He's Back

Minnesota Vikings safety Harrison Smith has fast become the team's best defensive player. The Vikings traded up to draft Smith out of Notre Dame in the first round of the 2012 NFL Draft. He was an immediate starter and an impact player as a rookie last year. A playmaking safety has been missing from the back of the Vikings defense since the days of Joey Browner over twenty years ago. Darren Sharper brought a couple of years of big plays but that vanished too quickly. Smith's rookie season brought hope that the days of tight ends running free through the Vikings defense were at an end. While the 2013 season has been something of a disaster in Minnesota it wasn't helped when Smith hurt his foot in week 6 against the Carolina Panthers. Not much had gone right even before the injury. Even less has gone right since the injury. The Vikings are at the bottom of nearly every defensive statistic. Harrison Smith has been missed.

Turf toe. I've always found turf toe to be a strange injury. It doesn't really sound like much. Too often we take the "little piggies" for granted. If one's not well, it's really tough to be mobile. From what I hear, turf toe injuries are pretty painful injuries. It's kept Harrison Smith out of action for about eight weeks. Fortunately, the NFL has a new rule that allows a team to put an injured player on an injured reserve list that allows for him to return before the season is done. Players placed on the list can return to practice after six weeks. They are eligible to return to the active roster after eight weeks. The Vikings can activate Smith after today's practice. Unless something goes awry, that will happen. He'll be able to play in Sunday's game against the Philadelphia Eagles. Chasing LeSean McCoy, DeSean Jackson and Nick Foles passes around the field all afternoon might not be the best thing for a player returning from a turf toe injury. Smith's full return to the playing field may be a gradual process. There's only three games left. Each is a game that poses a serious challenge to the health and stamina of a safety. The Eagles players and their up-tempo offensive style. The Cincinnati Bengals next week with A.J. Green, Marvin Jones, Tyler Eifert, and Jermaine Gresham. To close the 2013 season, the Vikings face the Detroit Lions and their defensive delight, Calvin Johnson. Fun stuff.

Harrison Smith has become a fan-favorite as quickly as he's become an impact player on defense. The two are often connected. Smith's energy and love of football are obvious. It's infectious for his defense and for the fans. It's a joy to watch Harrison Smith play football. Even for three games, it's great to have him back.