Vikings Training Camp 2021: Top 4 takeaways from Day 6
By Adam Carlson
It will be odd to see the Minnesota Vikings without tight end Kyle Rudolph on the field as the starting tight end. The Notre Dame alum had been such a major part of the team for many years but now it is up to a new player to take the lead.
Irv Smith Jr. has been primed for a breakout for a while. With an expanded role and a bigger snap count, he should have career-high numbers in receptions, yardage, and touchdowns in 2021 barring any setbacks.
According to Courtney Cronin on Twitter, Smith has been excellent in training camp. She recounted a nice one-handed catch on Tuesday and how he scored twice in red-zone drills during practice.
Of course, Smith will be sharing receptions with quite a few players since Adam Thielen, Justin Jefferson, and Dalvin Cook are all expected to have key roles in the Vikings passing game. However, having a shifty and reliable target like Smith should ease some of the pressure off those primary targets.