EAGAN, Minn. — Minnesota Vikings safety Harrison Smith is expected to recover fully from a personal health issue that caused him to miss the final two weeks of training camp, according to sources familiar with the situation. His timetable for returning to practice and for the start of the regular season remains unclear.
Smith has made six Pro Bowls and, at age 36, continues to be a significant part of the Vikings’ defense. The organization often provides veteran players with rest days during training camp, but Smith’s last appearance at practice was on Aug. 11. Two days later, head coach Kevin O’Connell announced that Smith was away from the team due to an illness.
Since then, Smith has not participated in practices or played in any of the team’s final two preseason games. His status will be reviewed weekly, according to sources.
If Smith is not available for the Vikings’ first game against the Chicago Bears on Sept. 8, backup Theo Jackson is expected to take his place in the starting lineup. Josh Metellus remains Minnesota’s other starting safety, though defensive coordinator Brian Flores often rotates him into different roles on defense.
The Vikings included Smith on their 53-man roster this week rather than placing him on injured reserve—an action that would have required him to miss at least four games. He was also named one of eight team captains for the 2025 season alongside Metellus, quarterback J.J. McCarthy, receiver Justin Jefferson, running back Aaron Jones Sr., long-snapper Andrew DePaola, linebacker Jonathan Greenard and right tackle Brian O’Neill.
Smith was selected as Minnesota’s second first-round draft pick in 2012 and recorded three interceptions and one sack among 87 tackles during the 2024 season. This achievement places him among an elite group of six defensive backs in NFL history with at least 35 interceptions and 20 sacks over their careers—the others being Charles Woodson, Larry Wilson, Ronde Barber, LeRoy Butler and Brian Dawkins—all members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
