This is not the kind of update the Minnesota Vikings wanted heading into Week 1. Harrison Smith, the 37-year-old safety who still put together a strong season last year, now looks unlikely to be back for the opener against the Green Bay Packers. And if Matthew Coller’s read is right, the wait could be much longer than one awkward September afternoon.
On the Sept. 5 edition of Purple Insider, Coller made the line in the sand plain enough: he is going with no return for Smith within the first six weeks of the season. That is not a throwaway caution. That is a clear timeline, and it suggests the Vikings may have to survive the early stretch — and possibly even wait until after the bye week — before Smith is ready to ramp up and play meaningful football again.
No Week 1, and probably not much more than that
Coller did leave a sliver of uncertainty, saying the situation will be dictated by how things go. But his overall verdict was blunt. “If I’m putting the money down right now, I’m going to say no, that he probably doesn’t come back,” he said. He even pointed to the reality that Smith has had no training camp, which matters for veteran players too, as seen with Will Fries.
That matters because Smith was still productive last season. He logged 793 total snaps, posted a 68.9 defensive grade, allowed an 81.0 passer rating and still finished with 21 receptions and 42 solo tackles. Those are not the numbers of a player who has simply run out of football. They are the numbers of a veteran who can still help — just not necessarily right now.
The Vikings may have to be patient
There is also a practical angle here that cannot be ignored. Coller said that if Smith does come back, it might be on the same plan as last year: wait, ramp up, and maybe return after the bye week for full games down the stretch. He even framed the decision in brutally honest terms, noting that a player at Smith’s age may not be able to handle 17 games, even if nine is still very much on the table.
Blake Cashman struck a more supportive note on Aug. 5, saying Smith has “earned the right to take as much time as he needs and wants.” That is fair enough. Smith has built up enough trust to make this his call, and Cashman was equally clear that the Vikings will have to fill the void in the meantime.
That is the real issue. The Vikings do not get to rewrite the calendar. Sept. 13 brings the Green Bay Packers in Week 1, and all signs point to Smith not being there. If he returns later, that will be useful. If he does not, then Minnesota will have to open the season without one of its most established defensive voices. That is a problem, not a footnote.
So the message is simple: do not expect Harrison Smith in Week 1, and do not be shocked if the first six weeks pass without him. The Vikings may have to get through the hard part first, then worry about the veteran safety bridge when they reach it.
