Harrison Smith Offers an Update
Vikings safety Harrison Smith ranked eighth in games played in franchise history. It’s nearly unthinkable to see the organization for an extensive period without their standout defender, but he was forced to sit out Week 1 against Chicago.
Harrison Smith Offers an Update
Last week, Smith finally returned to practice (at least in a limited fashion) after missing nearly a month. The Vikings listed him as doubtful after Saturday’s practice, but ultimately ruled him out on Sunday, the day before the game. He didn’t travel with his teammates to Chicago.
It’ll be a slightly accelerated week for the Vikings because they played on Monday and the next game is scheduled for Sunday night, a home game against the Atlanta Falcons. That bout might be his final career home opener, and Skol Nation certainly wants the veteran back as soon as possible.
On Wednesday, the time of Minnesota’s first practice day of the week (they held a walkthrough), Smith talked to some reporters for the first time since last month.
The 2012 first-rounder said, “I’m just trying to get my conditioning up. I’m going to go out there and see how much I can handle and go from there. I’ve already moved around, and I’m moving around well. It’s just volume and conditioning.”
Head coach Kevin O’Connell suggested last week that he’d be back as soon as his conditioning is right because a player with his experience doesn’t need any mental refreshers.
The defender stayed as vague as possible when he was asked about his potential return ahead of the time he would’ve been eligible to return had the team placed him on IR a couple of weeks ago: “We’re kind of fluid with if I’m ready to go or not, and if I am going to help the team or not. That all matters. But I expect to be back before [the four-week mark.]”
The reporters tried to get more out of him, questioning how much time he usually needs to return to football shape. He replied, “I never had to do it this way. I really don’t know. I think I’ll be able to bounce back pretty quick as far as building stamina.”
On Wednesday, the Vikings listed him as a limited participant.
In his absence, the Vikings relied on Joshua Metellus and Theo Jackson, who both played all 67 defensive snaps, and so did corners Byron Murphy Jr. and Isaiah Rodgers. Backup safety Jay Ward logged 25 snaps, cornerback Jeff Okudah 16, and defensive back Tavierre Thomas two.
In case of another Smith absence, the numbers in the Falcons game could be comparable. It’s noteworthy, though, that Okudah is in concussion protocol, which could lead to some extra reps for the other defensive backs, and CB4 Dwight McGlothern could make his defensive debut after only playing a couple of plays on special teams. Both Smith and Okudah remain players to watch throughout the week.
Currently sitting at 192, Smith needs ten more games to enter the top five in franchise history, only trailing Jim Marshall, Mick Tingelhoff, Fred Cox, and Carl Eller. He is 36 years old.
Editor’s Note: Information from PFF, Over The Cap, and Pro Football Reference helped with this article.