Now, can we finally uncover the classified, top secret Harrison Smith illness? 

The great connector: How Kevin O’Connell’s struggle made him the NFL’s rising quarterback whisperer:

https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/article/the...41080.html

“He’s got swag,” Rams general manager Les Snead echoed. “It’s not an arrogance, but an edge of confidence. It just oozes out of him.”

"The personnel man marveled at O’Connell’s ability to instantaneously blend into a group and then seemingly become the head of that group.
He’s disarming,” the executive said. “[The time I watched him talk] was over a matter of hours. You know, when he walks in the room, it’s just he lights it up. You know obviously it’s real, too. He’s a good-looking dude. He’s tall, and he just commands a room. He’s so easy, so conversational. He always has a plan. He’s smart. He’s detailed. Suddenly, everyone around him is involved in a conversation — with him. He is just leading it.”

And this on KOC's belief in JJ:

"Even in his injury-shortened time with J.J. McCarthy, there’s an underlying belief that the second-year quarterback is already starting to show growth that is going to present another phase of O’Connell’s mastery of getting the best out of his QBs. Interestingly, when the Carolina Panthers traded veteran wideout Adam Thielen to the Vikings last week, the deal unfolded with a belief inside the Panthers' organization that the Vikings were acquiring Thielen because McCarthy was ahead of schedule and ready to hit the ground running in his first season as a starter."

Receiver Jalen Nailor will play in Chicago after recovering from a fractured left hand suffered Aug. 14 in a joint practice with New England.

The Vikings defense will likely not have safety Harrison Smith for Monday night’s season opener in Chicago. He’s officially listed doubtful to play due to an illness that has affected him for nearly a month.

Smith, the 36-year-old team captain entering his 14th Vikings season, returned to meetings and walkthroughs this week. The team has described his ailment as a personal health matter; it has kept him out since at least Aug. 11. Smith was limited during Saturday’s practice: a final, light session before the team departs for Chicago on Sunday.

Smith needs more practice time to be physically ready for a game, coach Kevin O’Connell said.

“He probably did a little more than I expected, which was really encouraging,” O’Connell said of Saturday’s practice. “It’s just a matter of time back on the grass.”

Defensive coordinator Brian Flores said nobody can replicate Smith’s varied roles and responsibilities in the defense. Safety Theo Jackson is expected to replace Smith in the starting lineup.

“Not to say we don’t have other highly intelligent, high-football-IQ guys,” Flores said, but “there’s a lot of reasons it’s unique to him: 14 years in the league, playing at a high level, just high-level acumen.”

Left tackle Christian Darrisaw is listed questionable after taking every rep in Saturday’s practice. He’s about 10½ months removed from the season-ending left knee injury suffered in Los Angeles last year. Tackle Justin Skule is up next if Darrisaw does not play.

“I thought there were some great moments throughout the week,” O’Connell said of Darrisaw’s practices. “This guy’s done everything in his power to give himself an opportunity for that conversation. ... We’ll see how he feels [Sunday].”

STRIB

The making of J.J. McCarthy and the big business behind becoming an NFL quarterback:

https://www.startribune.com/minnesota-vi.../601450638

Going to need some posting help as its a paywall. Going to be lots of stories leading up to Monday night on what may be the NFL's biggest X factor. No pressure kid!

Mahomes overthrew some open guys deep last night, not at his most accurate. Both Mahomes and Herbert are just big stud QBs, man.....Herbert looked good. As much as Harbaugh wants to run more, the team has to pass. Its their strength. Hampton only averaged 3.2 yards on 15 carries. You watch that these two opening divisional matchups to kickoff the season and then realize Buffalo has the cake division of the Jets, Patriots and Dolphins. That kind of mobility and the big arms on those two just opens up the whole playbook. Man it would be so nice to have that with JJM if he can be the guy.

Wow. This is a scathing indictment on Caleb Williams. What an article by Tyler Dunne, yikes:

https://www.golongtd.com/p/house-of-dysf...he-curious

Are you going to a college football game on Saturday?

Tailgating?  Pre-game rituals?  Favorites?

In my state we have no FBS programs, but two historically dominant FCS schools...University of Montana Grizzlies and Montana State University Bobcats.
Last weekend, Montana State got blown out by #6 Oregon in Eugene.

We're going to the first home game Saturday evening...being televised on ESPN+
Annual Blackout Game...black uni's, everyone wearing black shirts, second half will be under the lights.
Pre-game tailgating...an art form in Missoula.  Fans will be far more "tuned up" for an evening game vs. a Noon kickoff.
27,000 seat capacity (6th largest dedicated stadium in FCS) is fully expected, of that 19,000 season tickets were sold out. 
Many opposing FCS coaches have said it is the hardest visiting stadium to play in...115 decibels, noise can be like a jet aircraft on takeoff.  Coaches credits the crowd for opposing team false start penalties (which just gets the crowd amped up even more).

Last year's season opener was against Michigan's Ferris State.  Found it interesting that Michigan has ZERO FCS schools.  So those non-FBS schools can be really competitive...if a high school athlete can't get a starting spot at an FBS school, where do they go (and stay in-state)?  Schools like Ferris State...a really stacked roster for a smallish school. Enrollment is about the same as the University of Montana, but still not in FCS.

Curious to hear your college football plans (if any) this season.

https://twitter.com/Vikings/status/1963677209085829624

This is crazy how KAM knocked these UDFAs out of the park in 2025. I thought some might be moved to the PS after cutdowns, but they love them all that made the final roster. Only 22 years old. 6'3", 290 lbs with quickness and movement. Only going to be better next year. Kept rockin' it from the tryout all the way through preseason. 'Just kept building and he's going to keep developing' -BFlo

https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/chris...alf-issue/