MN Vikings Legend Just a Role Player Now?

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Harrison Smith, Minnesota Vikings
Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images

This season the Minnesota Vikings have their sights set on winning the whole thing. Although they started young quarterback J.J. McCarthy, general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah added aging veterans in free agency with an intention of competing immediately.

Those plans have been somewhat thwarted by injury, but at 3-2, they are still right in the thick of things. Early on the largest question marks came in the form of availability for both Christian Darrisaw and Harrison Smith.

The left tackle has largely thwarted those at this point, but they continue to swirl for the legendary saftey.

Harrison Smith status still murky for Minnesota Vikings

At 36 years old Harrison Smith is no spring chicken. He is a 14-year veteran and has played three of the Vikings six games this season. What’s notable is that despite never having played less than 90% of defensive snaps in a season, he is at 38% this year. Brian Flores was asked about that reality.

With the bye week behind him, this will be the week to watch what Smith’s snap count looks like. It’s one thing for the Vikings to suggest they still are deploying the six-time Pro Bowl selection in an intended capacity. It’s entirely different for the usage to be this limited with murky details in the first place.

Harrison Smith missed the majority of training camp with a personal illness. No one has ever reported specifically what he is or was dealing with, and he has not publicly commented on it either. With no benefit of doubt, this has turned into an aging player being filtered out.

If Smith is going to contribute something this season, then his usage must be more than sporadic. Of course Josh Metellus and Theo Jackson are the intended future, but there was little reason to bring back Smith if this was the role he was going to play.

Adam Thielen on the Harrison Smith plan for Vikings

Harrison Smith isn’t the only Vikings legend that’s seeing things go downhill when it comes to usage. Of course Minnesota was all over trading for him as depth with Jordan Addison’s suspension. He has quickly turned into little more than a roster placeholder.

Thielen has been active for all five of Minnesota’s games, and he has started three of them. Despite that level of opportunity, he has just four receptions on eight targets for 37 yards. His snap count dropped to 69% with Carolina last year, and now in his 12th year, it’s just 46% for Minnesota.

The tandem of Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison are the best duo in the league. Minnesota fully intends to keep them together. It’s a contract year for Jalen Nailor, and he has continued to see extended run with the Vikings (78% snap count). Thielen has been the one pushed out of the picture.

This certainly feels like Thielen’s swan song, and it would be fun if the Minnesota Vikings can do something fun with it. Either way, it’s been an incredible career for a guy who came with very few expectations.

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