JANUARY 6, 2023 • NEWSOBSERVER.COM
IRV SMITH #83 - TIGHT END - HOUSTON TEXANS
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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.
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 TDECEMBER 28, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Vikings getting healtier, activate Irv Smith Jr's practice window The Vikings are getting healthier every week
DECEMBER 28, 2022 • USATODAY.COM
Designated for IR return The Vikings are designating Smith (ankle) to return from injured reserve, Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.
Impact The team now has 21 days to activate Smith to the roster or else place him back on IR for the rest of the season. He'll presumably rejoin the Vikings for the playoffs, if not one or both of the final two games of the regular season, though in a secondary role behind standout trade acquisition T.J. Hockenson.
DECEMBER 28, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Progressing, but still out Week 16 Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell said Thursday that Smith (ankle) is progressing, but the tight end will remain on injured reserve for Saturday's game against the Giants, Andrew...
Impact O'Connell remains optimistic that the tight end will play again this season, but until the Vikings designate him for return from injured reserve, Smith won't be eligible to practice with the team and will continue to rehab off to the side. If Smith is able to make it back for Week 17 or 18 games against the Packers and Bears, respectively, he would likely be in store for a limited role behind top tight end T.J. Hockenson, whom the Vikings acquired shortly after Smith suffered his high-ankle sprain Oct. 30.
DECEMBER 23, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Could return from IR soon Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell said Thursday that Smith (ankle) is close to returning from injured reserve, Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.
Impact Because Smith hasn't been designated for return from IR and thus hasn't resumed practicing with the Vikings since suffering a high-ankle sprain in an Oct. 30 win over the Cardinals, he won't be a candidate to play Saturday against the Colts. However, Tomasson notes that Smith was able to get some work off to the side during Thursday's practice, perhaps hinting that the tight end could be ready to mix into drills at some point next week. Even if Smith is able to return to action at some point over the final three games of the regular season, he'll likely find himself in a much smaller role after the Vikings added a more established tight end in T.J. Hockenson to the roster in the wake of Smith's injury.
DECEMBER 15, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Spotted jogging Thursday Smith (ankle) was present for the Vikings' practice session Thursday and was spotted jogging off to the side under the supervision of the team's training staff, Alec Lewis of The A...
Impact The Vikings haven't designated Smith for return from injured reserve and are unlikely to do so before the end of the week, but the fact that the tight end was at the team facility taking part of cardio work suggests that a return to practice could soon be in the offing. Smith was able to avoid surgery after suffering a significant high-ankle sprain in the Vikings' Oct. 30 win over the Cardinals, though head coach Kevin O'Connell said that he anticipated the 24-year-old would miss 4-to-8 weeks in total while recovering from the injury. Smith is just over five weeks removed from sustaining the high-ankle sprain and looks to be tracking toward the midpoint or longer end of that timeframe. Whenever he's cleared to play, Smith will likely have to settle for a bit role on offense, as trade-deadline pickup T.J. Hockenson is poised to dominate the snaps at tight end so long as he's available.
DECEMBER 8, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Should avoid surgery Coach Kevin O'Connell expects Smith (ankle) to avoid surgery and gave a timeline estimate of 4-to-8 weeks Friday, Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.
Impact The Vikings hope to get Smith back at some point in December or January, though his role won't be what it was if new teammate T.J. Hockenson stays healthy. The Vikings traded for Hockenson at the trade deadline after Smith injured his ankle in a Week 8 win over Arizona, with initial reports suggesting the latter would miss 8-to-10 weeks. O'Connell apparently is a bit more optimistic but still expects Smith to be out a while. The tight end was placed on injured reserve Tuesday.
NOVEMBER 4, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Vikings' Hockenson giddy over move near home, into 1st place
TNOVEMBER 2, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Surgery possible Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell said Wednesday that Smith may need surgery on the high-ankle sprain he sustained this past Sunday against the Cardinals, Andrew Krammer of the Mi...
Impact Smith is getting a second opinion to determine whether a procedure is necessary, but despite initial reports that his recovery timetable will be 8-to-10 weeks, O'Connell told Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press that he doesn't have precise time frame for the tight end. Ultimately, Smith is in danger of missing most of the rest of the regular season, which likely spurred the Vikings to acquire T.J. Hockenson from the Lions on Tuesday. As long as Smith is sidelined, Hockenson and Johnny Mundt will be the main tight ends in Minnesota.
NOVEMBER 2, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Record-setting 12 players dealt on NFL trade deadline day
The NFL trade deadline turned into a frenzy with 15 teams making 10 deals involving 12 players and several draft picksNOVEMBER 1, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Goes on IR The Vikings placed Smith (ankle) on injured reserve Tuesday.
Impact Smith's move to IR became a foregone conclusion after Adam Schefter of ESPN reported earlier in the day that the 24-year-old will likely be sidelined for 8-to-10 weeks due to the high-ankle sprain he suffered in Sunday's win over the Cardinals. In response to Smith's upcoming absence, the Vikings acquired one of the NFL's better tight ends in T.J. Hockenson from the Lions, and Hockenson will likely remain atop the depth chart for the rest of the season so long as he's healthy. With that in mind, Smith doesn't look as though he'll be in line for a substantial role if he's able to make it back from IR during the final few weeks of the season.
NOVEMBER 1, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Vikings TE Irv Smith Jr. Goes on IR, Could Miss 8-10 Weeks With Ankle Injury Another brutal injury blow for Smith, whose promising career has been held back by them.
NOVEMBER 1, 2022 • STAR-TELEGRAM.COM
Vikings acquire tight end TJ Hockenson in trade with Lions
The Minnesota Vikings have acquired tight end TNOVEMBER 1, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Set to miss 8-to-10 weeks Smith is in line to miss 8-to-10 weeks as a result of the high-ankle sprain that he sustained during Sunday's win against the Cardinals, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Impact With such a lengthy recovery timeline, Smith inevitably will be placed on injured reserve by the Vikings, who replaced him by trading for T.J. Hockenson on Tuesday. The timing perhaps was fortuitous for the team, but Smith himself now will be hard-pressed to see action before the end of the regular season. While he is sidelined, Hockenson and Johnny Mundt will be Minnesota's tight ends for the foreseeable future, although the latter is primarily a blocker.
NOVEMBER 1, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Will miss time with ankle sprain Smith is expected to miss multiple weeks after he was diagnosed with a high-ankle sprain following his early exit from Sunday's 34-26 win over the Cardinals, Adam Schefter of ESPN...
Impact The Vikings made it apparent that they anticipated Smith would miss time, as the team acquired T.J. Hockenson from the divisional rival Lions on Tuesday. Hockenson should immediately step in as the Vikings' new No. 1 tight end beginning with this Sunday's game in Washington, and his superior production through his first three-plus seasons in the NFL suggests he'll retain that spot atop the depth chart even after Smith returns. Before suffering the ankle injury, the third-year player had been a serviceable secondary target in the Vikings' passing game, having turned in a 22-168-2 line through the first seven games. However, his injury and the addition of Hockenson means that Smith is a drop candidate in nearly every redraft league.
NOVEMBER 1, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Vikings seeing the benefit of leadership change in 6-1 start
Patrick Peterson and Jordan Hicks, two defensive starters for the Minnesota Vikings, didn’t hold back with teammates or reporters regarding the unceremonious endings to their tenur...OCTOBER 31, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Deemed week-to-week by HC Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell said Monday that Smith (ankle) looks "week-to-week," Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.
Impact This news isn't all that surprising given Smith is believed to have a high-ankle sprain, which normally sidelines players for multiple weeks. However, it's noteworthy because it's the first official indication that Smith is unlikely to play Sunday against the Commanders. The talented tight end still is awaiting MRI results, so the extent of the situation isn't known yet, but if Smith misses time, expect Johnny Mundt and Jacob Hollister to garner increased roles Week 9.
OCTOBER 31, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Vikings TE Irv Smith Jr. Expected to Miss Time With High Ankle Sprain Could Smith’s injury impact the Vikings’ trade deadline plans?
OCTOBER 31, 2022 • NEWSOBSERVER.COM
High-ankle sprain feared The Vikings' initial belief is that Smith suffered a high-ankle sprain during Sunday's 34-26 win over the Cardinals, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reports.
Impact Smith will undergo further testing including an MRI on Monday, but if a high-ankle sprain is confirmed, the tight end likely will be forced to miss time. Johnny Mundt and Jacob Hollister would stand to handle increased roles and hold down the tight end position if Smith indeed needs to sit out. Smith has logged three straight games with exactly four catches, which he translated into 28 receiving yards Sunday.
OCTOBER 31, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Vikings Injury Updates: Dalvin Tomlinson, Irv Smith Jr. Will Have MRIs Za’Darius Smith and Adam Thielen both got banged up but were able to remain in the game.
OCTOBER 30, 2022 • KANSASCITY.COM
To have MRI on ankle Coach Kevin O'Connell said Smith sustained an ankle injury during Sunday's 34-26 win versus the Cardinals and will undergo an MRI, Ben Goessling of the Minneapolis Star Tribune rep...
Impact For the third game in a row, Smith hauled in exactly four passes en route to 28 yards, placing him fourth on the Vikings in terms of yardage Week 8. Having said that, he emerged from the contest with a health concern, with the upcoming evaluation potentially providing some clarity as to the extent of the injury.
OCTOBER 30, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Week 7 fantasy TE rankings for standard leagues The bye weeks took two key tight ends from us last week (Darren Waller, T.J. Hockenson), and this week, we're down at least three potential...
OCTOBER 17, 2022 • SPORTINGNEWS.COM
Finds end zone in win Smith brought in all four targets for seven yards and a touchdown in the Vikings' 24-16 win over the Dolphins on Sunday.
Impact The athletic tight end recorded his second consecutive four-catch tally, and although he produced his second-lowest yardage total of the season, he partly made up for it with a one-yard touchdown grab in the second quarter. The score was Smith's second of the season,, and after sitting out all of last season following knee surgery, the 24-year-old has has been encouragingly consistent while producing an 18-140-2 tally following a blanking in the opener.
OCTOBER 16, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
