Despite the Minnesota Vikings listing Harrison Smith as doubtful on the final injury report for Week 1, the team was hoping that the All-Pro safety would still be able to suit up against the Chicago Bears on Monday.
Well, any speculation about Smith playing in Chicago was put to rest on Sunday after the Vikings downgraded the veteran defender to out for the team's Week 1 matchup. This will be the first regular-season opener that Smith has ever missed in his 14-year NFL career.
Without their longtime safety on the field, the pressure will be on Josh Metellus, Theo Jackson, and Jay Ward to make sure the back end of the secondary doesn't give up any easy plays to the Bears on Monday.
Minnesota Vikings should still be able to beat the Chicago Bears without Harrison Smith
Would the Vikings rather have Smith available for their first game of the 2025 season against Chicago on Monday? Yes, of course, Minnesota would, but they also have enough talent on the defensive side of the ball this year to make up for his absence.
Last season, Smith was inactive for the Vikings' Week 16 game against the Seattle Seahawks. Not only did Minnesota end up leaving the field in Seattle with a win in the contest, but Jackson came up with a game-sealing interception late in the fourth quarter.
The Vikings will also still have a ton of defensive talent in action on Monday, including Metellus, edge rushers Jonathan Greenard and Andrew Van Ginkel, defensive linemen Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave, linebackers Blake Cashman and Ivan Pace Jr., and cornerback Byron Murphy Jr.
With Minnesota still having the majority of their top defensive players available, they should still be able to make life difficult for Bears quarterback Caleb Williams on Monday, which, hopefully, helps the purple and gold begin the 2025 season with a victory.