Minnesota Vikings tight end Irv Smith will miss four-to-five months after undergoing surgery to repair his meniscus, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter.
While a meniscus trim would have come with a shorter recovery timeline, the full repair means Smith could be unavailable for the entire 2021 campaign.
Smith was due for a starting role this season after backing up Kyle Rudolph for his first two years. The Alabama product registered 365 yards and five touchdowns in 2020, a slight uptick from his production as a rookie.
The Vikings reinforced the tight end position Tuesday, acquiring Chris Herndon from the New York Jets. Herndon had 502 yards and four touchdowns as a rookie in 2018 but has tailed off drastically since. Minnesota also has Tyler Conklin and Brandon Dillon on its active roster.
