Veteran safety Harrison Smith didn’t officially return to the Minnesota Vikings until Labor Day weekend. Smith agreed to a new contract with the team Saturday to come back for a 15th season.
While Smith coming returning was in doubt before that, Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur was pretty adamant Monday he expected safety would re-sign.
LaFleur fired just one word on Harrison’s return with a smile at his press conference on Labor Day.
“Yes,” said LaFleur when asked if he expected Smith to be back for Week 1.
Smith reportedly contemplated retirement throughout the summer. On Saturday, he officially returned to the Vikings on a 1-year, $12.25 million contract. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo reported the deal could be worth as much as $16.25 million.
Last season, the 37-year-old safety posted 54 combined tackles with 10 pass defenses and two interceptions.
Packers’ Matt LaFleur Addresses What Harrison Smith Brings to Vikings
Whether or not LaFleur was being completely truthful with his answer on Smith’s return is up for debate. The wry smile LaFleur provided, along with a laugh, could be an indication that he was providing the answer that would be met with the least resistance, not the most honest one.
Either way, it wouldn’t be surprising if the Packers have discussed potentially facing Smith in Week 1. It’s the job of NFL head coaches to be prepared for every situation, and Smith returning was certainly on the table.
On Monday, LaFleur also addressed Smith in a follow-up question.
“Oh man, that guy, I kind of refer to him as the straw that stirs the drink,” said LaFleur. “I mean, he’s out there, his command, his ability to get them in and out of calls. It shows up all over [the] tape.
“I also think they’ve got a lot of smart players and you can see because that scheme presents a lot of different challenges. So you, I think, the only way to do it is you better have some guys that can handle all of it, and they do a really good job with that.”
Smith is past his prime. His most recent Pro Bowl appearance was 2021, and he hasn’t made All-Pro since 2018.
But he’s a smart veteran that will be able to help stabilize the Vikings secondary. That’s valuable for any defense, but especially for Brian Flores’ more complex scheme.
Will Harrison Smith Play in Week 1 for Vikings?
The media has yet to speak to Smith since he officially ended his retirement speculation. But all indications are Smith arrived back with the Vikings in great shape and will dress in Week 1.
Perhaps the better question is how much will he play?
“We’ll probably hear from Smith in a media session later this week, but I’d imagine he’s kept up a strong training plan,” wrote Vikings.com’s Craig Peters.
It’s worth noting at 36 years old last season, Smith began to see his playing time decline. During his 15 games, he lined up for 85% of the team’s defensive snaps, which was down from 94% the prior year.
From 2016-23, Smith played at least 95% of the Vikings’ defensive snaps and often times much more.
Another year older, Smith will probably play even less than last season. So if he’s playing fewer snaps in Week 1, it could strictly be due to age, not because the safety needs to get back into shape.
Packers’ Matt LaFleur Makes 1-Word Admission on Vikings’ Harrison Smith’s Return