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Smith is set to suit up Sunday, but his role has not yet been decided, Kevin Seifert of ESPN.com reports.
Smith was a limited participant in Friday's practice as the safety rested and recovered from the conditioning he has been regularly performing since signing with the team Sept. 5. The 37-year-old defensive back's role Sunday will likely be limited as the team eases him back into action.
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Vikings' Harrison Smith: May not play Week 1
Rotowire
Head coach Kevin O'Connell told reporters Wednesday that Smith is "getting his cleats underneath him," and it's unclear whether the veteran safety will play in Sunday's regular-season opener agains the Packers, Ben Goessling of The Minnesota Star Tribune reports.
Smith reunited with the Vikings on a one-year contract Saturday after being released by the team in March and not catching on with another organization during the offseason. The 2012 first-rounder is still getting into game shape, and his status for Week 1 will be better known once he gets more practice reps under his belt over the coming days.
Smith signed a one-year contract worth up to a maximum of $16.25 million with the Vikings on Saturday, Ian Rapoport of ESPN and NFL Network reports.
Smith has been a mainstay with Minnesota's defense since he was selected in the first round of the NFL Draft by the organization in 2012. The 36-year-old logged 54 tackles, including 1.0 sacks, along with 10 defensed passes (including two interceptions), a forced fumbled and a recovered fumble across 15 regular-season games (12 starts) last year. Smith will presumably be penciled in as Minnesota's starter at free safety as he enters his 15th pro campaign.
Minnesota announced the release of Smith with a post-June 1 designation Wednesday, Craig Peters of the team's official site reports.
The transaction is largely procedural, as it allows the Vikings to avoid a $25 million base salary guarantee for 2026 in Smith's contract. Tyler Forness of A to Z Sports reports that Smith has not yet made a decision regarding whether to return for a 15th season in the NFL, but if he does decide to play in 2026 a reunion with Minnesota would seem likely. Across 15 regular-season appearances in 2025, Smith logged 54 tackles (37 solo), including 1.0 sacks, 10 defensed passes (including two interceptions), a forced fumble and a recovered fumble.
