The Minnesota Vikings are happy to have All-Pro and Pro Bowl safety Harrison Smith back on the field after he missed the first two weeks of the regular season with an undisclosed illness.
However, the Vikings are also being smart with the 36-year-old veteran.
Now in his 14th NFL season, Smith is a six-time Pro Bowler and one-time All-Pro. The Vikings want to ensure he is healthy and available down the stretch of the campaign. As such, they are taking the proper precautions.
Vikings Taking Deliberate Approach With Harrison Smith
Smith’s playing time, or lack thereof, has not gone unnoticed by Vikings fans, even those with ties to the coaching staff.
“[Vikings defensive coordinator] Brian Flores said today that even his sons have been asking him why Harrison Smith hasn’t played more snaps,” ESPN’s Kevin Seifert reported on X on October 2. “Like Smith and Kevin O’Connell, Flores explained that there is a pre-discussed rampup underway after Smith missed the majority of training camp.”
Flores, like many Vikings fans and fellow coaches, is a big fan of Smith’s.
“I think he adds an element of disguise, acumen, experience,” Flores told reporters after Smith’s first game back. “I was excited for him to get out there in front of the home crowd.
“We get the starting 11. We had to go 12 because Harry’s got to come out. That was good. That was good to kind of hear that the crowd roar for him, because he’s such a – he is the epitome of a Viking, and it was great to have him out there.”
Still, the Vikings have indeed long planned to take the cautious road with Smith
Kevin O’Connell Explains Plan for Harrison Smith
“It’s just a matter of time back on the grass,” O’Connell told reporters in early September before Smith’s season debut in Week 3. “It’s definitely not mental. He’s been doing this long enough to stay sharp. But yeah, it’s more of a physical ramp up for him as we move forward.”
Seifert previously laid out just how judiciously the Vikings have used Smith in his two games played this season.
“Harrison Smith has been a sub package player in each of his first two games back from a personal health issue,” Seifert posted on X on September 29. “He recorded 17 snaps Sunday in Dublin after playing 22 in Week 3 vs. Bengals. That’s roughly 35% of the Vikings‘ defensive snaps over the 2-week period.”
Smith is not looking to rock the boat, understanding that he is going through a process.
Harrison Smith Gets Honest About Ramp-Up Process
Smith has not shared much about his illness, but he shared a post on Facebook in September thanking fans for their support during his ordeal. More recently, he expressed a willingness to do whatever is asked of him and the difficulties of being a rotation player.
Smith had started every game he played in since 2013 before this season.
“I’m not sure [what the plan is] yet. Pretty flexible. And, yeah. Kind of like I’ve said the past couple weeks, just building just building it [stamina] back,” Smith told reporters on October 1.
“I think just normally playing every snap, you kind of tend to get in a flow a little bit easier. So, just trying to figure that out, which it’s not like rocket science or anything. But that’s about it, really. Just staying warm on the sideline, being alert, ready whenever I’m going in.”