IRV SMITH NEWS

Tight end Smith 'locked in' despite Burrow's absence CINCINNATI — Bengals coach Zac Taylor isn’t concerned about new tight end Irv Smith Jr. potentially falling behind in acclimating to the off...

AUGUST 3, 2023 • DAYTONDAILYNEWS.COM

Irv Smith Jr. Not Sweating Joe Burrow's Absence: The Quarterback 'Is Very Active' in Cincinnati's Facility Smith signed a one-year deal with Cincinnati this past spring.

AUGUST 2, 2023 • STAR-TELEGRAM.COM

2023 Fantasy Football Sleepers: Tight Ends Irv Smith Jr., two rookies and two second-year players make up the top five tight end sleepers.

JUNE 8, 2023 • SACBEE.COM

How Joe Burrow led new tight end Irv Smith Jr. to join the Bengals Joining an offense with Joe Burrow was hard to turn down for new Bengals' tight end Irv Smith Jr.

APRIL 17, 2023 • CLEVELAND.COM

Irv Smith Jr. on Joe Burrow: 'He's an Amazing Competitor' Cincinnati signed the young tight end last month.

APRIL 17, 2023 • STAR-TELEGRAM.COM

Zac Taylor Confirms Irv Smith Jr.'s Role on Bengals Offense Cincinnati reshaped its tight end room over the last few weeks.

APRIL 17, 2023 • KANSASCITY.COM

Vikings Head Coach Kevin O'Connell Praises New Bengals Tight End Irv Smith Jr. The 24-year-old signed with Cincinnati last week

APRIL 2, 2023 • STAR-TELEGRAM.COM

Major Outlet Names Irv Smith Jr. One Of NFL Free Agency's Top Boom-Or-Bust Signings Cincinnati didn’t risk much financially to bring in Smith.

APRIL 1, 2023 • STAR-TELEGRAM.COM

Irv Smith Jr. Takes Some Senior NFL Advice And Bengals Offense Is The Beneficiary The first time new Bengals left tackle Orlando Brown Jr. lines up next to new Bengals tight end Irv Smith Jr., against, say, Cleveland sack...

MARCH 31, 2023 • BENGALS.COM

Look: Irv Smith Jr. Signs Contract With Bengals Cincinnati added the tight end to the 2023 crew earlier this week.

MARCH 30, 2023 • SACBEE.COM

Bengals Sign Irv Smith Jr. The Bengals today signed unrestricted free agent TE Irv Smith Jr. to a one-year contract for the 2023 season.

MARCH 30, 2023 • BENGALS.COM

Photos: Best Of Irv Smith Jr. So Far Check out the best photos of TE Irv Smith Jr. from his career so far.

MARCH 30, 2023 • BENGALS.COM

Look: New Bengals Tight End Irv Smith Jr. Wears Stripes For First Time in Latest Edit The 24-year-old is Cincinnati bound

MARCH 30, 2023 • NEWSOBSERVER.COM

Bengals Film Breakdown: What Irv Smith Jr. Adds to Cincinnati's Offense The Bengals are signing Smith to a one-year contract

MARCH 29, 2023 • NEWSOBSERVER.COM

Irv Smith Jr. On Joe Burrow: 'He's Been Outstanding' Smith is the Bengals newest tight end.

MARCH 29, 2023 • NEWSOBSERVER.COM

Irv Smith Jr. On Joe Burrow: 'He's Been Outstanding' Smith is the Bengals newest tight end.

MARCH 29, 2023 • STAR-TELEGRAM.COM

Vikings hit free agency with need at CB, salary cap strapped

The Minnesota Vikings are entering free agency with a salary cap crunch and pressing needs yet again at a vital position

MARCH 10, 2023 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Set to hit free agency Over eight regular-season games, Smith recorded 25 receptions (on 36 targets) for 182 yards and two touchdowns in 2022.

Impact Smith got out to a solid start over the first seven games of the season before landing on IR with a high-ankle sprain. The 2019 second-round pick then was activated ahead of the regular-season finale, though he'd already lost his No. 1 tight end spot to T.J. Hockenson, whom the Vikings acquired via trade from Detroit just before Smith went on injured reserve Nov. 1. Smith then finished the campaign by catching one of two targets while playing just four offensive snaps in the wild-card loss to the Giants. He thus finished the 2022 campaign with the lowest receiving marks of his career outside of the 2021 season, when he sat out every game due to a meniscus injury. Smith now is set to become an unrestricted free agent this offseason, leaving it possible he isn't retained by the Vikings.

JANUARY 24, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Super Wild Card Weekend highlights: Bengals survive Ravens; Giants, Bills win

NFL Super Wild Card Weekend continues Sunday with the Ravens battling the Bengals. Here are the top plays!

JANUARY 16, 2023

Cousins locates Irv Smith Jr. in back of end zone for TD Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins locates tight end Irv Smith Jr. in the back of end zone for a 3-yard touchdown.

JANUARY 16, 2023 • NFL.COM

Three catches in return from injury Smith gathered in all three targets for 14 yards during Sunday's 29-13 win over Chicago.

Impact It was Smith's first game since suffering a high-ankle sprain in an Oct. 30 win over the Cardinals. He'll work as the second tight end behind T.J. Hockenson, but Sunday's game showed he could have a role in the playoffs. He started at tight end with T.J. Hockenson when the Vikings opened in a two-tight end sets. He won't get many targets, but he may get significant snaps.

JANUARY 9, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Comes off IR Smith (ankle) was activated off injured reserve Saturday.

Impact The trade-deadline addition of T.J. Hockenson has limited the impact of Smith's inevitable return, but the multi-year starter is still a perfect complement in two-tight end sets and likely could be a factor in the Vikings' playoff push. Prior to suffering the ankle injury in Week 8, Smith tallied 22 receptions for 168 yards and two touchdowns as arguably the team's third option behind Justin Jefferson and Adam Thielen.

JANUARY 7, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Vikings Set to Activate TE Irv Smith Jr. From IR; Nick Muse Waived Smith will give the Vikings another pass-catching weapon in the playoffs.

JANUARY 6, 2023 • NEWSOBSERVER.COM

To be activated The Vikings plan to activate Smith (ankle) from injured reserve before Sunday's game against Chicago, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.

Impact Smith will return as the team's No. 2 tight end, behind trade-deadline addition T.J. Hockenson, with the talented duo potentially inspiring head coach Kevin O'Connell to use more two-tight end sets and fewer looks with three wide receivers and/or fullback C.J. Ham. However it plays out, Smith was designated to return from IR last week and apparently will make it back for the final game of the regular season as a tuneup for the playoffs.

JANUARY 6, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

T.J. Hockenson proves perfect fit for Vikings' offense

When tight end Irv Smith Jr. injured an ankle in Week 8, the Minnesota Vikings quickly added T

DECEMBER 28, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS