IRV SMITH JR. NEWS

Fantasy Updates: Irv Smith Jr. injury, Chris Herndon traded, John Brown released Irv Smith Jr. and Chris Herndon receive significant news that impacts fantasy rankings at tight end, and John Brown's release opens the door...

SEPTEMBER 1, 2021 • SPORTINGNEWS.COM

Vikings TE Smith likely done for season after knee surgery

The Minnesota Vikings are bracing for a season-long absence for on-the-rise tight end Irv Smith Jr., after knee surgery for a torn meniscus

SEPTEMBER 1, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Likely out for the year Smith (knee) is expected to miss the entire 2021 season, as he's facing a recovery timeline of 4-to-5 months after Wednesday surgery to repair his meniscus, Adam Schefter of ESPN r...

Impact The hope for fantasy managers was that Smith would get a meniscectomy rather than a meniscus repair. The timeline associated with the latter procedure means any chance of him playing this season will perhaps hinge on Minnesota qualifying for the playoffs. For now, Smith's potential breakout is on hold, while the Vikings are left with Tyler Conklin, Brandon Dillon and recent trade acquisition Chris Herndon as their options at tight end. Conklin should get plenty of snaps Week 1 against Cincinnati.

SEPTEMBER 1, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Jets trade Herndon, 6th-rounder to Vikings for 4th-rounder

The New York Jets traded tight end Chris Herndon along with a 2022 sixth-round draft pick to the Minnesota Vikings for a fourth-rounder in next year’s draft

AUGUST 31, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Tyler Conklin Explains Progress, Mentality for Filling in for Irv Smith, Jr. Minnesota Vikings Latest News

AUGUST 30, 2021 • VIKINGS.COM

Zimmer on Irv Smith Jr.'s Injury and Prognosis, Harrison Smith's New Deal and His Importance and Barr's Status Head Coach Mike Zimmer addressed the media from the TCO Performance Center on Monday.

AUGUST 30, 2021 • VIKINGS.COM

Fantasy Updates: Latest news on injured T.Y. Hilton & Irv Smith Jr., status update on Breshad Perriman as drafts approach. T.Y. Hilton, Irv Smith Jr., and Evan Engram popped up injury reports, with possible availability concerns ahead of fantasy football drafts,...

AUGUST 30, 2021 • SPORTINGNEWS.COM

Scheduled for meniscus surgery Smith (knee) will have surgery this week to address a meniscus injury, Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.

Impact Mike Zimmer confirmed Monday that Smith will have surgery and miss the start of the regular season. The Vikings coach said he wouldn't know about a timeline until after the procedure, as is often the case with meniscus injuries. There's a chance it could be season-ending, per Chad Graff of The Athletic, but also a chance Smith is looking at something as favorable as a four-week timeline, according to Courtney Cronin of ESPN.com. A meniscus repair likely would rule him out for four months or longer, while a meniscectomy (removal of the torn portion) could allow for a return around Weeks 3-5. The Vikings expect Tyler Conklin (hamstring) to return to practice Monday, but Zimmer acknowledged the team's TE depth isn't good, per Graff.

AUGUST 30, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Report: Vikings tight end Irv Smith Jr. to undergo knee surgery, miss start of season Smith, a 2019 second-round pick, was a strong candidate for a breakout season as he stepped into a starting role vacated by Kyle Rudolph's d...

AUGUST 30, 2021 • STARTRIBUNE.COM

Irv Smith Jr. Injury Update Crushes Fantasy Outlook, Boosts Tyler Conklin in 2021 Season With Kyle Rudolph finally gone, it was looking like Irv Smith Jr. could be positioned for a breakout season in 2021. That's been put on hold...

AUGUST 29, 2021 • FANDUEL.COM

Minnesota Vikings tight end Irv Smith Jr. to miss start of 2021 NFL season due to meniscus injury ' NFL News, Rankings and Statistics ' PFF Minnesota Vikings tight end Irv Smith, Jr. was set to become a major contributor this season, but a meniscus injury will cause him to miss t...

AUGUST 29, 2021 • PFF.COM

Vikings' Irv Smith Jr. out for start of season with meniscus injury: Source Smith, 23, was set to be the full-time starter at tight end entering his third NFL season, after veteran Kyle Rudolph was released in March.

AUGUST 29, 2021 • THEATHLETIC.COM

Set to miss time with knee injury Smith is expected to need a procedure to address a meniscus injury, which is expected to sideline the tight end for the start of the regular season, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network re...

Impact A firm timetable for Smith's return has yet to be outlined, but his anticipated absence would free up added snaps/touches for Tyler Conklin (hamstring), when healthy, as well as Brandon Dillon and Zach Davidson.

AUGUST 29, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Catches both targets Smith caught both his targets for 39 yards in Friday night's 28-25 preseason loss to the Chiefs.

Impact Smith hauled in a 23-yarder from Kirk Cousins to begin his night, then put Minnesota in a first-and-goal situation with a 16-yard grab a few plays later. Heading into his third season, Smith seems poised for a larger role complementing wideouts Justin Jefferson and Adam Thielen, putting his stock on the rise in advance of Week 1's matchup against the Bengals.

AUGUST 28, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Irv Smith Jr. Drags A Defender on A 23-Yard Catch-And-Run Minnesota Vikings tight end Irv Smith Jr. drags a Kansas City Chiefs defensive back with him on a 23-yard catch and run.

AUGUST 28, 2021 • VIKINGS.COM

Vikings Circle: Irv Smith Jr. On the latest episode of Vikings Circle, vikings.com's Gabe Henderson talked with TE Irv Smith Jr. about his goals for practices, the rivalr...

AUGUST 26, 2021 • VIKINGS.COM

Vikings' Smith aims high after time spent with NFL's top TEs

Irv Smith Jr. has become the top tight end for the Minnesota Vikings

AUGUST 25, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Irv Smith Jr. Fantasy Outlook Provides Top-12 TE Potential in 2021 Tight end is one of the toughest positions to draft in fantasy football as the options quickly become very shallow once the big names are go...

AUGUST 24, 2021 • FANDUEL.COM

Mostly quiet Saturday Smith corralled one of two targets for three yards during Saturday's preseason loss to the Colts.

Impact Smith made his only marks in the box score during the Vikings' second possession of the game, which resulted in a three-and-out. And with Justin Jefferson (shoulder), Adam Thielen (thigh) and Tyler Conklin (hamstring) all banged-up, the team may opt to rest its starting offense in preseason Week 3 with the regular-season opener in mind. If so, Smith may not experience game action again until Week 1 in Cincinnati.

AUGUST 22, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Vikings TE Irv Smith Jr. embraces Mike Zimmer's stern approach after blowout preseason loss Appearing on Good Morning Football Thursday, TE Irv Smith Jr. spoke about coach Mike Zimmer's hard-nosed interview during halftime of the Vi...

AUGUST 19, 2021 • NFL.COM

In Session: Summer School with TE Irv Smith, Jr. Minnesota Vikings Latest News

AUGUST 13, 2021 • VIKINGS.COM

Could see increased red-zone role Smith had two touchdowns in practice Wedneday and his role in the red zone looks to expand this season, Courtney Cronin of ESPN.com reports.

Impact Kyle Rudolph left in free agency in the offseason, which gives Smith an opportunity for a larger role. While head coach Mike Zimmer said earlier in the summer that Smith's role may stay the same and Tyler Conklin may be the one who gets a bigger boost in opportunity as the second tight end, it's possible that Smith takes over the red-zone role that Rudolph thrived in with 15 touchdowns between 2016 and 2017. However, Rudolph was 6-foot-6 and Smith is 6-foot-2, so the latter may not have the same efficiency. Smith's usage will be something to monitor in the preseason as he is well positioned for a Year 3 breakout in 2021.

AUGUST 4, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

3 Observations: Irv Smith, Jr., Showcases as Receiver & Blocker Minnesota Vikings Latest News

JULY 30, 2021 • VIKINGS.COM

Irv Smith Jr. makes eye-popping, juggling grab at Vikes camp Check out the juggling catch by Minnesota Vikings tight end Irv Smith Jr. at training camp.

JULY 30, 2021 • NFL.COM

Irv Smith Jr. Makes Juggling Grab During Friday's Practice Check out the juggling catch by Minnesota Vikings tight end Irv Smith Jr. at training camp.

JULY 30, 2021 • VIKINGS.COM