The Minnesota Vikings will be without their talented tight end Irv Smith Jr. at the start of the 2021 NFL season. Smith is set to spend an unspecified time on the sidelines after suffering a meniscus injury during a preseason game against the Kansas City Chiefs.
According to Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer, the 23-year-old player will undergo surgery at some point this week, and the team doesn’t have a timetable for his return just yet.
“We’ll just see where he’s at,” Zimmer told reporters. “A lot of times you can’t really tell anything until you get in there. We really won’t know until they get in there.”
The timetable should depend on the severity of Smith’s injury. If it’s a minor injury, he would be looking at several weeks before being able to play again. However, if he tore his meniscus and requires a repair, the Alabama product might need several months to regain his fitness.
In Smith’s absence, Minnesota will have to turn to 2018’s fifth-round pick Tyler Conklin, who has the most experience among all other TEs on the team roster. Rookie Zach Davidson, who also plays as a punter, should get an opportunity as well unless the Vikings add to the position before the season starts.
Irv Smith Jr. was the Vikings’ No. 50 pick in 2019. He played 29 games (14 starts) in the past two seasons, making 66 catches for 676 yards and seven TDs.
