Joe Nelson

San Bernardino

Investigative Reporter, Southern California News Group at Orange County Register

Investigative Reporter, Southern California News Group at Inland Valley Daily Bulletin

Investigative Reporter, Southern California News Group at The Press-Enterprise

Investigative Reporter, Southern California News Group at The Sun (San Bernardino, CA)

Investigative Reporter, Southern California News Group at Redlands Daily Facts

Investigative Reporter at Southern California News Group

Investigative Reporter at Los Angeles Daily News

Investigative reporter for Southern California News Group’s Watchdog Team. Email: [email protected]. Also see me here: @SoCalWatchdog

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Articles

Could he fall to 24? Vikings show interest in Michigan cornerback Will Johnson

1 week ago | si.com | Joe Nelson

Will Johnson is believed to be one of the best cornerbacks in the 2025 NFL draft. It's long been thought that he'll likely hear his name called before the Minnesota Vikings have a turn to pick at No. 24, but that isn't stopping Minnesota from doing its due diligence on the All-American. According to KSTP's Darren Wolfson, the Vikings had defensive backs coach Daronte Johnson at Johnson's private workout on Monday.
After shutout loss to Tigers, Twins tie worst start in franchise history

1 week ago | si.com | Joe Nelson

At 4-11, the Minnesota Twins are tied for the worst 15-game start in franchise history. Saturday's 4-0 loss to the Detroit Tigers — at Target Field on a beautiful day in Minneapolis — was woeful. Minnesota managed just four hits and they were 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position. Chris Paddack didn't get any run support, but he at least gave the Twins a chance. The righty tossed five innings of two-run ball (one unearned) only to get pulled after 93 pitches with the Twins down 2-0.
Twins' Byron Buxton not in the lineup for a second straight game

2 weeks ago | si.com | Joe Nelson

After the Twins beat the Royals without Byron Buxton in the lineup Wednesday night, they're going to try and do the same again Thursday afternoon. According to the Twins, Buxton is away from the team for personal reasons and it's not related to his health.
Judgement day looms: Tom Kelly's 50-game rule haunts a lifeless Twins team

2 weeks ago | si.com | Joe Nelson

Every season starts anew, but it's hard to disconnect an ugly start to this season from a horrendous finish to the last one. When you link the 2024 and 2025 Minnesota Twins, you get a 50-game sample size of putrid baseball. Dating back to last season's collapse, the Twins are 15-35 in their last 50 games. That's a 48- or 49-win pace in a 162-game season. Personally, the 50-game sample size hits a nerve.
Twins ace Pablo Lopez leaves game with apparent injury

2 weeks ago | si.com | Joe Nelson

Minnesota Twins ace Pablo Lopez left Tuesday's game in the fifth inning with an apparent leg injury. It's unclear how serious the injury is, but Lopez was grabbing at the back of his right leg before he exited the game with head athletic trainer Nick Paparesta. He was replaced by Cole Sands, who got out of a jam in which the Royals loaded the bases before Vinnie Pasquantino flied out to deep right field to end the inning with the game tied 1-1.
Scoreboard watching: Where the Wolves sit in the West on Sunday, April 6

2 weeks ago | si.com | Joe Nelson

We're down to eight days left in the NBA regular season and the Minnesota Timberwolves could wind up anywhere from third to eighth in the Western Conference standings. Minnesota needs a top-six seed to avoid the play-in tournament, and nabbing the third or fourth seed would get them home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs. No changes for the 6, 7 and 8 seeds after the Timberwolves, Grizzlies and Clippers all won Saturday.
How free agency impacts draft plans for the Vikings, Lions, Packers and Bears

2 weeks ago | si.com | Joe Nelson

The 2025 NFL draft begins April 24 and the NFC North features four teams that could all be contending for playoff spots next season. That's no surprise since the Lions, Vikings and Packers won 15, 14 and 11 games, respectively, last season, and the Bears have been a winner in free agency entering the second season with Caleb Williams at quarterback.
Vikings reveal dates for OTAs and mandatory minicamp

3 weeks ago | si.com | Joe Nelson

The first look at J.J. McCarthy throwing footballs could come if he participates in rookie minicamp after the April 24-26 NFL draft, but we know for certain that he'll be on the field and working out when the Minnesota Vikings report for organized team activities (OTAs) in May. The first day of Minnesota's program is April 21, and things really ramp up in May and June as the Vikings hold OTAs and mandatory minicamp. Overall, it's a nine-week period that is broken up into three phases.
Vikings GM on J.J. McCarthy: 'We're going to go forward with that'

3 weeks ago | si.com | Joe Nelson

Minnesota Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah came as close as he possibly could — without actually saying the words — to guaranteeing J.J. McCarthy will be the starting quarterback in 2025. Speaking to Tom Pelissero on NFL Network from the annual league meetings in Palm Beach, Fla., on Wednesday, Adofo-Mensah was asked to give fans where the Vikings "actually stand" with the quarterback plan for 2025. His answer was absent of speculation and 100% focused on McCarthy.
Scoreboard watching: Where the Wolves sit in the West on Thursday, April 3

3 weeks ago | si.com | Joe Nelson

It's Thursday, April 3 and the Minnesota Timberwolves are in sixth place in the Western Conferene playoff race. Let's do some scoreboard watching to keep tabs on where they sit in the race and what's on deck Thursday night. Entering play Thurdsay, the Timberwolves (44-32) control the No. 6 seed in the West. They're tied with the Clippers (44-32) and Grizzlies (44-32), but Minnesota owns the tiebreaker thanks to a better winning percentage in games against each other.