Aug 14, 2020; Eagan, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings tight end Irv Smith. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports.
Minnesota Vikings tight end Irv Smith missed all of the 2021 season due to a torn meniscus, delaying his oft-prophesied “breakout season” for another year. Fully recovered heading into Vikings training camp last week, Smith seemed poised to resume his quest for a blast-off inside Minnesota’s offense led by new head coach Kevin O’Connell.
But there was a hiccup that caused the first bit of mini-drama at training camp as Smith was hurt, at least briefly, on Monday. Here is the timeline of events.
First, Smith trotted onto the field in a triumphant back-to-health video. It was his first time in pads since the Vikings 2021 preseason game at the Kansas City Chiefs.
Smooth sailing, right? Not quite. The next Smith-related news was the mention of injury.
And while nothing suggests the injury is grave, Smith returned to practice sans a helmet.
Meanwhile, no substantive information regarding Smith’s departure was available after practice. So, the incident is likely not major. Yet, here’s the problem. If the Smith tweak turns into a lengthier ordeal sometime this week, Minnesota is in trouble at tight end.
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One of the few criticisms of the Vikings current roster is depth at tight end. Most football brains foresee Smith effectuating the “breakout” role in 2022 — he’s in a contract year — and that’s a wonderful forecast for the Vikings and fantasy football managers. After Smith at TE1, though, the lay of the land is muddier. This is the team’s current TE depth chart:
TE1: Irv Smith Jr.
TE2: Johnny Mundt
TE3: Ben Ellefson
TE4: Zach Davidson
TE5: Nick Muse
TE6: Shaun Beyer
If the Smith hubbub grows grimmer, the Vikings would have to lean on an unproven commodity at tight end, and it’s unlikely to find lightning in a bottle two years in a row. Tyler Conklin filling in admirably at TE1 in 2021 is not the norm. And that is precisely why Vikings enthusiasts have recommended the free-agent exploration of a player like Kyle Rudolph (too late — he signed with Tampa Bay Buccaneers), Jared Cook, Eric Ebron, Jimmy Graham, or Blake Jarwin for the last several weeks.
For a team eyeing playoff contendership, leaving TE2 to chance — with a man who just missed an entire season as TE1 on a top-heavy depth chart — is a little confusing.
Of course, all Smith fears could be laid to rest Tuesday, but this illustrates why the team would be wise to examine the free-agent market. The alternative is a pivot to Johnny Mundt (a Los Angeles Rams carryover by O’Connell) and a lot of finger-crossing.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. 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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