The Minnesota Vikings put tight end Irv Smith Jr. on injured reserve on Tuesday, but they replaced the former Alabama standout with a Pro Bowler.
Smith sustained an ankle injury in the Vikings’ 34-26 victory over the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday. By going to injured reserve, Smith will be required to miss at the least the next four games, although ESPN reported Smith likely would be sidelined for the next eight to 10 weeks by a high ankle sprain. Minnesota has 10 games remaining on its regular-season schedule.
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Before the NFL’s trade deadline arrived at 3 p.m. CDT Tuesday, the Vikings obtained T.J. Hockenson from Detroit by sending a 2023 second-round draft pick and a 2024 third-round draft pick to the Lions for the tight end, a 2023 fourth-round draft pick and a 2024 conditional fourth-round draft pick.
Smith has 22 receptions for 168 yards and two touchdowns in seven games this season. A Pro Bowl pick in 2020, Hockenson has 26 receptions for 395 yards and three touchdowns in seven games in the 2022 campaign.
Smith joined Minnesota in the second round of the 2019 NFL Draft and caught 66 passes for 676 yards and seven touchdowns in his first two seasons while forming a tight-end tandem with Kyle Rudolph.
In 2021, Smith sustained a meniscus injury in the Vikings’ preseason finale and missed the entire season.
Smith’s injury troubles continued at training camp for the 2022 season when he hurt his thumb on Aug. 1 and had surgery the next day. Smith returned to practice on Aug. 22.
Minnesota will try to improve its 6-1 record on Sunday, when the Vikings square off against the Washington Commanders at noon CST at FedEx Field in Landover, Maryland.
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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.
