Longtime NFL veteran tight end Irv Smith signed a new contract with the Cincinnati Bengals. Smith, a former second-round pick, spent the entirety of his NFL career with the Minnesota Vikings.
Tight end Irv Smith, Jr. has agreed to a 1 year deal with the Bengals, per source. @nflnetwork @gmfb @NFLonFOX
— Peter Schrager (@PSchrags) March 28, 2023
Irv Smith, Cincinnati Bengals, Agree to Contract
The Minnesota Vikings had their best season in quite some time last year, but Smith didn’t play that large of a role on the team. Recovering from a torn meniscus that took away his 2021 season, Smith finished the 2022 campaign with 22 receptions for 168 yards and two touchdowns in seven games of action. Unfortunately, Smith suffered an ankle injury in Week 8 against the Arizona Cardinals, prematurely ending his season during his contract year.
Smith originally entered the league as a second-round pick in the 2019 NFL Draft. Selected by the Minnesota Vikings, the Alabama product appeared in all 16 games as a rookie, making seven starts. While on the field, Smith recorded 36 receptions for 311 yards and two touchdowns on 47 targets. To this day, his yards, receptions, and targets remain career-highs.
Injuries limited Smith to just 10 games in 2020, but he still managed to play a sizable role in the offense. With Stefon Diggs departed, Smith finished the season with 30 receptions for 365 yards and a career-high five touchdowns on 47 targets. Unfortunately, the tight end has not been able to build on the promising start to his career.
Smith suffered a meniscus injury in the 2021 preseason finale, despite playing in only 11 snaps during the contest. The tight end underwent surgery on September 1st, 2021, permanently ending his season. While he did make his way back onto the field in 2022, he ended up landing on the injured reserve for the second time in as many seasons. In total, Smith has played in just seven games over the past two years.
Since signing his rookie contract, Irv Smith has recorded 88 receptions for 844 yards and nine touchdowns on 123 targets.
Main Photo: Matt Krohn – USA Today Sports
