Vikings share some bad news about safety Harrison Smith
By Adam Patrick
Minnesota Vikings All-Pro safety Harrison Smith will not be on the field against the Detroit Lions in Week 3 due to a concussion he suffered in Week 2.
If the Minnesota Vikings are going to improve their record this season to 2-1 by getting a win over the Detroit Lions on Sunday, they’ll have to do it without the help of safety Harrison Smith.
On Friday, the Vikings ruled Smith out for their Week 3 showdown against the Lions due to a concussion the veteran defender sustained in the team’s loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 2.
In addition to Smith, Minnesota also ruled out rookie cornerback Andrew Booth Jr. for Sunday’s game against Detroit due to a quad injury that he suffered in the Vikings’ Week 1 win over the Green Bay Packers.
Who will start at safety for the Minnesota Vikings in place of Harrison Smith?
When Smith left the field before the conclusion of Minnesota’s game against the Eagles this past Monday, he was replaced by reserve safety Josh Metellus.
Will Metellus be the guy to replace Smith in the starting lineup for the Vikings on Sunday? This seems like the logical path that Minnesota will take, but the team also hasn’t ruled out the possibility of rookie safety Lewis Cine getting the start against Detroit either.
Regardless of whoever ends up replacing Smith in the Vikings‘ starting defense on Sunday, the Lions’ offense is expected to present a difficult challenge.
Detroit is one of the NFL’s highest-scoring teams through the first two weeks of the season and their No. 1 running back, D’Andre Swift, is averaging a mind-blowing 10 rushing yards per carry so far this year. The Lions are probably salivating about the thought of Smith not being out on the field this weekend.
Will Minnesota be able to contain Detroit’s offense without the help of Smith, or will the absence of one of their best defensive players result in a second-straight loss for the Vikings on Sunday?