Vikings sign defensive tackle while Michael Pierce deals with injury

The Minnesota Vikings made some transactions to reinforce their defensive line while Michael Pierce heals from his elbow injury.

So far this year, injuries haven’t been too bad for the Minnesota Vikings. With some of their hurt players either returning to expected to play this weekend, it sounds like one injury might be more serious than fans would like.

Minnesota invested heavily in their defensive line over the past couple of seasons. One of their prized signings was defensive tackle Michael Pierce, who was expected to be a key piece in the Vikings’ run defense.

Sadly, that run defense hasn’t lived up to expectations. Minnesota has allowed over 100 yards in each of their first four games this season and was brutalized by a Cleveland rushing attack in Week 4.

Michael Pierce suffered an elbow injury before the Week 4 game and it sounds as though it might be something that causes him to miss some time. Ben Goessling of the Star Tribune shared on Twitter that the team’s newest signing could be to help provide depth while he heals.

The official Twitter account of the Minnesota Vikings detailed their transactions, which included the signing of T.J. Smith to the practice squad and cornerback Harrison Hand being placed on the Reserve/COVID-19 List.

Who is T.J. Smith and how can he help the Vikings?

Being signed to the practice squad instead of the active roster doesn’t mean anything anymore. A team can elevate a player to the 53 and have them ready to go if needed at a moment’s notice. That said, T.J. Smith isn’t a familiar name for a lot of fans.

Smith is a 24-year old defensive tackle who weighs 290 pounds and stands six-foot-three. He attended Arkansas. He joined the Los Angeles Chargers practice squad but has yet to play in an NFL game.

He was undrafted in the 2020 NFL Draft but could be one to keep an eye on. From 2016 to 2019, Smith accumulated 75 total tackles (12 for a loss) and five sacks to go with one forced fumble. While those stats aren’t eye-popping, defensive tackles sometimes do a lot more than statistics can measure.

5 biggest takeaways from the Vikings loss to the Browns in Week 4

The Minnesota Vikings may have come up short against the Cleveland Browns but there was a lot to learn from the Week 4 contest.

Congratulations to T.J. Smith on joining the Minnesota Vikings practice squad. Plus, well-wishes go out to Michael Pierce and Harrison Hand, who will hopefully have full and speedy recoveries to return to the team soon.