Smith was held to two catches for 10 yards on four targets in Sunday's loss to the Ravens.

EDGE Analysis

Smith came close to having a third catch but was eventually ruled to be out of bounds on what would have been a pretty nice third-down conversion in the first half. Smith doesn't have the volume to trust right now, and certainly Joe Burrow's setback with his calf injury raises even more concerns.

Smith had three catches for 17 yards on five targets in Sunday's loss to the Browns.

EDGE Analysis

Smith dropped one ball on third down that if caught had a borderline chance of converting a first down. He also struggled in the blocking game, whiffing on a block on the first play from scrimmage, leading to the first of many plays where Joe Burrow was under immediate pressure.

Smith has been quick to pick up the Bengals offense this spring and is already impressing coach Zac Taylor, Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com reports. "That's the most impressive thing about Irv is how quickly he's picked everything up and even taken on the nuances," Taylor said.

EDGE Analysis

Fellow tight end Drew Sample also had kind words this spring, suggesting that Smith runs smoother routes than former Bengals TEs Hayden Hurst and C.J. Uzomah. Smith split snaps with Kyle Rudolph his first two years in Minnesota and then missed 26 games the past two years, but a late breakout isn't out of the question with the 2019 second-round pick joining a top passing offense for his age-25 season. Sample is the only other tight end on the roster with more than 15 career receptions, and even he caught just 13 passes in 19 games the past two years. Smith may not get an every-down role but should be the team's top pass-catching TE.

Coach Zac Taylor indicated Monday that he believes Smith can move into the pass-catching tight end role previously handled by Hayden Hurst, Kevin Patra of NFL.com reports. "Yeah, we think he can come in and play that role for us," Taylor noted of Smith. "There's always competition in that room, but that's the vision that we have for Irv to come in there and fill that role that Hayden had for us."

EDGE Analysis

With Hurst, who recorded a 52-414-2 receiving line on 68 targets over 13 regular-season appearances in 2022, now with the Panthers, Smith has an opportunity to absorb a good portion of the Bengals' vacated tight end targets, assuming he can stay on the field this coming season. Since playing all 16 games as a rookie in 2019, Smith has missed contests in each of the past three years. During the 2022 campaign, an ankle issue limited the 6-foot-2, 240-pounder to eight games and 25 catches for 182 yards and two TDs on 36 targets. When healthy, however, Smith's athleticism and pass-catching ability should prove to be assets to a Cincinnati offense helmed by QB Joe Burrow, which also returns the quality wideout trio of Ja'Marr Chase, Tee Higgins and Tyler Boyd.

Smith signed a one-year contract with Cincinnati on Monday, Peter Schrager of Fox Sports reports.

EDGE Analysis

Smith appeared in eight games a season ago with Minnesota and finished with 25 catches for 182 yards and a pair of scores. He should have a chance to make an immediate impact with the Bengals if he can stay healthy, as he'll join the likes of Devin Asiasi, Tanner Hudson and Nick Bowers in the tight end room.

Over eight regular-season games, Smith recorded 25 receptions (on 36 targets) for 182 yards and two touchdowns in 2022.

EDGE Analysis

Smith got out to a solid start over the first seven games of the season before landing on IR with a high-ankle sprain. The 2019 second-round pick then was activated ahead of the regular-season finale, though he'd already lost his No. 1 tight end spot to T.J. Hockenson, whom the Vikings acquired via trade from Detroit just before Smith went on injured reserve Nov. 1. Smith then went out catching one of two targets while playing just four offensive snaps in the wild-card loss to the Giants. He thus finished the 2022 campaign with the lowest receiving marks of his career outside of the 2021 season when he sat out every game due to a meniscus injury. Smith now is set to become an unrestricted free agent this offseason, leaving it possible he isn't retained by the Vikings.

Smith gathered in all three targets for 14 yards during Sunday's 29-13 win over Chicago.

EDGE Analysis

It was Smith's first game since suffering a high-ankle sprain in an Oct. 30 win over the Cardinals. He'll work as the second tight end behind T.J. Hockenson, but Sunday's game showed he could have a role in the playoffs. He started at tight end with T.J. Hockenson when the Vikings opened in a two-tight end sets. He won't get many targets, but he may get significant snaps.

Smith (ankle) was activated off injured reserve Saturday.

EDGE Analysis

The trade-deadline addition of T.J. Hockenson has limited the impact of Smith's inevitable return, but the multi-year starter is still a perfect complement in two-tight end sets and likely could be a factor in the Vikings' playoff push. Prior to suffering the ankle injury in Week 8, Smith tallied 22 receptions for 168 yards and two touchdowns as arguably the team's third option behind Justin Jefferson and Adam Thielen.

The Vikings plan to activate Smith (ankle) from injured reserve before Sunday's game against Chicago, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.

EDGE Analysis

Smith will return as the team's No. 2 tight end, behind trade-deadline addition T.J. Hockenson, with the talented duo potentially inspiring head coach Kevin O'Connell to use more two-tight end sets and fewer looks with three wide receivers and/or fullback C.J. Ham. However it plays out, Smith was designated to return from IR last week and apparently will make it back for the final game of the regular season as a tuneup for the playoffs.

The Vikings are designating Smith (ankle) to return from injured reserve, Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.

EDGE Analysis

The team now has 21 days to activate Smith to the roster or else place him back on IR for the rest of the season. He'll presumably rejoin the Vikings for the playoffs, if not one or both of the final two games of the regular season, though in a secondary role behind standout trade acquisition T.J. Hockenson.