JOTTINGS

• It might not have seemed like a big deal at the time, but the Vikings held New Orleans to only 19 points and 344 yards in Week 1. Those totals remain season lows for the 6-2 Saints. It's been part of season-long excellence for the Vikings defense, which ranks fourth in the NFL in yards per game (282.1) and third in points per game (16.9).

• Anthony Barr said the Vikings are going to have to step up their run defense after giving up 115 yards on 22 carries to the Browns. "I think that's the biggest thing," the linebacker said. "Stop the run and everything else kind of falls into place."

• One player Gophers men's basketball coach Richard Pitino said he believes could play a big role this season is senior forward Davonte Fitzgerald. "We're being very patient with him because of his medical history in the past," Pitino said. "But I think once he gets more live game experience in practice he'll feel more comfortable, and that will help him."

• Gophers athletic director Mark Coyle said construction of the Athletes Village is on schedule and on budget and set to open in January.

• The Gophers men's hockey team continues to fail to sell tickets the way it did in the WCHA days. Last weekend with Michigan State here, the Gophers drew an announced 7,484 on Friday and 8,349 on Saturday, nowhere near capacity.

• Lefthander Tyler Jay, the No. 6 overall pick in the 2015 MLB draft by the Twins, has had a rough start to the Arizona Fall League. Jay has a 5.87 ERA through eight games, with 10 hits, including two home runs, five walks and nine strikeouts in 7⅔ innings.

• Twins Chief Baseball Officer Derek Falvey said 2016 first-round pick Alex Kirilloff, an outfielder, is recovering well from Tommy John elbow ligament surgery and should be ready for spring training.

• Among the MLB free agents available are 19 former Twins, including former All-Stars Francisco Liriano, Pat Neshek, Eduardo Nunez and Brandon Kintzler.