SEPTEMBER 7: Unfortunately, what was suspected a little over a week ago has been confirmed today. The Vikings relayed the news that Smith has been downgraded to out for tomorrow’s Monday night matchup with the Bears. In fact, the 36-year-old safety will not even be traveling to Chicago with his teammates.
The veteran defender returned to practice this past Friday for the first time since August 11 but only participated in a limited capacity. Head coach Kevin O’Connell seemed to imply the Smith needed a bit more time for a “physical ramp up ” when addressing the media yesterday, perhaps hinting that Smith is working himself back into playing condition still after being away from the field for so long.
AUGUST 29: By far the longest-tenured player on the Vikings’ roster, Harrison Smith re-signed with the team this offseason. The Minnesota standout is entering his 14th season with the team, but he may not be ready for Week 1.
A recent illness introduced a hiccup for the decorated defender. Smith missed the last two weeks of training camp but is expected to make a full recovery, per ESPN’s Kevin Seifert. Smith last practiced on August 11 but has been dealing with a health issue since.
The Vikings did not transfer Smith to a reserve list – either the IR with a return designation or the non-football illness list – indicating their optimism that he will return to the field within four weeks. However, Seifert reports that an exact return timeline for Smith remains uncertain. The 36-year-old defender did not attend the Vikings’ final two preseason games, Seifert adds.
Depending on the exact nature of the illness, Smith may need some time to ramp up in practice before getting back on the field in the regular season. He likely would need to return to practice in the coming days to be available for Week 1.
The 2012 first-round pick has started 191 career games; that ranks fourth in Vikings history. With 11 starts this season, Smith can pass Hall of Fame defensive end Carl Eller for third on the team’s all-time list. Based on the Vikes’ decision to keep Smith on the roster, they expect him to be able (barring injury) to do so this season.
Smith was set to start alongside Josh Metellus for the third year in a row. The safety duo used to be a trio with former Viking Camryn Bynum, who signed with the Colts this offseason. Theo Jackson will be positioned to replace Smith in the starting lineup if necessary, per Seifert. Jackson has been a Vikings backup since 2022 but has never started a game.
Sam Robinson contributed to this post.
With how vague they’ve been, I’d bet it’s something in the private parts. Hopefully he can get healthy soon, they need him.
Probably a reduction 😎
Wouldn’t you like to know.
Or Covid. It’s been going around and it can definitely sap your strength for a couple of weeks.
Detroit is going to come back to earth this year. They are going to find out what Indy found out a couple years ago, i.e., good coordinators matter.
And salary cap matters. They had so many good young players they can’t be active in free agency or pay them all. And drafting in the 20s every round is hard.
Detroit fans are finding out the hard way about windows. They missed theirs
At 36 YO, maybe his body is telling him that enough is enough.
Detroit may not replicate last year’s 15-2 record simply due to the toughest schedule in the NFL, but they are still going to win the North. From what’s been reported, they are extremely excited to show the league that the players are what got them to where they are and not Ben Johnson. They will soon prove that he didn’t have nearly as much to do with their success than everyone thought.
lol. How does that butt kicking you just received taste?
There is a new sheriff in nfcn town. It’s the long Time one one.
Green Bay is better than Detroit in 2025 and going forward. You have missed your window. Your roster has thinned. It happens in a cap league.
He has always been a stud, but db’s don’t really play at that age or look good if they do.
He is old. The Vikings secondary is a real liability. Murphy and no one else. If that pass rush doesn’t get home or Flores can’t cook up QBs it’s over for them.
Thankfully for them tonight. Caleb will get flustered.
Someone told Harrison that the in-flight movie was “Snakes on a Plane” so he wisely decided to stay home.