Vikings remain open to Harrison Smith despite calling safety a strength

As the Minnesota Vikings get ready for the regular season, Harrison Smith's future remains an open question. There's still room for a reunion, but the Vikings appear content to let the veteran safety make that call on his own timeline.

Jamal Adams' season-ending injury in the first preseason game fueled the idea that Smith could be coming back to the Vikings sooner rather than later. Here we are over two weeks later, and there has been no clear movement on that front one way or the other.

Of course, the Vikings have given, and will continue to give, Smith all the time he needs to make a decision on his future. Indications are he is staying in shape, and if he has definitely ruled out playing a 15th season, he probably would have declared that by now.

Minnesota Vikings keep a Harrison Smith reunion on the table

During his final comments of Minnesota Vikings training camp, head coach Kevin O'Connell made it clear he has maintained regular contact with Smith.

"I’ve had my kind of weekly, you know, dialogues and discussions with him that have ranged to a lot of different topics.”I’ve talked to him this week, and kind of just continuing to, in addition to all those other fun things to talk about, have some conversations about where he’s at, and what he’s thinking, and we’ll keep you guys updated if there is an update on that. But right now the priority is, obviously, these guys out here today and getting down to 53 (roster spots) and our 16 practice squad spots."

With O'Connell keeping those conversations going, general manager Nolan Teasley was asked about the veteran safety during his press conference on Tuesday.

"I know that KO and him have a unique relationship and they keep in touch. I've always had a high, high level of respect for the player. Heard great things about the person ... never met him formally, but a high level respect of what he's done in this league."

"Do I want him back? I mean, that's really up to up to Harrison, ultimately, and we're always open to adding good football players."

Teasley was then asked about the Vikings' safety depth, independent of Smith's potential return.

"I think it's one of our deeper positions. We all saw Jacob Thomas play. It was good to see Jakobe Thomas come back into the Denver game. Theo [Jackson], I can go on and on, and then Josh Metellus; it's a good room. But we're always going to look to add good football players."

Smith didn't need to, and he surely didn't want to, participate in OTAs and training camp. If he had been back with the Vikings, he would not have played at all in preseason games. So outside of him actually being on the roster and practicing to whatever extent he would be before Week 1, the situation is pretty much where it would otherwise be right now.

Until Smith makes a declaration about whether he will play this season, the Vikings will keep the door open for him just as they have been since his release.

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