Vikings Territory: Bittersweet Events Round Out Vikings Final Week Of Preseason

Press release from Vikings Territory:

Dustin Baker Dustin Baker

2021-08-29

In chronological order on Sunday, news hit that tight end Irv Smith Jr. is injured indefinitely while safety Harrison Smith signed a contract extension that will likely keep the veteran with the Minnesota Vikings for the duration of his career.

Now, the Vikings pump the brakes as Smith Jr. undergoes surgery to repair his meniscus. Should the procedure entail something minor, he’ll will be shelved for less than a month. The alternative, however, is grimmer.

August 29, 2021

And that means that Tyler Conklin, a 26-year-old TE2 from Central Michigan, gets the nod at TE1 barring any trades or splashy free-agent signings by the Vikings. Tyler Eifert is a battle-tested, 30-year-old free agent. Zach Ertz with the Philadelphia Eagles has long wanted out of Philadelphia, so that would be a possibility to explore if Smith Jr. is lost for all of 2021.

Contrarily, the good news for Minnesota  — regarding the other Smith — followed mere minutes after the Smith Jr. bombshell.

August 29, 2021

This agreement was in the making for most of the offseason. The Vikings kept their cap room flexible, presumably preparing for the extensions of Smith and right tackle Brian O’Neill. Well, Smith was the first of the two to solidify an extended Minnesota stay.

Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday along with Raun Sawh and Sally from Minneapolis. His Viking fandom dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ and The Doors (the band).

This press release was produced by Vikings Territory .The views expressed here are the author’s own.