As rookie left guard Donovan Jackson got acclimated to the NFL, it appears that consistently going up against a pair of dominant defenders this summer served him well.

Though there were many times throughout training camp that Jackson struggled in the trenches, maybe not enough was made about the fact that he was often going up against either defensive tackle Jonathan Allen or fellow defensive tackle Javon Hargrave.

If his performance against the Chicago Bears on Monday night at Soldier Field was any indication, Jackson should be able to hold his own from the onset. He garnered a 88.1 pass blocking grade, per Pro Football Focus, to go along with a 66.9 run blocking grade.

It was everything the Vikings could’ve hoped for after selecting him in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft.

“There was a lot to really build off of,” head coach Kevin O’Connell said. “That was really encouraging.”

The assessment from Jackson wasn’t quite as glowing.

“Not quite to the standard I need to be at,” Jackson said. “There were a lot of stuff that I need to clean up. That makes it more exciting for me in a way. I know there’s still more to improve upon.”

The showing from Jackson was even more impressive when considering that Jackson didn’t have star left tackle Christian Darrisaw by his side. Though the Bears were attacking replacement left tackle Justin Skule seemingly on every snap, Jackson continued to stand his ground.

“He played amazing,” Darrisaw said. “I’ve seen the whole progression from the spring to the summer. He’s been playing really well, so I knew that type of game was coming. The sky is the limit for him.”

It was a similar tone from right tackle Brian O’Neill as he reflected on Jackson’s ability to rise to the occasion.

“I thought he did a really good job,” O’Neill said. “He was super poised. The moment definitely wasn’t too big for him. It was about what I expected, to be honest, based on everything that I’ve seen from him so far.”

The next step for Jackson will be following it with another standout effort against the Falcons on Sunday night at U.S. Bank Stadium.

“The challenge for him will be to be able to do it again,” O’Neill said. “He’s got to keep his body healthy and have that same game over and over and over for hopefully 15 years.”

It helps that Jackson doesn’t plan on letting complacency set in at any point. That’s not in his nature.

“I’m never really satisfied with my play,” Jackson said. “Regardless of how well I play, in my eyes, I always find little things I can improve upon.”

Briefly

After listing Darrisaw (knee) as questionable last week, the Vikings have ruled him out this week. Asked for details on the decision, O’Connell emphasized that Darrisaw hasn’t had a setback in the recovery process.

Meanwhile, edge rusher Andrew Van Ginkel (concussion) and cornerback Jeff Okudah (concussion) have also been ruled, and safety Harrison Smith (illness) and linebacker Austin Keys (groin) are being listed as questionable.

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By JAVIER CÓRDOBA

SAN JOSÉ, Costa Rica (AP) — Authorities in Costa Rica raided for the second time a hotel where the youngest son of former New York Yankees outfielder Brett Gardner died during a family vacation on March 21.

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Miller Gardner was 14 when he died in his sleep, according to a statement from the New York Yankees in what initially was ruled by authorities as asphyxiation.

On April 2, the final ruling was that carbon monoxide poisoning was the cause of death of the minor.

Prosecutor Kenneth Alvarez told ESPN that the raid at the Arenas Del Mar Beachfront & Rainforest Resort in Manuel Antonio beach, located in Costa Rica’s Central Pacific, was to collect additional evidence related to that autopsy.

“These proceedings seek to confirm or rule out the possibility of negligent homicide, that is, to determine whether this person’s death was caused by a breach of duty of care. For now, no one has been charged,” the Public Prosecutor’s Office said in a statement released on Thursday.

The Associated Press contacted the authorities on Friday to find out the outcome of the investigation, but no additional details were provided.

The authorities conducted a raid on the same property on March 28.

“That initial inspection allowed for measurements of hazardous atmospheres and the detection of carbon monoxide in the room where the Gardner family was staying,” the Prosecutor’s Office said.

This story has been corrected to show that Miller Gardner died on March 21, not March 24.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Charlie Kirk, a conservative activist and close ally of President Trump, who was shot and killed Wednesday at a Utah college event was scheduled to appear at the University of Minnesota on Sept. 22.

Kirk co-founded and was CEO of the conservative youth organization Turning Point USA, with an early focus on proselytizing on college campuses for low taxes and limited government. The political organization eventually grew to holding large rallies with thousands of attendees and featuring top conservative leaders, including Trump.

Student chapter Turning Point USA at the U scheduled Kirk and Michael Knowles, a conservative political commentator, to speak as part of Turning Point USA’s The American Comeback Tour. The event, scheduled on the Carlson Family Stage at Northrop Auditorium, is described as “a high-energy evening featuring a candid conversation about conservative values, followed by a live Q&A.”

University officials did not respond Friday to requests to confirm whether the event is still going ahead, but Knowles pushed back on a social media user’s urging Thursday night that he cancel public appearances.

“I appreciate the concern, but I will not be canceling any public appearances,” Knowles tweeted on social media platform X.

An employee with Northrop Auditorium also did not confirm whether the event was still scheduled when called Friday, though it still appeared on the Northrop website that same day. The tour’s next scheduled event at Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Colo., also still appears on the tour’s website.

Kirk previously appeared at the University of Minnesota in 2017, according to a social media post by the U’s Turning Point USA student chapter at that time. Requests for updates to the group on the Sept. 22 event were not answered.

Utah Gov. Spencer Cox has referred to Kirk’s killing at Utah Valley University as a political assassination carried out from a rooftop as Kirk spoke at a debate hosted by his nonprofit political organization. The suspected shooter has been identified as 22-year-old Tyler Robinson of Washington, Utah.

Robinson was arrested on suspicion of aggravated murder, felony discharge of a firearm causing serious bodily harm, and obstruction of justice charges, according to a court affidavit. A judge ordered that Robinson be held without bail. Formal charges are expected to be released early next week when Robinson is due to make an initial court appearance.

Kirk had been outspoken on politics and events in Minnesota on his social media.

He previously made disparaging remarks about George Floyd, who was murdered by former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin in 2020. Kirk also was condemned by Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey in July when Kirk tweeted a video of mayoral candidate Omar Fateh and claimed “Muslims are commanded to take over the government in the land they live. The attempted Islamic takeover of America is made possible thanks to mass migration.”

Frey and Fateh, along with political leaders across the political spectrum have condemned the attack on Kirk. Utah Gov. Cox also made an impassioned plea on Friday for Americans to use Kirk’s death as a moment to turn away from political violence and division.

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By DEE-ANN DURBIN

The federal government said Friday that it is suing Uber for allegedly discriminating against passengers with disabilities.

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The Department of Justice said Uber drivers routinely refuse to serve individuals with disabilities, including those with service dogs. Uber is the largest ride-hailing company in the U.S.

The lawsuit alleges that Uber drivers have charged illegal cleaning fees for service animal shedding and imposed cancellation fees after denying service. The lawsuit also alleges that drivers have refused to allow disabled individuals to sit in the front seat so they can use the back seat for mobility devices.

Disabled individuals have missed appointments, experienced significant delays and have been stranded in inclement weather, the lawsuit said.

“For too long, blind riders have suffered repeated ride denials by Uber because they are traveling with a service dog,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “This lawsuit seeks to end this persistent discrimination and allow riders with disabilities to use Uber.”

In a statement Friday, Uber said all of its drivers must acknowledge and agree to comply with its service animal and accessibility policies.

Uber said it prohibits drivers from denying service to someone with a service animal and it requires drivers to provide transportation to a person with a disability as long as they get into the vehicle on their own. It also prohibits drivers from refusing to assist with the stowing of devices like walkers, crutches and folding wheelchairs.

“Riders who use guide dogs or other assistive devices deserve a safe, respectful and welcoming experience on Uber — full stop,” the company said. Uber said it disagrees with the allegations in the lawsuit.

Uber said it established a hotline in 2023 for customers who were denied a ride because of a service animal. Uber said when it confirms that a violation has occurred, it takes action, including deactivating a driver’s account.

The Department of Justice is seeking $125 million for disabled individuals who have previously submitted complaints to Uber or the Department of Justice.

The case was filed in federal court in Northern California. Uber Technologies is based in San Francisco.