Overview

• Smith said his absence stemmed from a physical matter rather than mental health and that he is focused on rebuilding conditioning and practice volume.
• He returned to practice last Saturday for the first time since August 11 and did not travel for the Week 1 game in Chicago.
• The 36-year-old expects to be available before the four-game threshold, indicating a timeline around Week 4 if his readiness aligns with team evaluations.
• The Vikings declined to use injured reserve or the reserve/non-football illness list at cutdown, keeping him eligible to play sooner than four weeks.
• With Smith out, Theo Jackson and Josh Metellus played every defensive snap and Jay Ward worked in three-safety packages, as Flores noted Smith’s role is uniquely difficult to replace, and the team is also dealing with injuries to Christian Darrisaw, Blake Cashman, Andrew Van Ginkel, Jeff Okudah and Ty Chandler.