A spokesperson for the Prince George’s County State’s Attorney’s Office provided an update into the investigation into the circumstances of a three-car crash that killed Vikings fourth-round pick Khyree Jackson and two other men in Maryland early on Saturday.
Jackson, Anthony Lytton Jr., and Isaiah Hazel were high school teammates and they were riding in a Dodge Charger when an Infiniti Q50 struck it while trying to change lanes. The three men were killed and the Infiniti went on to hit another car.
An initial report on the crash said investigators believed alcohol “may have been a contributing circumstance” and spokesperson Denise Douglas said to the Minneapolis Star-Tribune on Monday that prosecutors in her office “are definitely moving quickly and expeditiously” toward a decision about whether to charge Cori Imani Clingman, who was driving the Infiniti.
“Our office continues to work diligently with [the State Patrol] on this ongoing investigation,” Douglas said. “We only have initial reports, which do not include the [blood alcohol content], which has to be developed from the medical records in this case. We have not yet received those yet.”
Douglas said an “early evidentiary review” is scheduled for this week as one of the next steps toward a decision about criminal charges.
Early Saturday, Vikings cornerback Khyree Jackson died in an automobile accident in Maryland. He was only 24.
Jackson, who played college football at Alabama and then Oregon, was a fourth-round pick of the Vikings in April.
Jackson was the front-seat passenger in a car with two other men — 23-year-old Isaiah Hazel, who was driving, and 24-year-old Anthony Lytton, Jr., who was in the back seat.
The Maryland State Police issued a preliminary statement on Saturday morning. The crash remains under investigation. It’s believed that the Dodge Charger carrying the three men who perished was struck by an Infiniti that was trying to change lanes at a high rate of speed.
The photos from the scene of the Charger are jarring.
The deaths of Jackson, Hazel, and Lytton have a specific and significant impact on Wise High School in Upper Marlboro, Maryland. The three men attended the school, playing for the football team that won a state championship in 2016.
“I love them, and I wish I could say it to them one more time,” assistant coach Steve Rapp told WUSA. “[T]he legacy of those guys is going to live on forever.”
All three played college football at the Division I level. Lytton was planning to play for Bowie State this season.
We continue to extend our condolences to everyone affected by this tragedy, including the members of the Wise High School community.
The crash that claimed the life of Vikings cornerback Khyree Jackson and two other occupants of the Dodge Charger in which Jackson was riding did devastating damage to the vehicle.
TMZ.com has obtained photos of the Charger. They are stunning.
Even with modern safety advances, it’s obvious that no one inside the car could have survived.
The initial statement from the Maryland State Police indicated that the vehicle in which Jackson was a passenger had been struck by another vehicle that was traveling at a high rate of speed and that was attempting to change lanes.
Jackson, 24, was a fourth-round pick of the Vikings. Isaiah Hazel, 23, and Anthony Lytton, Jr., 24, also died in the crash.
The Maryland State Police have issued a statement regarding the car crash that claimed the life of Vikings cornerback Khyree Jackson.
Jackson, 24, as a passenger in a Dodge Charger. The other two occupants — Isaiah Hazel, 23, and Anthony Lytton, Jr., 24 — also died.
Hazel, who played college football at Maryland and Charlotte, was driving. Lytton, who played for Florida State and Penn State, was riding in the back seat.
Per the release, the preliminary investigation shows that the driver of another car “attempted to change lanes while driving at a high rate of speed when she struck the Dodge Charger and then struck [a] Chevrolet Impala.”
The impact forced the Charger off the road, where it “struck multiple tree stumps.”
The three occupants of the Infiniti and the lone occupant of the Impala were not injured.
The release includes this: “Investigators believe alcohol may have been a contributing circumstance in the crash.”
Presumably, that’s a reference to the driver of the Infiniti. More details about the potential involvement of alcohol will be released when the investigation concludes.
Vikings rookie cornerback Khyree Jackson has died in an automobile accident. He was 24.
The Vikings have confirmed Jackson’s passing. The photo accompanying this story shows Jackson at rookie minicamp, with quarterback J.J. McCarthy.
“We are devastated by the news of Khyree Jackson’s death following an overnight car accident,” the team said in a statement. “While we work to gather more information, we have spoken to Khyree’s family and offered the support of the Minnesota Vikings. We have also communicated the news to Vikings players, coaches and staff and have offered counseling for those who need emotional support. Our thoughts are with Khyree’s family, friends, teammates and coaches, as well as all the victims of this tragic accident.”
The release from the Vikings includes a statement from coach Kevin O’Connell.
“I am absolutely crushed by this news,” O’Connell said. “Khyree brought a contagious energy to our facility and our team. His confidence and engaging personality immediately drew his teammates to him. In our short time together, it was evident Khyree was going to develop into a tremendous professional football player, but what was more impressive was his desire to become the best person he could be for his family and those around him. I am at a loss for words. My heart goes out to Khyree’s family, friends, teammates and coaches.”
Said G.M. Kwesi Adofo-Mensah: “I am heartbroken by the loss of Khyree. As we got to know him throughout the pre-draft process, it was clear the goals Khyree wanted to accomplish both professionally and personally. His story was one of resilience. He was taking steps to become the best version of himself not just for him, but for those who cared about and looked up to him. Khyree’s personality captured every room he was in. I’m devastated that his life and everything he had in front of him has been cut short. My thoughts are with Khyree’s family and friends, those who played with and coached him in college, and his teammates and coaches here at the Vikings.”
Jackson was selected by the Vikings in the fourth round of the 2024 draft. He finished his college career at Oregon, after transferring from Alabama.
Vikings cornerback Khyree Jackson has died. He was 24.
James Crepea, who covers Oregon for the Oregonian, has posted this on X: “Former Oregon CB Khyree Jackson, who was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings, died in an auto accident, his agent and former high school coach confirm.”
Oregon coach Dan Lanning has confirmed the news.
Jackson, a Maryland native, played for Oregon in 2023 after spending two seasons at Alabama. The Vikings selected Jackson in the fourth round of the 2024 draft.
We extend our condolences to Khyree’s family, friends, and teammates.
After last year’s successful debut of Quarterback on Netflix, the producers couldn’t find enough quarterbacks for season two. So they moved to a new position.
And in compiling the roster for Receiver, a highly popular pass-catching tight end had a chance to join the fray.
Appearing on the Bussin’ with the Boys podcast, Travis Kelce said he declined the invitation to be one of the subjects of the show.
“After [Patrick Mahomes] did it, I did get asked about it,” Kelce said, via USA Today. “I’d rather just play ball, man; I’m already doing enough with the podcast and everything. I’m way over the reality shit, dude. I’m out on that shit.”
The subjects of Receiver are Justin Jefferson of the Vikings, Davante Adams of the Raiders, Amon-Ra St. Brown of the Lions, and Deebo Samuel and George Kittle of the 49ers. If Kelce had done it, there’s a good chance (given everything that happened last year), that he would have become Bruce Springsteen and the rest of the bunch would have been the E Street Band. Or maybe it would have been all about Kelce and only Kelce.
The show debuts, without Travis Kelce, on July 12.
The vast majority of the 2024 draft class has signed. The biggest cluster of unsigned picks falls in round one.
Five players aren’t signed. They come from three teams.
Bears quarterback Caleb Williams (No. 1) and receiver Rome Odunze (No. 9) are not yet under contract. Ditto for Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy (No. 10) and edge rusher Dallas Turner (No. 17).
Also unsigned is Bengals tackle Amarius Mims, the 18th pick in the draft.
All five will have fully-guaranteed four-year deals, with the dollar value slotted based on selection number. While the 2011 CBA dramatically limited the number of topics for haggling, there are still three main categories.
1. Signing bonus cash flow: How much of the signing bonus is paid up front? How much is deferred, and for how long? Players want the money ASAFP. Teams might try to push some of it out, by a year or longer.
2. Voiding of guarantees: What will it take to let a team wipe out the remaining guarantees? There have been issues in the past about suspensions for certain on-field infractions opening the door to erasing the guaranteed money. Players want to limit the team’s ability to un-guarantee the guaranteed cash. Teams prefer the flexibility to get out from under a bad deal.
3. Guarantee offsets: If the player is released with guaranteed money left, will earnings elsewhere reduce the money owed? The player prefers to double dip. The team wants to get credit for salary from a new NFL franchise.
Frankly, there’s no reason for any of the draft picks to not be signed at this point. All players should insist on getting their deals before setting foot on the practice field for the offseason program. More and more teams are getting their deals done quickly enough to give the players the full and complete four-year protection against a potential freak injury.
Vikings linebacker Blake Cashman has seen his share of quarterbacks since entering the league as a fifth-round pick in 2019.
With Minnesota selecting J.J. McCarthy in the first round of this year’s draft, Cashman got a positive first impression of the young signal-caller during the offseason program.
“Yeah, 21 years old but a great young man,” Cashman said of McCarthy in an interview with Jim Rome this week. “He’s a leader. He is eager to learn. A lot of young guys, sometimes they can come in, be a little timid or shy. But he’s walking round the locker room, big smile on his face, shaking hands, getting to know everybody.
“I didn’t know much about his game before, and I knew he was an outstanding quarterback, winning followed him at Michigan. But I didn’t realize how much heat he could put on the ball. He’s got a great long ball. And even those tight windows, which close fast at the next level — he can zip the ball past a linebacker or safety’s head and squeeze it in those tight windows. And that’s very promising to see.”
Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell said during the offseason program that Sam Darnold is QB1 heading into training camp. But given McCarthy’s draft status, it’s clear he’s likely to ascend into that starter’s role sooner or later.
“He’s going to be a great player for a long time,” Cashman said. “I can’t wait to continue to see his growth — not only his development as a quarterback [and] the skills, but also become an even smarter player.”
Running back Cam Akers’s first season with the Vikings came to an early end, but it looks like he’s set for another run in purple.
Charley Walters of the Pioneer Press reports that Akers is expected to re-sign with the team as long as he passes an upcoming physical.
Akers joined the Vikings in a September trade with the Rams last year and ran 38 times for 138 yards and a touchdown while catching 11 passes for 70 yards in six games for the team. He injured his Achilles in November, however, and missed the rest of the season.
Akers also tore his Achilles in July 2021 and recovered in time to play for the Rams on their way to a Super Bowl win.
Aaron Jones, Ty Chandler, Kene Nwangwu, DeWayne McBride, and Myles Gaskin are the current running backs in Minnesota.