The Minnesota Vikings would welcome Harrison Smith back in a heartbeat. The problem is that, right now, the path back might not be open unless something goes wrong.
Smith’s value has never been limited to the box score. At 14 years in, he knows Brian Flores’s defense inside and out, and that kind of command could help push a unit expected to be among the NFL’s best into truly elite territory in 2026. Kevin O’Connell has kept the door open for a return, but the current shape of the safety room makes that a tough sell.
That group turned into one of the more unexpected storylines of training camp. Vikings general manager Nolan Teasley even called the position a strength when he spoke to reporters Thursday. Minnesota has five safeties on the active roster, plus another option sitting on the practice squad, so there isn’t exactly a clean vacancy waiting for a six-time Pro Bowler and former All-Pro.
The clearest obstacle may be Josh Metellus. If the Vikings are going to find a spot for Smith, a Metellus injury might be the only realistic opening.
Safety was a real question mark when camp opened. Minnesota brought in Jamal Adams late in free agency, and he looked positioned for a meaningful role before tearing his quadriceps in the preseason opener. Meanwhile, Jakobe Thomas and Theo Jackson both dealt with minor injuries during the preseason, and that helped Jacob Thomas carve out a place on the roster.
Behind the starters, the Vikings have more depth than expected. Jay Ward is likely to claim one of those spots after gradually improving over his first three seasons. Tavierre Thomas also landed on the practice squad and could be an early elevation candidate because of what he brings on special teams.
Still, Metellus stands at the center of the whole conversation. He became one of Brian Flores’s biggest beneficiaries in 2023 because of how many different ways he can be used.
He can blitz, he can cover wide receivers at times, and he’s the closest thing Minnesota has to Smith in terms of knowing where to be and handling multiple responsibilities. His communication and intelligence make him the natural short-term stand-in if Smith isn’t in the picture.
That’s exactly why a Smith comeback is tricky. O’Connell would clearly make room if Smith wanted back in, but it would mean bumping a player who survived camp and earned his spot. And Smith’s own 2025 path offers a cautionary tale: after dealing with an illness during training camp, he needed time to get into shape, had his snaps limited early, and then showed flashes over the final five games of the regular season.
At 38, there’s no guarantee he could return quickly enough to justify the move, even if he eventually got back to something close to his old level. Minnesota also has a broader roster issue to consider. The defense needs young players to develop, and the team already has three starters over 30 in Blake Cashman, Eric Wilson, and Andrew Van Ginkel, with Byron Murphy Jr. at 28, Isaiah Rodgers at 28, and Jalen Redmond at 27.
That’s why a spot for Jacob Thomas or Jakobe Thomas matters. If one of those younger players steps into a real role, it helps the future. If Smith comes back and takes that job, that growth gets delayed.
None of that closes the door completely. If another injury hits, or if Jacob Thomas’s sprained ankle turns out to be more serious than Minnesota is saying, the Vikings could absolutely end up turning to Smith. In that case, No. 22 could still show up on the field this season.
In Other News...
Vikings Training Camp Crackdown Shows How Far Teams Go To Hide Secrets
The Vikings spent training camp trying to do something that feels more old-school every year: keep practice info inside the building. Minnesota brought in about two dozen temporary security personnel this summer to limit fans from recording and posting clips online, part of a broader effort to protect the kind of small competitive edges teams still value in August. Even in an era when every rep can end up on social media, the Vikings managed to make it harder for outsiders to get a clean look at what they were installing.
The tactic fits a league-wide anxiety about just how much can leak from the stands. Miami Dolphins head coach Jeff Hafley recently pointed out that fan-recorded training camp videos helped the Philadelphia Eagles scout his former teams defensive pressure packages, a reminder that practice footage can have real consequences once it escapes. Minnesotas approach cannot eliminate that risk entirely, but it did help reduce the flow of clips this summer, which is about as much control as teams can realistically ask for now. [Read more 🡒]
Vikings Could Be Near A J.J. McCarthy Decision Fans Feared
J.J. McCarthys first stretch with the Vikings has been defined by the kind of starts and stops that make any young quarterbacks standing feel fragile. Between the injuries and the uneven performance, the conversation around him has shifted from development to whether Minnesota may already be nearing a decision on his place in the quarterback room, a development fans had hoped to avoid.
If the Vikings do listen on McCarthy, the Chargers would make for an obvious team to watch. Jim Harbaugh knows McCarthy well from their time together at Michigan, Los Angeles has Justin Herbert locked in as the starter, and Trey Lance is the only real depth piece behind him, which makes a young quarterback with familiarity in Harbaughs system an appealing long-term fit. For Minnesota, the question is whether McCarthy is still part of the plan or simply the next name in a trade market that can move quickly once teams start sorting out their quarterback depth. [Read more 🡒]
Vikings Face Another High Stakes Quarterback Decision Under Kevin OConnell
Kevin OConnells run in Minnesota has already included enough quarterback intrigue to fill a few offseasons, and the next one looks just as complicated. He enters his fifth year with a 43-25 record and two playoff trips, but both ended in losses, leaving the Vikings still searching for the kind of stability at quarterback that has defined so many of their biggest swings over the years.
The latest twist is Kyler Murray, whom the Vikings signed to a one-year contract in 2026 with a no-franchise-tag clause for 2027, a detail that keeps the future unsettled almost as soon as he arrives. With the organization also moving on from general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, Minnesota is once again staring at a familiar question: whether this is the start of a longer-term answer under OConnell or just another high-stakes stop on the way to the next decision. [Read more 🡒]