Vikings Player Gets ‘Hidden Gem’ Kudos
Dustin Baker
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The Minnesota Vikings lost tight end Irv Smith Jr. to a season-ending injury in early September, a severe blow to the team’s offense. Smith was supposed to stretch the field inside a breakout season theorized by virtually everybody.
His potential rise to superstardom will have to wait one year as the Vikings navigate a Smith-less 2021. And so far, they’re making do with Tyler Conklin, a fourth-year tight end from Central Michigan.
And per national consensus, Conklin is lessening the emotional blow of Smith’s departure. On Saturday, Bleacher Report detailed each NFL team’s “hidden gem” through three games of 2021, and Conklin was that guy for Minnesota. Brent Sobleski of Bleacher Report wrote about Conklin:
“Irv Smith Jr. was supposed to have a breakout year with Kyle Rudolph no longer on the roster. But the Minnesota Vikings seemingly won’t feature their young tight end this season. Smith, who remains on injured reserve after surgery on his meniscus, is more of an H-back or move tight end, whereas Conklin stepped in as the Y tight end. With Smith out, Conklin capitalized. Conklin is a capable blocker and a growing receiving threat. The 26-year-old already has 13 catches for 126 yards after setting career highs last season with 19 catches for 194 yards and a touchdown.“
Interestingly, Vikings general manager Rick Spielman sent a 2022 4th-Round draft pick to the New York Jets last month for tight end Chris Herndon, a handsome sum for an unproven player. To date, Herndon has made little impact, instead giving way to Conklin’s emergence. While Herndon can still emerge in 2021, Conklin is creating plays inside the Vikings offense as the team attempts to dig out of an 0-2 start to the year.
Conklin averages 42 receiving yards per game with a touchdown scored against the Seattle Seahawks in Week 3. And that’s on about five targets per game. His Pro Football Focus score is 64.5, the 17th highest grade on the team, sandwiched between Xavier Woods (64.6) and Stephen Weatherly (64.3). Conklin isn’t a superstar, but his early-season production is encouraging, especially for a man no one ever heard of outside of the state of Minnesota or Michigan.
What’s more, the Vikings love tight ends. For two years, head coach Mike Zimmer utilized Kyle Rudolph, who recently left for the New York Giants, and the aforementioned Smith. They emphasize tight ends in their scheme more so than other teams, particularly by way of run-blocking.
A contributive Conklin bodes well for Minnesota. For several years, Minnesota existed in a top-heavy way at wide receiver, employing Adam Thielen and Stefon Diggs or Adam Thielen or Justin Jefferson — and then diddly squat for WR3. K.J. Osborn has jumped out to a hot start in 2021, signaling the WR3 pain may be vanquished. Sprinkle in a hitting-on-all-cylinders Conklin, and the Vikings offense can hum.
Conklin gets another crack at solidifying his TE1 legitimacy on Sunday when the Vikings host the Cleveland Browns in Kevin Stefanski’s return to Minnesota.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sally from Minneapolis. His Viking fandom dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ and The Doors (the band).
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