With the 2026 season approaching, the Minnesota Vikings would love to have Harrison Smith back in the lineup. A 14-year veteran, Smith’s value to the Vikings goes beyond his play on the field; with his understanding of Brian Flores’s defense, he could take a group expected to repeat as a top-five unit and make it one of the best defenses in the NFL.
The only problem is, the Vikings may not have anywhere to put him. Minnesota’s safety room was one of the more surprising developments of training camp, and Vikings general manager Nolan Teasley went as far as calling the position a strength when speaking to reporters this past Thursday.
While the door is still being left open by Kevin O’Connell for Smith’s return, finding a spot may be difficult, and it may take a key injury to Josh Metellus for the six-time Pro Bowler and former All-Pro to return to the team.
Josh Metellus could be the one defender the Minnesota Vikings can’t live without
Safety was a big question for the Vikings coming into training camp. Minnesota added Jamal Adams as a late free-agent signing, and he appeared to be ready for a key role before tearing his quadriceps in the preseason opener.
Jakobe Thomas and Theo Jackson both nursed minor injuries throughout the preseason as well, and it gave Jacob Thomas the opening to make the team.
With Jacob Thomas, Jakobe Thomas, and Jackson as depth, the Vikings are even stronger in the starting lineup. Jay Ward is likely to take one of those spots as a player that’s gradually improved over his first three seasons in the league.
Minnesota also added Tavierre Thomas to the practice squad, and he is a strong elevation candidate early in the season thanks to his special teams ability.
But Metellus has an even bigger role, likely to serve as Smith’s replacement in the short term.
Metellus was one of the biggest beneficiaries of Brian Flores’s arrival in 2023 as a player who is used in multiple ways.
While he excels as a blitzer and can even cover wide receivers at times, he’s the closest thing they have to Smith on the roster: an established veteran who knows where to be at all times and can either drop back in coverage or attack on a blitz.
With plenty of intelligence and communication skills, Metellus also has the capability to fill Smith’s role. But if he goes down due to injury, the Vikings could be scrambling with several players short on experience, which may be the only way Smith could come back.
Harrison Smith may only have one path to return to the Minnesota Vikings
O’Connell would lay out the red carpet if Smith decided to return. But it would be difficult to do that right now.
In addition to having five safeties on the active roster and another viable option on the practice squad, Smith needed time to get into shape last year after dealing with an illness during training camp.
While the illness was never revealed, Smith had his snaps limited to begin the season before showing flashes of his game during the final five games of the regular season.
To have Smith return and take the place of a player who has gone through all of training camp and earned a spot would be a risky move, and even if Smith could round into form by the end of the year, it may not be worth hoping their 38-year-old safety can return to his All-Pro or even a serviceable form.
The other part of the equation is that the Vikings need to develop young talent on defense.
Minnesota already has three starters over the age of 30 (Blake Cashman, Eric Wilson, Andrew Van Ginkel) entering next season, and others, including Byron Murphy Jr. (28), Isaiah Rodgers (28), and Jalen Redmond (27), are in their late 20s.
Having a player like Jacob Thomas or Jakobe Thomas step up in a key role would be a big development for the future, but it could be nerfed if Smith comes out of retirement to take that spot.
This shouldn’t ban Smith from returning, and if the Vikings suffer another injury – or Jacob Thomas’s sprained ankle is worse than they’re letting on – there’s a good chance fans will see the No. 22 jersey on the field at some point this year.
But Metellus may be the one player Minnesota can’t live without, and if he goes down, that may be the one logical opening for Smith’s return.
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