Vikings' Harrison Smith: Will make 2025 debut vs. Cincinnati
Rotowire
Smith (illness) is active for Sunday's game against the Bengals.
Smith missed the Vikings' first two games of the regular season while recovering from a personal health issue. The veteran safety was limited in practice all of last week, but he has done enough to be cleared to make his 2025 debut Sunday. Smith is expected to start alongside Josh Metellus at safety while Theo Jackson serves in a rotational role. Smith finished with 87 tackles (56 solo), including 1.0 sacks, 10 pass defenses (three interceptions) and a fumble recovery across 16 regular-season games in 2024.
... See More... See Less
Vikings' Harrison Smith: Expected to play Sunday
Rotowire
Smith (illness) remains listed as questionable but is expected to be available to play Sunday against the Bengals, barring a last-minute setback, Dianna Russini of The Athletic reports.
Smith, who has missed the Vikings' first two games while recovering from a personal health issue, practiced in a limited fashion this week. Assuming Smith is active Sunday, his addition would provide a boost in the secondary and could result in either Josh Metellus or Theo Jackson losing out on snaps. Over 16 appearances in 2024, Smith recorded 87 tackles and three interceptions.
... See More... See Less
Vikings' Harrison Smith: Not playing Week 2
Rotowire
Smith (illness) is inactive for Sunday's game against Atlanta, Craig Peters of the Vikings' official site reports.
Smith will miss a second consecutive game while battling an illness that popped up in the week leading up to the Vikings' regular-season opener against the Bears. He gave himself a chance to suit up Sunday by logging limited practices this past week but has not been cleared to play, which puts Theo Jackson in line to start at safety alongside Josh Metellus for a second consecutive week. Smith's next chance to suit up is Week 3 against the Bengals on Sunday, Sept. 21.
... See More... See Less
Vikings' Harrison Smith: Questionable for Sunday
Rotowire
Smith (illness) is listed as questionable ahead of Sunday's matchup against the Falcons, Kevin Seifert of ESPN.com reports.
Smith logged consecutive limited practice sessions to begin the Vikings' week of practice after missing the Week 1 win over the Bears due to an illness. The 14th-year safety remained productive in 2024, recording 87 total tackles and 10 passes defended, including three interceptions, over 16 regular-season contests. Smith's potential return Sunday could prove vital for a Minnesota secondary that could be without both Isaiah Rodgers (elbow) and Jeff Okudah (concussion). However, if Smith is unable to play in Week 2, expect Theo Jackson to start opposite Josh Metellus as part of the Vikings' top safety duo.
... See More... See Less
Vikings' Harrison Smith: Estimated as limited Wednesday
Rotowire
Smith (illness) was estimated as limited in Wednesday's practice walkthrough.
Smith missed time during training camp due to a personal issue and then was reported to be dealing with an illness last week, though it's unclear if the two events are related. The Vikings have so far decided not to put the veteran safety on injured reserve, so the expectation is that he'll be able to return by Week 4. Smith affirmed that belief Wednesday, saying that he expects to be back within a four-week window and describing his health issue as "physical," per Alec Lewis of The Athletic. With Smith sidelined for the Week 1 win over the Bears, Theo Jackson started at safety and logged 100 percent of the Vikings' defensive snaps. Jackson is expected to make another start Sunday versus the Falcons in Smith's stead.
... See More... See Less
Vikings' Harrison Smith: Limited on Friday
Rotowire
Smith (illness) was upgraded to a limited practice Friday.
Smith was under the weather Thursday but has an extra day to get ready for Monday night's Week 1 opener against the Bears. The veteran safety is entering his 14th season in Minnesota and started 16 regular-season contests last season.
... See More... See Less
Vikings' Harrison Smith: Absent from practice Wednesday
Rotowire
Smith (personal) did not practice Wednesday, Ben Goessling of The Minnesota Star Tribune reports.
Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell said, "The hope is we can ramp [Smith] up" through the week, indicating the starting safety could suit up Monday at home against the Bears, but he hasn't practiced since Aug. 11 due to what's been deemed a personal matter. Jay Ward and Theo Jackson will be candidates to handle expanded defensive snaps if Smith is unavailable Week 1.
... See More... See Less
Vikings' Harrison Smith: Dealing with personal matter
Rotowire
Smith has been out since Aug. 11 while managing a personal matter and will be evaluated by the Vikings on a weekly basis, Ben Goessling of The Minnesota Star Tribune reports.
Smith remains on Minnesota's active roster but it appears that he could be unavailable Week 1 against the Bears while managing a personal matter. He reworked his contract back in March to remain with the Vikings for the 2025 campaign.
... See More... See Less
Vikings' Harrison Smith: Staying with Vikings
Rotowire
Smith will stay with the Vikings after re-working his contract, Alec Lewis of The Athletic reports.
Smith's new deal is worth about $11 million and will tie him to Minnesota -- where he has spent the entirety of his 13-year career -- for the 2025 campaign. He should continue to serve as one of the team's starting safeties after having tallied 87 tackles (56 solo), with 1.0 sacks, and an interceptions a season ago.
... See More... See Less
Vikings' Harrison Smith: Logs 87 tackles in 13th season
Rotowire
Smith finished the 2024 season with 87 tackles (56 solo), including 1.0 sacks, 10 pass breakups, including three interceptions, and one fumble recovery across 16 regular-season contests.
The 29th overall pick of the 2012 NFL Draft, Smith has played all 13 seasons with the Vikings and has started 191 games for the franchise. He's now scheduled to be a free agent in March after logging at least 80 tackles for the 10th time in his career. Smith's 10 pass breakups also matched the third most of his distinguished career. Smith turns 36 years old in February, and Minnesota has a long list of free agents on the defensive side of the ball, including fellow starting safety Camryn Bynum, cornerback Byron Murphy and breakout edge rusher Pat Jones.
... See More... See Less
Vikings' Harrison Smith: Cleared to play Week 17
Rotowire
Smith (foot) doesn't carry an injury designation into Sunday's game against the Packers, Kevin Seifert of ESPN.com reports.
Smith missed last Sunday's win over the Seahawks, but he practiced in full to close out this week and is ready to return to the field following the one-game absence. Smith has 79 tackles (51 solo), including three TFLs and 1.0 sacks, nine pass breakups, including two interceptions, and one fumble recovery across 14 games this season.
... See More... See Less
Vikings' Harrison Smith: Practices in full Thursday
Rotowire
Smith (foot) was a full participant in practice Thursday.
Smith was estimated as a non-participant Wednesday, so his upgrade to full participation one day later bodes well for his likelihood of suiting up Sunday versus Green Bay. The veteran safety missed last Sunday's win over the Seahawks, which was his first regular-season absence since the 2022 campaign. Smith ranks fourth on the Vikings with 79 tackles this season.
... See More... See Less
Vikings' Harrison Smith: Likely available vs. GB
Rotowire
Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell said Monday that Smith (foot) "should be able to progress through the week and be available for us" in Minnesota's Week 17 game against the Packers, Alec Lewis of The Athletic reports.
Smith missed his first game of the season this past weekend versus the Seahawks, but it appears his injury won't be a long-term issue and that he'll be available for a key divisional clash versus Green Bay. The starting safety has been a major component of Minnesota's defense so far this season, logging 79 tackles (51 solo) and nine passes defended, including two interceptions. If he is unable to suit up for Week 17, Jay Ward or Theo Jackson should get the start.
... See More... See Less
Vikings' Harrison Smith: Inactive for Week 16
Rotowire
Smith (foot) is inactive for Sunday's game against the Seahawks, Alec Lewis of The Athletic reports.
Smith was given the questionable tag for Sunday's game after logging a DNP/LP/DNP practice week due to a foot injury, and the veteran safety has not progressed enough in his recovery to play. Jay Ward and Theo Jackson are the top candidates to start at strong safety alongside free safety Camryn Bynum due to Smith's injury. Smith's next opportunity to play will be Week 17 against the Packers on Sunday, Dec. 29.
... See More... See Less
Vikings' Harrison Smith: Looks like game-time call
Rotowire
Smith is considered a "legit game-time decision" and will fully test his injured foot out about two hours before Sunday's 4:05 p.m. ET kickoff in Seattle, Jay Glazer reported on "Fox NFL Sunday."
Smith is listed as questionable for the Week 16 contest. He was a limited participant in practice Friday, which gave Smith some hope of suiting up Sunday after he sat out Thursday's session entirely. Official word on the veteran safety's status will arrive when Minnesota posts its inactive list 90 minutes prior to kickoff.
... See More... See Less
Vikings' Harrison Smith: Could play in Week 16
Rotowire
Smith (foot) is listed as questionable ahead of Sunday's matchup against the Seahawks.
Smith appeared to be trending toward not playing in Sunday's affair after downgrading from a limited practice session Wednesday to a DNP on Thursday. However, he practiced in a limited capacity Friday, giving himself a chance to suit up in Week 16. If the veteran safety is unable to go Sunday, expect Jay Ward to start alongside Camryn Bynum in Minnesota's secondary.
... See More... See Less
Vikings' Harrison Smith: Limited on Wednesday
Rotowire
Smith (foot) was limited in Wednesday's practice.
It's a new injury for Smith, who hasn't been listed on the injury report since September. The veteran safety has started all 14 games this season but did play just 81 percent of the defensive snaps Monday night against the Bears, his lowest snap rate since Week 3. On the year, Smith has logged 79 tackles (51 solo), including three TFLs and 1.0 sacks, nine pass breakups, including two interceptions, and one fumble recovery.
... See More... See Less
Vikings' Harrison Smith: Collects 11 tackles in win
Rotowire
Smith recorded 11 tackles (nine solo) during Sunday's 30-27 overtime win at Chicago.
Smith was on the field for all 73 of the Vikings' defensive snaps in Week 12, and he was able to turn in a season-high tackle total. His every-down role will keep him on the fringe of the IDP radar for a Week 13 tilt versus the Cardinals.
... See More... See Less
Vikings' Harrison Smith: Picks off pass in win
Rotowire
Smith recorded three solo tackles and two pass breakups, including an interception, in Sunday's 23-13 win over the Titans.
The veteran safety also played on all 55 defensive snaps. Smith now has 53 tackles (32 solo), including 1.0 sacks, seven pass breakups, including two interceptions, and a fumble recovery in 2024.
... See More... See Less
Vikings' Harrison Smith: Six tackles in win
Rotowire
Smith had six total tackles and a pass defensed in Sunday's win over Houston.
Smith nearly had a pick-six when he blocked a pass attempt on a blitz and almost caught the rebound. Smith played on 52 of the defense's 67 snaps. He's played on 76 percent or more of the defense's snaps each of the first three games despite preseason talk of pacing the veteran's play this season.
