Coach Zac Taylor indicated Monday that he believes Smith can move into the pass-catching tight end role previously handled by Hayden Hurst, Kevin Patra of NFL.com reports. "Yeah, we think he can come in and play that role for us," Taylor noted of Smith. "There's always competition in that room, but that's the vision that we have for Irv to come in there and fill that role that Hayden had for us."
Hurst is now with the Panthers after recording a 52-414-2 receiving line on 68 targets over 13 regular-season appearances in 2022, so Smith has an opportunity to absorb a good portion of the Bengals' vacated tight end targets, assuming he can stay on the field. Since playing all 16 games as a rookie in 2019, he missed contests in each of the past three years for the Vikings. During the 2022 campaign, an ankle issue limited the 6-foot-2, 240-pounder to eight games and 25 catches for 182 yards and two TDs on 36 targets. When healthy, Smith's athleticism and pass-catching ability should prove to be assets in an offense helmed by Joe Burrow and which also returns the quality wideout trio of Ja'Marr Chase, Tee Higgins and Tyler Boyd.
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Bengals' Irv Smith: Latches on with Bengals
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Smith agreed to a one-year contract with Cincinnati on Monday, Peter Schrager of NFL Network reports.
Smith appeared in eight games a season ago with Minnesota and finished with 25 catches for 182 yards and a pair of scores. He should have a chance to make an immediate impact with the Bengals if he can stay healthy, as he'll join the likes of Devin Asiasi, Tanner Hudson and Nick Bowers in the team's tight end corps, which no longer includes free-agent departure Hayden Hurst.
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Vikings' Irv Smith: Set to hit free agency
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Over eight regular-season games, Smith recorded 25 receptions (on 36 targets) for 182 yards and two touchdowns in 2022.
Smith got out to a solid start over the first seven games of the season before landing on IR with a high-ankle sprain. The 2019 second-round pick then was activated ahead of the regular-season finale, though he'd already lost his No. 1 tight end spot to T.J. Hockenson, whom the Vikings acquired via trade from Detroit just before Smith went on injured reserve Nov. 1. Smith then finished the campaign by catching one of two targets while playing just four offensive snaps in the wild-card loss to the Giants. He thus finished the 2022 campaign with the lowest receiving marks of his career outside of the 2021 season, when he sat out every game due to a meniscus injury. Smith now is set to become an unrestricted free agent this offseason, leaving it possible he isn't retained by the Vikings.
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Vikings' Irv Smith: Three catches in return from injury
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Smith gathered in all three targets for 14 yards during Sunday's 29-13 win over Chicago.
It was Smith's first game since suffering a high-ankle sprain in an Oct. 30 win over the Cardinals. He'll work as the second tight end behind T.J. Hockenson, but Sunday's game showed he could have a role in the playoffs. Smith started at tight end with Hockenson when the Vikings opened in a two-tight end set. He won't get many targets, but Smith may get significant snaps.
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Vikings' Irv Smith: Comes off IR
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Smith (ankle) was activated off injured reserve Saturday.
The trade-deadline addition of T.J. Hockenson has limited the impact of Smith's inevitable return, but the multi-year starter is still a perfect complement in two-tight end sets and likely could be a factor in the Vikings' playoff push. Prior to suffering the ankle injury in Week 8, Smith tallied 22 receptions for 168 yards and two touchdowns as arguably the team's third option behind Justin Jefferson and Adam Thielen.
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Vikings' Irv Smith: Cleared to practice
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The Vikings designated Smith (ankle) for return from injured reserve Wednesday, Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.
The team now has 21 days to activate Smith to the roster or else keep him 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.
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Vikings' Irv Smith: Progressing, but still out Week 16
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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 Krammer of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports. "He looks really good," O'Connell said of Smith, who has resumed working out off to the side with trainers during practice. "Hopefully we can get him back with us soon."
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.
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Vikings' Irv Smith: Could return from IR soon
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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.
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.
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Vikings' Irv Smith: Goes on IR
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The Vikings placed Smith (ankle) on injured reserve Tuesday.
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 8-10 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, 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.
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Vikings' Irv Smith: Set to miss 8-to-10 weeks
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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.
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.
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Vikings' Irv Smith: Will miss time with ankle sprain
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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 reports.
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.
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Vikings' Irv Smith: High-ankle sprain feared
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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.
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.
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Vikings' Irv Smith: To have MRI on ankle
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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 reports.
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.
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Vikings' Irv Smith: Sleepers (Start/Sit)
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Smith gets an amazing matchup this week against the Cardinals, and he's worth using as a streaming option in all leagues. Arizona is No. 2 in most Fantasy points allowed to tight ends, and six have scored at least 10 PPR points against the Cardinals, with six touchdowns allowed. Smith scored a touchdown in his last game before Minnesota's bye in Week 7 with four catches for 7 yards on four targets at Miami in Week 6. This could be his breakout game of the season in Week 8.
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Vikings' Irv Smith: Week 8 Waiver Priority List
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Smith scored a touchdown in his last game before Minnesota's bye in Week 7 with four catches for 7 yards on four targets at Miami in Week 6. But that's not why he's listed here. He gets to face the Cardinals in Week 8, and that's a dream matchup. Arizona is No. 2 in most Fantasy points allowed to tight ends, and six have scored at least 10 PPR points against the Cardinals, with six touchdowns allowed. Smith could have a breakout game in this matchup, and he's worth adding for up to 5 percent of your remaining FAB.
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Vikings' Irv Smith: Makes four catches
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Smith caught four of five targets for 42 yards in Sunday's 29-22 win over the Bears.
Smith trailed only starting wideouts Justin Jefferson and Adam Thielen in targets, helping him post a season high in receiving yards. While that feat offers some reason for optimism ahead of Week 6's matchup versus the Dolphins, Smith's overall stock remains relatively modest.
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Vikings' Irv Smith: Three receptions Sunday
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Smith had three receptions for 23 yards on four targets in Sunday's win over New Orleans in London.
Smith again didn't get the start at tight end, but he got more snaps (43) on on offense than Johnny Mundt (20) and ran more routes (30-5). Despite Smith's meager production, he was third on the team in targets, which should bode well for better games ahead.
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Vikings' Irv Smith: Sleeper TEs
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Coach Kevin O'Connell said Smith would be more involved in Week 2 at Philadelphia after he barely played in Week 1 against Green Bay in his comeback from the thumb injury he had in training camp, and that's exactly what happened. Smith had eight targets against the Eagles and finished with five catches for 36 yards and a touchdown. He also missed out on what could have been a 60-yard touchdown in the game with a drop. Smith has top-10 upside this week against the Lions, who allowed Logan Thomas to score in Week 2.
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Vikings' Irv Smith: Week 3 Streamers (TE Preview)
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We fully expect Kirk Cousins to light up the Lions and Irv Smith looked like the No. 3 option in this offense we expected in Week 2. The only hesitation is how limited his role was in Week 1. Hopefully that was the aberration, but it's tough to trust him until we see for sure.
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Vikings' Irv Smith: Week 3 Waiver Priority List
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Kevin O'Connell said Irv Smith would be more involved in the offense in Week 2 at the Eagles, and he was with eight targets. He finished with five catches for 36 yards and a touchdown, and he should be in the conversation as a low-end starter in Week 3 against the Lions. And if he plays well in Week 3 then he could be a weekly starter moving forward. He's worth up to 10 percent of your remaining FAB.
