Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell gave some bad news to fans that will impact their matchup against the Chicago Bears on Monday night.
O'Connell announced during his press conference on Saturday that safety Harrison Smith will be listed as doubtful for the Bears match. Smith did practice and was limited, but it doesn't seem like he will be ready to play.
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It hasn't been known what Smith is dealing with, as it has been classified as a "personal health matter." Smith did not appear on the field during the preseason.
Impact of Smith not being on the field for the Minnesota Vikings against Bears
What a tough break for the Vikings' defense as they won't have one of their veteran leaders on the defensive side of the ball. Many believe that the man entering his 14th NFL season might be playing his final season in the league.
Without Smith, the Vikings will turn to Theo Jackson to fill in for him. While Jackson is more than capable of getting the job done for one game, Smith is the quarterback of the secondary, and there could be a void that needs to be filled in place of his leadership.
The challenge for the Vikings is going up against a Bears offense that has added pieces to their passing arsenal that will make it tough to cover them. With the additions of Colston Loveland and Luther Burden III in the secondary, Josh Metellus might be called up more in the game.
Minnesota has seen Metellus improve and grow throughout the years as the eventual replacement for Smith. Metellus has all the abilities in pass coverage and stepping up to stop the run. He's had back-to-back 100+ tackle seasons in Minnesota, which helped him earn a new contract extension back in July.
It'll be interesting to see how the Vikings' secondary holds up without Smith, potentially offering a glimpse into the future when he retires from the NFL.