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Vikings’ Smoot injured again; Williamson (ankle) out for Friday opener
It might be a very good thing that the Vikings invested in enough veteran help this offseason to establish depth at multiple positions. Their premier free-agent signing, CB Fred Smoot, was recovering from a neck injury and didn’t practice until this week. He left Tuesday’s scrimmage with damage to the soft tissue in his right knee and might not practice for another week. First-round pick Troy Williamson was competing for the No. 4 WR job before he was injured on Tuesday while diving for a catch. Williamson’s foot stuck in the turf, and a player landed on his foot. The training camp called the injury an “impingement of the soft tissue near the ankle.” Williamson is not expected to play tomorrow vs. Kansas City.
PFW: Are the Vikings concerned about the long-term status of either player?
Reynolds: There is some nervousness surrounding Smoot, who received a roster bonus of $10.8 million to sign in March after four years with the Commanders. He has taken part in only two on-field practices this summer, leaving the first-team reps to disgruntled CB Brian Williams. Williams, a corner with a safety’s size but inconsistent CB skills, isn’t the cover man Smoot has proven to be. There is a chance Ralph Brown, whom head coach Mike Tice has been high on, would push Williams for time in the event Smoot cannot play on Sept. 11 vs. Tampa Bay.
The Vikings believe it is too early to panic about Williamson. Travis Taylor has had a fine training camp and is a co-No. 2 with Marcus Robinson at split end. That means Williamson, Kelly Campbell and Keenan Howry are competing for two spots. Williamson is being worked into the offense slowly, but he is the fastest of the WR group.
Minnesota did have position news on the injury front on Wednesday when Matt Birk was activated from the physically-unable-to-perform list and practiced in the afternoon. Birk was never 100 percent last season due to multiple sports hernia surgeries. He had another surgery, this time to repair a torn labrum in his hip, in June and had not practiced until Wednesday.
http://www.profootballweekly.com/PFW/Commentary/Spins/2005/spins081105.htm
It might be a very good thing that the Vikings invested in enough veteran help this offseason to establish depth at multiple positions. Their premier free-agent signing, CB Fred Smoot, was recovering from a neck injury and didn’t practice until this week. He left Tuesday’s scrimmage with damage to the soft tissue in his right knee and might not practice for another week. First-round pick Troy Williamson was competing for the No. 4 WR job before he was injured on Tuesday while diving for a catch. Williamson’s foot stuck in the turf, and a player landed on his foot. The training camp called the injury an “impingement of the soft tissue near the ankle.” Williamson is not expected to play tomorrow vs. Kansas City.
PFW: Are the Vikings concerned about the long-term status of either player?
Reynolds: There is some nervousness surrounding Smoot, who received a roster bonus of $10.8 million to sign in March after four years with the Commanders. He has taken part in only two on-field practices this summer, leaving the first-team reps to disgruntled CB Brian Williams. Williams, a corner with a safety’s size but inconsistent CB skills, isn’t the cover man Smoot has proven to be. There is a chance Ralph Brown, whom head coach Mike Tice has been high on, would push Williams for time in the event Smoot cannot play on Sept. 11 vs. Tampa Bay.
The Vikings believe it is too early to panic about Williamson. Travis Taylor has had a fine training camp and is a co-No. 2 with Marcus Robinson at split end. That means Williamson, Kelly Campbell and Keenan Howry are competing for two spots. Williamson is being worked into the offense slowly, but he is the fastest of the WR group.
Minnesota did have position news on the injury front on Wednesday when Matt Birk was activated from the physically-unable-to-perform list and practiced in the afternoon. Birk was never 100 percent last season due to multiple sports hernia surgeries. He had another surgery, this time to repair a torn labrum in his hip, in June and had not practiced until Wednesday.
http://www.profootballweekly.com/PFW/Commentary/Spins/2005/spins081105.htm