EAGAN, Minn. — The Minnesota Vikings plan to activate tight finish Irv Smith Jr. from injured reserve in time for Sunday's recreation on the Chicago Bears, coach Kevin O'Connell stated Friday.
Smith entered the season because the Vikings' prime pass-catching tight finish, however he hasn't performed since struggling a excessive ankle sprain within the Vikings' 34-26 victory over the Arizona Cardinals in Week 8. The Vikings acquired tight finish T.J. Hockenson two days later, and Hockenson has gone on to catch 59 passes for 503 yards and three touchdowns in 9 video games with the workforce.
There have been preliminary fears that Smith's harm would finish his season, however after medical doctors determined that Smith did not want surgical procedure, the Vikings enacted a plan to get him again on the sphere for the playoffs. He caught 22 passes for 168 yards and two touchdowns within the first seven video games of the season and can present depth and the potential of three-tight finish alignments shifting ahead.
“He is a participant I am enthusiastic about,” O'Connell stated. “You speak about depth charts and the way it's a must to record it, however while you get into totally different personnel groupings and what number of tight ends you need to have on the sphere, to have a man like that becoming a member of TJ and Johnny [Mundt] is an actual constructive.”
To make room on the roster for Smith, the Vikings waived rookie tight finish Nick Muse. Defensive lineman Jonathan Bullard (biceps) can also be anticipated to be activated from injured reserve this weekend.
