Two of the best players on the Gophers football team square off in hand-to-hand combat on a near daily basis.

It’s a main event worthy of a tub of popcorn and a coveted front-row seat: left tackle Aireontae Ersery versus defensive end Jah Joyner.

Joyner posted team-highs of 46 pressures and 7 1/2 sakes last season, while Ersery allowed only 15 pressures and two sacks a year ago, according to Pro Football Focus.

“I think it makes both of us great because we are coming off a strong season and I feel like it’s important for the younger guys to see stuff like that,” Ersery said. “Older guys putting in work day in and day out.”

Going into what is expected to be their final collegiate seasons, Ersery is considered a potential first-round pick in the NFL draft next April, while Joyner will likely hear his name called later on.

“It’s been a battle all fall camp,” Joyner said of one-on-ones with Ersery. “We definitely got each other better throughout the years.”

Both player gave the other his flowers. “He’s one of the best in the country,” Joyner said of 6-foot-6, 330-pound Ersery. “He is able to move his feet really well.”

Ersery said the 6-foot-5, 265-pound Joyner is “athletic, quick, strong, smart. You got to come with your ‘A’ game. Me and Jah are teammates, so it’s a little different …”

But who wins more one-on-one battles?

Ersery lightly laughed before mostly dodging the question. “It goes back and forth,” he said. “But yeah.”

“Right now, it’s a tie,” Joyner answered. “Yeah, let ’em know that.”

Injury update

The Gophers rested or held out approximately 10 starting-caliber players in Tuesday’s practice, including No. 1 receiver Daniel Jackson who was not in pads. He is expected back later this week.

Potential starting safety Darius Green has been out to start preseason camp. “Darius should be back pretty soon; he had an off-the-field issue in the summer that the trainers are keeping him out for,” head coach P.J. Fleck said.

Lindsey learning

With starting quarterback Max Brosmer not practicing much Tuesday, backup true freshman Drake Lindsey saw a lot of reps — and there were a lot of things to coach up.

On some passing plays, he dealt with pressure in his face and coverage sacks. Some of those plays came consecutively as the speed of play appeared to be moving pretty fast for the Fayetteville, Ark., native.

Brosmer recalled moments he had his own issues as a young player at FCS-level New Hampshire. “That’s happened here (at Minnesota), too,” Brosmer said, “because we are always trying to grow. As a freshman, I don’t know what I’m looking at. I’m just like throw to the open guy, but sometimes you have no idea where the open guy is.”

Lindsey bounced back later in practice and connected on a nice play-action pass to tight end Piece Walsh.

Briefly

The Gophers had a sloppier practice Tuesday than they did on Saturday. They didn’t have a left tackle for one play and had multiple problems with illegal shifts. Fleck stopped practice at one point to calmly teach them about the importance of getting set before another player goes in motion. … Koi Perich is considered the top-rated in-state recruit in the Gophers’ 2024 class, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t an adjustment period for the touted Esko native. During an inside run drill, sixth-year Michigan State transfer tailback Jaren Mangham ran over Perich. To his credit, Perich popped right back up. At this point, Perich’s most likely path to the field is on special teams, perhaps as punt returner. … Defensive tackle Theo Randle had multiple disruptive plays Tuesday; those splash moments can help him be the depth the U seeks in the interior of the D-line. … Freshman tailback Fame Ijeboi had some nice runs Tuesday, but it will be a challenge for him to see the field this fall with the number of players ahead of him. … Penn State transfer receiver Cristian Driver showed explosiveness taking a short slant and racking up yards after the catch; he might be challenging for a starting spot. … The Gophers had representatives from a handful of NFL teams watch practice on Tuesday, including the Patriots, Broncos, Falcons and Texans.

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An Isanti police officer sent a lewd photo to a 13-year-old girl through Snapchat and — after her friend saw it — told her to say it was not his, according to charges filed Tuesday.

Nicholas Irvin Martell, 30, of Isanti, was arrested Sunday and charged with one count of distributing via electronic communication sexually explicit material to children. He’s being held at the Anoka County jail in lieu of $300,000 bail.

Nicholas Irvin Martell (Courtesy of the Anoka County Sheriff’s Department)

Martell was hired by the Isanti Police Department as an officer on Feb. 27, 2023. He was put on administrative leave Sunday, when the city learned of his arrest and the allegations, City Administrator Josi Wood said Tuesday.

According to the criminal complaint filed in Isanti County District Court:

The girl’s father contacted law enforcement on Saturday to report that his friend, Martell, had sent a penis photo to his daughter on July 27.

Law enforcement interviewed the girl, who initially was reluctant to discuss her communications or relationship with Martell. She ultimately said that prior to sending the photo, Martell had asked her if she wanted to “see it.” After sending the photo, Martell asked the girl if she “liked it.”

The next day, Martell apologized for sending the photo and asked her not to tell anyone.

The girl sent Martell a message letting him know that one of her friend’s had seen the photo and that her friend was upset. Martell messaged the girl through Snapchat, telling her that she “needs to call me alone.” She called Martell and her friend recorded the conversation. At the beginning of the call he asked if she was alone and then asked her to tell the friend that it was a “different Nick” who sent the photo.

Martell then pleaded with the girl, saying that he could go to prison because of the photo. The girl ended the call, telling him that her sister was coming upstairs. He later messaged the girl and asked when they could talk again.

Law enforcement examined the girl’s cellphone and Martell’s and have requested search warrants from Snapchat to conduct a forensic analysis, “but from what was presently viewable,” the complaint states, “it is clear that the communication was far more extensive than initially disclosed by (the girl) both on the day the photograph was sent and in the days and months prior.”

Isanti Police Chief Travis Muyres said in a Tuesday statement that he is “disheartened” with the criminal charges against Martell, adding the alleged conduct “does not represent the standards of the Isanti Police Department, nor the commitment of our law enforcement officers to serve and protect the residents of our community. The trust of our community is of utmost importance, and we will not tolerate any conduct that undermines that trust.”

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Could be worse

“A Number,” written by British playwright Caryl Churchill, is a fable of a flawed father and several men who are either his sons or clones of them. (When it premiered in London in 2002, the lead roles went to Michael Gambon and Daniel Craig.) Here, as the sons, Clarence Wethern delivers three solid, authentic performances. The father is a more emotionally demanding role, and Gabriele Angieri doesn’t fully stick the landing, as if someone — director, actor, both? — didn’t fully take time to understand what makes the complex, contradictory character tick. Whoever cloned this show didn’t quite replicate its emotional heart.

Presented by W.A.S. Productions at Phoenix Theater; 5:30 p.m. Aug. 8, 8:30 p.m. Aug. 10, 4 p.m. Aug. 11

Still trying to decide what to see? Check out all our Fringe reviews at twincities.com/tag/fringe-festival, with each show rated on a scale of Must See, Worth Considering, Could Be Worse or You Can Skip.

The Minnesota Fringe Festival is presenting more than 100 hourlong stage acts from Aug. 1–11 around Minneapolis. Visit MinnesotaFringe.org for ticket and show information.

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Talking to reporters Tuesday at TCO Performance Center, co owner Mark Wilf confirmed that the Vikings have not discussed contract extensions with head coach Kevin O’Connell or general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, adding that the soonest those conversations would happen would be after this season.

“It’s not something we’re talking about at this point,” Wilf said. “We’re focusing on the season ahead.”

After being hired together in 2022, O’Connell and Adofo-Mensah enter 2024 midway through their four-year contracts. Though the Vikings haven’t committed to either of them long term, Wilf spoke glowingly about the culture O’Connell and Adofo-Mensah have helped create since arriving in Minnesota.

“It’s a real good feeling around here,” Wilf said. “There’s great chemistry among our team and players in terms of getting along and working together.”

As the Vikings navigate a transition period, highlighted by selecting rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft, it’s hard to judge what exactly success would look like this season. Asked if simply making the playoffs would be enough to earn O’Connell and Adofo-Mensah contract extensions, Wilf responded, “I’m not going to put out a litmus test.”

That said, as long as the Vikings are taking steps in the right direction, O’Connell and Adofo-Mensah likely will be in a pretty good spot.

“We’ll judge it like we’ve always done,” Wilf said. “We’ll evaluate the full body of work for everybody.”

In the same breath, Wilf emphasized that he still has high expectations for this season, adding that the ultimate goal will always be winning the Super Bowl. This is already Year 20 for the ownership group, and it still doesn’t have a Lombardi Trophy in its possession.

“We want to win,” Wilf said. “We’re providing the resources and providing the leadership as best we can to make it happen, and I think we’re in a good position to build toward that.”

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