Vikings Set to Activate TE Irv Smith Jr. From IR; Nick Muse Waived

Smith will give the Vikings another pass-catching weapon in the playoffs.

The Vikings are set to activate tight end Irv Smith Jr. from injured reserve, according to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero. Smith suffered a high-ankle sprain on October 30th in a win over the Cardinals and has missed the last nine games. He returned to practice a few weeks ago and has been ramping up his activity to get to this point.

The move will presumably be made official on Saturday, opening up the possibility that Smith plays against the Bears to shake off some rust before the playoffs begin.

The Vikings waived rookie TE Nick Muse on Friday, clearing space for Smith on the 53-man roster. The seventh-round pick out of South Carolina appeared in ten games this season, playing 106 special teams snaps and one offensive snap. He may be a candidate to be signed to the Vikings' practice squad if he clears waivers.

Getting Smith back just in time for the playoffs presents some interesting opportunities for the Vikings' coaching staff. Minnesota's offense mostly operates out of 11 personnel, with RB Dalvin Cook, TE T.J. Hockenson, and WRs Justin Jefferson, Adam Thielen, and K.J. Osborn. They do mix in backup TE Johnny Mundt, typically giving him 15-25 snaps per game.

What will Smith's role look like? The 2019 second-round pick out of Alabama is an intriguing addition to this offense because of the matchup problems he can present. He's smaller than a typical tight end at 6'2", 240 pounds, but has 4.6 speed and good overall athleticism. Smith caught 22 passes for 168 yards and two touchdowns in seven games this season before getting hurt, although the lasting image of his season is probably a drop on what would've been a 63-yard touchdown against the Eagles in Week 2.

It'll be fascinating to see how Kevin O'Connell and company use Smith. After his injury, the front office traded for Hockenson, who has a 59-503-3 line in nine games with the Vikings and was selected to the Pro Bowl recently. Two tight-end sets with Hockenson and Smith would present some notable challenges for defenses. Mundt is an excellent blocker; what does Smith's return mean for his role?

We'll find out soon enough. After playing the Bears on Sunday, the Vikings will open the postseason with a home game in the wild card round, likely against the Giants.

Smith is set to hit free agency after this season.

Thanks for reading. Make sure to bookmark this site and check back daily for the latest Vikings news and analysis all offseason long. Also, follow me on Twitter and feel free to ask me any questions on there.