skipper Meg Lanning also struggled for timing before she was bowled by Jonassen for 10 after chewing up 15 deliveries.

The end of the game became a procession as Annabel Sutherland and Deepti Sharma claimed 2-17 and 2-21 respectively.

Earlier, the Sunrisers had posted 166-4 thanks to an unbeaten 62 from Sutherland.

Opener Phoebe Litchfield had set the tone after she whacked 27 off 12 balls before miscuing a pull to mid-wicket off Mady Villiers.

Australia all-rounder Sutherland continued the momentum when she arrived at the crease – hammering three sixes and six fours in her 36-ball innings.

Sunrisers skipper Dani Gibson chipped in with a useful 24 off 13 balls before she was snared by Villiers, who finished the pick of the Super Giants attack with 2-25.

Sports

How to watch Reds vs. White Sox: TV channel and streaming options for August 11

Published

18 minutes ago

August 11, 2026

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Aug. 11, 2026 12:17 pm EDT Updated

The Chicago White Sox and Cincinnati Reds square off in the first of a three-game series on Tuesday at Rate Field, at 7:40 p.m. ET. Sean Burke (7-6, 3.08 ERA) gets the start for the White Sox, who are 61-56 this season and first in the AL Central. Nick Lodolo (3-2, 4.60 ERA) is starting for the Reds, who are 56-61 and fifth in the NL Central.

How to watch Cincinnati Reds vs. Chicago White Sox

Reds vs. White Sox odds

Favorite Moneyline: White Sox -161
Underdog Moneyline: Reds +135
Total: 7.5
Total Over Odds: -115
Total Under Odds: -105

Injury reports

White Sox

Joey Bart: 10 Day IL (Hand), Kyle Teel: 10 Day IL (Ankle), Chris Murphy: 15 Day IL (Flexor), Tanner Murray: 60 Day IL (Shoulder), Prelander Berroa: 60 Day IL (Elbow), Ky Bush: 60 Day IL (Elbow), Mike Vasil: 60 Day IL (Elbow), Jordan Leasure: 60 Day IL (Flexor), Brooks Baldwin: 60 Day IL (Elbow), Drew Thorpe: 60 Day IL (Elbow), Chase Meidroth: day-to-day (Wrist)

Reds

Spencer Steer: 10 Day IL (Wrist), Hunter Greene: 15 Day IL (Elbow), Tony Santillan: 15 Day IL (Oblique), Nick Lodolo: 15 Day IL (Finger), Graham Ashcraft: 60 Day IL (Forearm), Brandon Williamson: 60 Day IL (Shoulder), Blake Dunn: 60 Day IL (Elbow)

Stats to know

Miguel Vargas is hitting for a .235 BA, .343 OBP and .467 SLG with an 18.1% strikeout rate and a 13% walk rate. His OPS is .810 and he has scored 78 runs. In 509 plate appearances, he has hit 24 home runs (19th in MLB) and driven in 67 runs. Vargas has been crafty on the base paths, recording 12 steals on 14 attempts.
In 475 plate appearances, Chase Meidroth has slashed .274/.350/.404 this season. He has hit 11 long balls and driven in 46 runs with a strikeout rate of 22.7% and a walk rate of 9.7%. He has come around to score 67 times.
Cincinnati’s Sal Stewart is slashing .255/.332/.475 this season with 25 home runs (14th in MLB), 86 RBIs (2nd in MLB) and an OPS of .807. He has a 22.1% strikeout rate and a 10.3% walk rate in 506 plate appearances, and he has scored 64 total runs. Stewart has recorded 12 steals on 16 attempts.
In 439 plate appearances, Elly De La Cruz has posted a 26.7% strikeout rate and a 10.9% walk rate while slashing .271/.353/.499 with 20 home runs, 54 RBIs and 66 runs scored. He has stolen 21 bases on 27 attempts.

This watch guide was created using technology provided by Data Skrive.

Betting/odds, ticketing and streaming links in this article are provided by partners of The Athletic. Restrictions may apply. The Athletic maintains full editorial independence. Partners have no control over or input into the reporting or editing process and do not review stories before publication.

Photo: Jamie Squire, Ishika Samant, Scott Taetsch, Alika Jenner / Getty Images

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