Brock Faber's serious injury + No. 1 Lynx get swept out of playoffs in first round

Introduction: Host Michael Rand started with a subdued start to the Wild season as the prepare to open Thursday in Nashville. The Quinn Hughes contract and Brock Faber injury situations hang over the team in different ways. Plus what to watch for as the Lynx enter the offseason. 7:00: NFL insider Tom Pelissero shares his thoughts on the J.J. McCarthy trade and other major Vikings storylines. 38:00: Are the Vikings headed for a trap game Sunday?

Intro: Host Michael Rand starts with the news that Wild defenseman Brock Faber has a skull fracture and is out indefinitely. Plus the Vikings have mounting injuries to go with their QB room shakeup. 7:00: Shelby Swanson joins Rand as they unpack the Lynx's meek playoff performance. The No. 1 seed was swept by No. 8 New York, and star rookie point guard Olivia Miles struggled mightily. 29:00: The Twins have big offseason plans.

It was a nice and normal Monday until the Vikings traded quarterback J.J. McCarthy to the Giants. Andrew Krammer and Michael Rand break down what went wrong in Minnesota and where the organization goes from here with Kyler Murray at the helm. Plus Vikings poetry, some Vikings QB history, good Timberwolves vibes and a must-win Lynx game.

Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse joins host Michael Rand for a look back at the weekend in sports. They start with the 3-0 Vikings, who are looking like the Vikings of Rand's youth. Stout defense, unsettled QB play, and winning. They will need more from Kyler Murray going forward, but a win is a win. Plus the Gophers pulled a big upset in Washington while the Lynx are suddenly on the brink of seeing their season end.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand starts with two outcomes Thursday that caught him by surprise. First was the Packers getting trounced 35-14 by the Falcons at home. Atlanta had 242 yards rushing to just 17 for Green Bay, exposing multiple weaknesses for the Vikings' rival. Plus the Lynx routed the Fever in their final regular-season game, getting their mojo back just in time for the playoffs. 7:00: James Plowright, a Charlotte Hornets podcaster from England, provides great insights into LaMelo Ball. 29:00: Some broadcast news for the Wolves.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand starts with some good news for the Twins, bad news for the Vikings and pretty good news for the Gophers. 7:00: Sarah McLellan on the Wild and all the big training camp storylines. 29:00: The Lynx opponent is set.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand starts with a trade idea floated by a longtime football writer by which the Giants, who might be without Jaxson Dart for the rest of the season, would make a deal for J.J. McCarthy. Plus a contract extension for Wild GM Bill Guerin. 7:00: Star Tribune Lynx writer Cassidy Hettesheimer joins Rand to break down a wild Tuesday night. Olivia Miles sat out with a calf injury. The rest of the starters were benched after a poor first half of a blowout loss to Indiana. And the Lynx still clinched the No. 1 seed when Golden State lost later. 28:00: A Taj Bradley appreciation.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand starts with Kyler Murray clearing concussion protocol and how that will impact the Vikings. Plus Rand wonders if we have been paying enough attention to the Wolves' roster at center. 7:00: Andrew Krammer joins Rand for five key takeaways from the Vikings' win Sunday. 26:00: An altogether different look at the game via Vikings poetry. 41:00: The Lynx could use a win Tuesday.

Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse joins host Michael Rand for a look back at the weekend in sports. Included in the rundown: How the Vikings moved to 2-0 with a stout defensive effort against the Bears, a Gophers football win with bigger games ahead, a scoring record for Olivia Miles and some optimism for the Twins.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand starts with mounting injuries for the Vikings. Their starting QB, a key running back and now right tackle Brian O'Neill are all banged up. Plus some thoughts on Quinn Hughes and Dylan Larkin, who have nowhere to hide now that NHL training camps have started. 7:00: Timberwolves GM Matt Lloyd joins the show and offers great insights into the team's roster-building plan as well as how the LaMelo Ball trade came together. 36:00: The Lynx return to action for a critical stretch.