REPORT: Harrison Smith to play tomorrow against Cincy

[MaroonBells]

https://twitter.com/RapSheet/status/1969600722238128476

#Vikings LT  Christian Darrisaw (knee) and S  Harrison Smith (illness) -- both of whom have yet to play this season -- are expected to make their debuts on Sunday, sources say.

Both are slated to start, but will likely rotate on and off.

Good news. Hard to see an offensive lineman rotating, but I can definitely see Harry taking limited snaps due to conditioning.

[StickierBuns]

Gink, Harry and Darrisaw all back. RUMOR: Vikings even 'more' excited seeing Wentz a week with the #1 reps.

[Zanary]

If much of the "gang" is back together, and Wentz has managed to get steeped into the system well...today could be good in both being winnable and a great momentum swing after the horror show of last Sunday night (and 7 of 8 quarters, really).

I'm not going to worry about the long-term of JJM vs Wentz if the next few weeks go well, I just want to win the next game...each week.

[JR44]

Gink, Harry and Darrisaw all back. RUMOR: Vikings even 'more' excited seeing Wentz a week with the #1 reps.

My excitement level for the game has definitely gone up with this news, think Van Ginkel gives the defense a spark and the defense does well against Browning.  With Jones out, I think it gives Mason more of a comfort level of being the workhorse back today and think he has a big game.

[StickierBuns]

If much of the "gang" is back together, and Wentz has managed to get steeped into the system well...today could be good in both being winnable and a great momentum swing after the horror show of last Sunday night (and 7 of 8 quarters, really).

I'm not going to worry about the long-term of JJM vs Wentz if the next few weeks go well, I just want to win the next game...each week.

This ^

I still believe in my boy big time, but I'm rooting hard for Carson. One game at a time, each one has its own characteristics. I just have to see it because I don't have high hopes. That's why they play the games.

[purplefaithful]

I wonder if Turner will play today??

Was he out there last week?

[StickierBuns]

I wonder if Turner will play today??

Was he out there last week?

He's a bust. I knew it last year......but decided to give him another year. I see nothing with this kid. If JJ doesn't pan out and Turner, KAM is going to look BAD, his drafts will have been really horrible.

[purplefaithful]

He's a bust. I knew it last year......but decided to give him another year. I see nothing with this kid. If JJ doesn't pan out and Turner, KAM is going to look BAD, his drafts will have been really horrible.

The Falcons would rush 38 times for 219 yards and a 5.8 yards-per-carry average. Often, Turner was stymied by a tight end or tackle and came nowhere close to making a play.

Turner’s raw statistics don’t look terrible. He was credited with five total tackles and one sack. A review of the game, though, reveals that he was one of several Vikings who could not handle the blocking of a Falcons offensive line that was embarrassed by its Week 1 performance against a good Tampa Bay defensive front.

An impact outside linebacker/edge rusher is disruptive. Far too often on Sunday, Turner allowed himself to be blocked in a way that should embarrass someone of his size and pedigree.

His sack came when defensive lineman Javon Hargrave collapsed the pocket and forced Penix to move directly into Turner.

Through a season and two games in the NFL, Turner has looked good only when he has a clear path to the ball and can use his impressive speed to make a play.

Block him, and he usually stays blocked.

If McCarthy and Turner don’t develop into impact players, the Vikings will have to continue to rely on veteran free agents and trades.
They have built a strong roster doing so, but that approach will eventually result in an old, overpaid roster, and would require coach Kevin O’Connell and his staff to continue to perform miracles with recycled quarterbacks like Sam Darnold.

Before Turner, the last time the Vikings drafted a linebacker in the first round was 2014, when they chose Anthony Barr from UCLA. I remember talking with a Vikings official on the sideline at training camp one summer. He looked at Barr and said: “He’s a good, versatile player. If he wants to be a star, he’s going to have to learn how to beat offensive tackles.”

Barr never developed that skill.

Turner, at this point, can’t even get past tight ends.

STRIB

[StickierBuns]

The Falcons would rush 38 times for 219 yards and a 5.8 yards-per-carry average. Often, Turner was stymied by a tight end or tackle and came nowhere close to making a play.

Turner’s raw statistics don’t look terrible. He was credited with five total tackles and one sack. A review of the game, though, reveals that he was one of several Vikings who could not handle the blocking of a Falcons offensive line that was embarrassed by its Week 1 performance against a good Tampa Bay defensive front.

An impact outside linebacker/edge rusher is disruptive. Far too often on Sunday, Turner allowed himself to be blocked in a way that should embarrass someone of his size and pedigree.

His sack came when defensive lineman Javon Hargrave collapsed the pocket and forced Penix to move directly into Turner.

Through a season and two games in the NFL, Turner has looked good only when he has a clear path to the ball and can use his impressive speed to make a play.

Block him, and he usually stays blocked.

If McCarthy and Turner don’t develop into impact players, the Vikings will have to continue to rely on veteran free agents and trades.
They have built a strong roster doing so, but that approach will eventually result in an old, overpaid roster, and would require coach Kevin O’Connell and his staff to continue to perform miracles with recycled quarterbacks like Sam Darnold.

Before Turner, the last time the Vikings drafted a linebacker in the first round was 2014, when they chose Anthony Barr from UCLA. I remember talking with a Vikings official on the sideline at training camp one summer. He looked at Barr and said: “He’s a good, versatile player. If he wants to be a star, he’s going to have to learn how to beat offensive tackles.”

Barr never developed that skill.

Turner, at this point, can’t even get past tight ends.

STRIB

Dallas is a baby....that was his rep at Alabama. He's soft. He's also very young and its a big boy league. But we'd have seen something by now, especially if he is special. He's not....and we moved UP to get him.

[Bullazin]

Dallas is a baby....that was his rep at Alabama. He's soft. He's also very young and its a big boy league. But we'd have seen something by now, especially if he is special. He's not....and we moved UP to get him.

He is very young. I think he’s looked good against the run, but obviously we want a high level pass rusher based on his draft number. 

Today he’s been good at creating pressure. He looks like he’s thinking too much out there as well.  If he doesn’t become a plus starter, it’s going to be another miss, but it’s still early.  He has a ways to go for sure.