Twins – David Shama's Minnesota Sports Headliners

U WR Jennings Grabs Attention of Big Ten Network

Posted on August 18, 2026August 18, 2026 by David Shama

The Big Ten Network makes preseason stops at the football training camps of all 18 teams and was in Minneapolis on Monday to watch the Golden Gophers. BTN’s show about Minnesota aired last night and the most interesting part was the praise for wide receiver Noah Jennings, a senior transfer from the University of Cincinnati.

“He was impressive,” said BTN’s Gerry DiNardo about the player who reportedly really popped at practice Monday.

Gopher head coach P.J. Fleck acknowledged to BTN he’s been impressed with the 6-foot, 190-pound receiver who started his college career at Charleston Southern. “I hate to even say this because this is July-August, and this is hype, right? But he wears No. 13. His body frame, his structure looks a lot like (Rashod) Bateman. And a lot of times I don’t know if it’s Bateman or him out there. And he makes a ton of plays for us.”

Bateman, who wore No. 13 for the Gophers, was a program record-breaker who in 2021 became the first receiver in school history to be selected in the first round of the NFL Draft (27^th pick by the Ravens). The 6-2, 210-pound Georgia native was the 2019 Big Ten’s Richter–Howard Receiver of the Year.

Jennings looks like a developing talent who will start for the Gophers and perhaps show the ability to get open and make the tough catch Bateman did. At Cincinnati he had only three starts and totaled 323 yards in receptions but hinted at the explosiveness he may bring to Minnesota by averaging 14 yards per catch. In two years at Charleston Southern the South Carolina native totaled 885 yards.

Gopher football coach P.J. Fleck — P.J. Fleck

Fleck brought up Batemans’s name when talking about placing better receivers around quarterback Drake Lindsey this season. That will be important for Lindsey who was a first-year starter in 2025 as a redshirt freshman and impressed observers.

Lindsey threw 18 touchdown passes and six interceptions. His completion percentage was .632 and Fleck sees improved accuracy in fall camp.

Another improvement is pocket awareness with Fleck noting his young quarterback left a “clean pocket” at times last season. “May be it felt dirty but it wasn’t,” Fleck told BTN. “There was something that spooked him. …It’s trusting the protection.”

Worth Noting

Baseball historian and media guru Dave Mona has watched a lot of baseball over the years including his time as the Twins beat writer for the Minneapolis Tribune. On Facebook he posted this review of his experience last week in Dyersville, Iowa to watch the Twins and Phillies game:

“James Earl Jones said it so well. The Twins game at Field of Dreams on Thursday was special. Over the years I’ve had the opportunity to take part in and/or observe dozens, maybe hundreds, of sports presentations.

“I tend to be stingy with my grades. The crew at Field of Dreams gets an A-Plus. The teams coming out of the field of corn. The presence of 26 Hall of Famers. The chance to run the bases and play catch on the field featured in the movie.

“Seemed like hundreds of helpful staff. Even free parking. ‘People will come,’ Jones said in the movie, and son, Erik, and I are so glad we did.”

Word is the Savannah Bananas’ three sold out games at Target Field earlier this month were a welcome cash infusion to concession sales. Instead of the small crowds who come to see the Twins, about 40,000 patrons each game watched the entertaining antics of Banana Ball, a traveling exhibition that’s been compared to the Harlem Globetrotters.

One source said Twins announced attendance has often been thousands higher than actual patrons in the ballpark. MLB policy is to announce attendance of tickets sold, not clicks through the gates.

The Twins are averaging 21,084 per game, ranking No. 26 among 30 MLB teams, per Espn.com.

The Twins, 61-65, are just 14-26 in interleague games and close out their series against the National League Braves tomorrow afternoon at Target Field. It will be an interesting pitching matchup with Minnesota’s Taj Bradley 9-5 going for his club leading 10^th win versus Braves ace Chris Sale, 12-8.

Media and fan frenzy will ramp up (if that’s possible) on Wednesday and Thursday when the Vikings hold joint practices with the Ravens at TCO Performance Center. Both practices start at noon.

Then the two teams meet on Saturday in an exhibition game at U.S. Bank Stadium. Reserves figure to dominant the field on Saturday but the joint practices will have more regulars participating and that’s intriguing because after the Rams, the Ravens are among the betting favorites for the 2027 Super Bowl.

Blake Cashman, the Vikings linebacker from Eden Prairie and former Golden Gopher, is drawing praise during training camp. Cashman, 30, is an unrestricted free agent after the coming season.

Comments Welcome

Vikings QB Roster: Can J.J. McCarthy Hold Off Carson Wentz?

Posted on August 16, 2026August 16, 2026 by David Shama

J.J. McCarthy lost the starting quarterback competition to Kyler Murray last week. Now it’s fair to ask whether Carson Wentz will be Murray’s replacement if he is injured during the regular season.

The Vikings first preseason depth chart has McCarthy listed No. 2, with Wentz third and Max Brosmer fourth. In yesterday’s opening preseason game, Murray and first team offensive teammates played for the first nine snaps. McCarthy took over after that and played the balance of the first quarter and all of the second.

McCarthy completed four of seven passes for 34, with no interceptions. He had moments when he looked hurried and produced no points of what would be a 13-10 preseason opening win over the Giants in New Jersey.

Wentz seemingly had the better day, looking more composed, perhaps running the huddle and game plan more effectively. Certainly, his passing was superior as he completed nine of 14 passes including a one-yard touchdown throw to Myles Price in the third quarter that put the Vikings ahead to stay at 13-10.

J.J. McCarthy, Vikings QB, image by David Shama — J.J. McCarthy

There was speculation even before today’s game that Wentz may turn out to be head coach Kevin O’Connell’s preferred choice if Murray is sidelined. McCarthy may again lack consistency in passing and judgment this fall as he works to improve on year three in the NFL including last season when he was anointed as the starter but disappointed.

O’Connell could understandably prefer the 33-year-old Wentz to the 23-year-old McCarthy. Wentz joined the team just days before the season started last year. He showed in limited play, including starts, an ability to quickly understand the offense and make decisions while demonstrating a strong arm, toughness and leadership.

In 10 starts last season McCarthy threw 11 touchdown passes and 12 interceptions, with a passer rating of 72.6. In five starts Wentz had 6 TD throws, five interceptions and 85.8 rating.

Those stats are comparable but in a pinch this fall O’Connell might prefer a seemingly less risky decision by turning to Wentz. Especially in a year where it feels like the Vikings declared they need to make the playoffs and also made a offseason priority of tuning up the run game to take pressure off superstar wide receiver Justing Jefferson. A solid run game, coupled with a steady game manager like Wentz who can feed the vertical passing game and potentially create explosive plays, appears to be the bet if Murray goes down.

Worth Noting

Jefferson, who appears to be on a path to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, didn’t play yesterday. In his entire NFL career dating back to 2020 he’s never been used in an exhibition game and that won’t be risked in the remaining two games.

The only player, BTW, on the roster longer than Jefferson is offensive tackle Brian O’Neill who was drafted in 2018.

Redshirt sophomore quarterback Drake Lindsey had some impressive long passes in the most recent Golden Gophers football practice the media was allowed to watch. Asked who might be No. 2 on the depth chart, head coach P.J. Fleck said on Thursday that Max Shikenjanski, redshirt junior from Stillwater, has excelled since August practices started.

“You know, he had a poor throw today, but it’s very rare for that to happen with indecision. .. But I thought he’s had a tremendous camp.”

Shikenjanski, who insiders believe is No. 2 on the internal depth chart, has only played briefly in two games in his Gopher career. He completed four of five passes for 80 yards and has an eight-yard touchdown run.

The Gophers will host a free admission practice starting at 5:30 p.m. Thursday night at Huntington Bank Stadium. The team’s 10 captains will sign autographs for 30 minutes after practice: Maverick Baranowski, Ashton Beers, Kerry Brown, Aidan Gousby, Greg Johnsn, Drake Lindsey, John Nestor, Anthony Smith, Jalen Smith and Darius Taylor.

The Twins, 60-64, have lost 10 of their last 16 games and look like they’re fading in the race to earn a wild card spot in the playoffs.

Baseball birthdays: Twins outfielder-infielder Luke Keaschall turned 24 yesterday, Twins World Series manager Tom Kelly 76.

Golden Gophers men’s basketball coach Niko Medved speaks to the Twin Cities Dunkers on September 9 at Interlachen Country Club. BTW the late John Anderson, the beloved former Gophers baseball coach, spoke 20 times as the featured speaker at Dunkers. The most ever for the organization that began as the Minneapolis Dunkers in 1948.

Becker high school football coaching legend Dwight Lundeen enters his 57^th and final season this year leading that program. Son Matt, head football coach at Redwood Vallely in Redwood Falls, has written a tribute to his dad in the new book Success is Temporary. Impact is Forever. 57 Years of Impact.

“This book isn’t simply about football,” Matt Lundeen said in a news release. “It’s about the kind of legacy every parent, coach, teacher, business leader, and mentor hopes to leave. My dad has spent nearly six decades proving that success is temporary, but the impact we make on others can last for generations.”

The book retails at $17.99 and is available on Amazon.

Good quote for golf hackers like me: “The toughest course is the one between our ears.”

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Max Brosmer Makes a Positive Out of Seahawk Performance

Posted on August 11, 2026August 11, 2026 by David Shama

Max Brosmer, the Vikings second-year quarterback, may lead the QB roster in playing time on Saturday when the team opens its preseason schedule on the road against the Giants.

All four of the team’s quarterbacks could see the field, but perhaps only briefly for Kyler Murray and J.J. McCarthy. Head coach Kevin O’Connell is in the process of choosing between the two as his regular season starter.

Veteran Carson Wentz, 33, is the presumed backup to Murray and McCarthy. That leaves Brosmer, signed as an undrafted rookie free agent last year, trying to make a QB roster that appears already settled.

O’Connell is a fan of the 2024 Golden Gophers starter. “…Might not have more than one interception in camp. Limited reps but he’s been really good,” O’Connell said Sunday.

NFL teams usually carry three quarterbacks on their final rosters. The mindset for KOC this summer may be that he wants to put his 25-year-old QB on the practice squad but to do so Brosmer would have to clear waivers with 31 other organizations.

And that’s pretty iffy, despite a challenging rookie season for Brosmer.

Former Gopher QB Max Brosmer — Max Brosmer photo courtesy of University of Minnesota

He played in seven regular season games and started two. He threw four interceptions and no touchdown passes. His subpar quarterback rating of 53 spoke to the difficulty of his rookie season.

His first start came against the Seahawks, a 26-0 road loss. He threw four interceptions and was sacked four times. He finished the game with a 32.8 rating.

Brosmer knew the game plan but wasn’t prepared for the moments. He rushed his reads and threw a bit too quickly trying to complete passes.

Processing too fast, forcing the ball and rushing decisions under pressure is not unusual for a rookie quarterback, but that doesn’t change the emotions of a difficult experience. Brosmer said it took a few weeks to “flush” his thoughts about the Seahawk game.

Brosmer told Sports Headliners he took a positive learning approach about the game. “You can either decide to look at that as ‘Woe is me. This is a terrible situation.’

‘Or hey, this is the best thing that ever happened to me.’

“And that’s my mindset about it.”

Brosmer is a savant when it comes to attitude and work ethic. He said he is an improved player because of having more time in the offensive system.

Wentz has helped him grow. The two are often on the same practice field and he watches how Wentz calls plays, does things in the huddle and causes defenders to move around. “It’s been really cool. I’ve been doing my best to apply that and it’s going to help me a lot.”

Brosmer isn’t in an ideal situation as he tries to extend his time with the Vikings. But he’s committed to all the physical and mental effort while enjoying the process “because that’s what I love.’

Worth Noting

Two predictions on subjects that interest Vikings fans the most:

Murray, the 29-year-old veteran of seven prior NFL seasons, will be named the No. 1 quarterback in 14 days or less.

Safety Harrison Smith, 37, will not join the Vikings in training camp and won’t play this season.

The Vikings-Giants game, with a noon start Minneapolis time, will be telecast in this market by FOX 9.

Capital Club founder Patrick Klinger has lined up MSHSL executive director Erich Martens and acclaimed Eden Prairie educator and football coach Mike Grant to speak about the state of youth sports at Mendakota Country Club on August 20. For more information about the breakfast club gathering, contact Patrick Klinger, patrick@agilemarketingco.com.

John Anderson, the beloved former Golden Gophers baseball coach who passed away last month, was so admired by University of Minnesota boosters that some thought he would be a terrific athletics director.

Minnesota’s Mark Coyle and P.J.Fleck, working together since 2017, are the longest tenured athletics director and head football coach duo in the 18 member Big Ten Conference.

In two series this season, the Brewers won four times against the Twins, with Milwaukee earning each of its victories by one run.

Tim Murray, the longtime Murray’s Restaurant advertiser with Sports Headliners, will throw out the ceremonial first pitch at Target Field on August 18 before the Twins and Braves game in celebration of his establishment’s 80-year anniversary.

Minnesota baseball hall of famer Paul Molitor turns 70 on August 22. Former Gophers women’s basketball coach Pam Borton will be 61 on the same day.

Retired Star Tribune sports columnist Jim Souhan has relocated to Hilton Head, South Carolina.

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