Vikings acquire Jets tight end Chris Herndon after Irv Smith Jr. undergoes knee surgery, per report

The Vikings are anticipated to be with out potential breakout starter Irv Smith Jr. after they open the 2021 season because of the third-year tight finish undergoing surgery for a meniscus injury. On Tuesday, forward of the NFL‘s deadline for 53-man roster cuts, Minnesota added an emergency fill-in. As NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported, the Vikings have acquired Chris Herndon from the Jets, including the previous fourth-rounder as a possible substitute starter for Week 1.

Herndon, 25, arrives in Minnesota together with a 2022 sixth-round choose in alternate for a 2022 fourth-rounder. The Miami product flashed as a rookie starter with the Jets again in 2018, posting 39 catches for 502 yards and 4 touchdowns. However accidents and a suspension restricted him to only one sport the next 12 months, and he had underwhelming manufacturing throughout New York’s 2020 marketing campaign earlier than competing with Tyler Kroft this summer time for the Jets’ beginning tight finish job.

Nonetheless, with Vikings coach Mike Zimmer brazenly calling his crew’s tight finish depth “not superb” and Smith set to be sidelined anyplace from a number of weeks to a number of months, Herndon has a possible path to enjoying time in Minnesota. After chopping ties with longtime starter Kyle Rudolph this offseason, the Vikings have been relying on Smith rising as one in every of Kirk Cousins‘ high cross targets this 12 months. Tyler Conklin, one of many membership’s high reserves, is recovering from a hamstring harm that is sidelined him since earlier this month.

It is time for the Vikings to make their transfer within the NFC North. Can Kirk Cousins, Dalvin Cook and Justin Jefferson get the job accomplished? Download the CBS Sports app and get the latest news, insights, and surprising predictions from our team of experts. If you have already got the app, make sure that to favourite the Vikings to get the newest news rapidly.