Headed for Week 1 start Conklin (hamstring) is scheduled to return to practice Monday, while fellow Vikings tight end Irv Smith needs knee surgery, Chad Graff of The Athletic reports. Impact There's a chance Smith's surgery is season-ending, if it ends up being a meniscus repair rather than a meniscectomy/debridement. Meanwhile, Conklin's return Monday puts him on track for the start Week 1 at Cincinnati, after missing the past two weeks of practice and the final two preseason games. His solid performance last year had him locked in for the No. 2 spot at tight end this season, but while the Vikings may be comfortable using Conklin as a fill-in starter, Zimmer acknowledged Monday that he's worried about depth. He's right to be concerned, as the Vikings now have only a rookie fifth-round pick (Zach Davidson) and two undrafted young players (Brandon Dillon, Shane Zylstra) behind Conklin, who himself had caught just 13 passes in 39 NFL games before he took on a larger role around Week 10 last year. Even so, Conklin could have short-term fantasy value if he defaults to a three-down role in what should be a solid offense.
AUGUST 30, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
