ISJ is a Bengal...
Good for him! Top NFL team, great weapons and a top notch QB. He should/could become a real weapon for them.
The Minnesota Vikings 2019 second-round pick Irv Smith Jr. has agreed to a one-year deal with the Cincinnati Bengals.
Tne deal was reported by NFL Network’s Peter Schrager.After the Vikings took him in the 2019 NFL draft, Smith Jr. never quite got his footing. 2021 felt like it was going to be his season after the Vikings moved on from Kyle Rudolph, but he tore his meniscus in the final preseason game against the Kansas City Chiefs.
He fell out of favor with the Vikings this past season and the last straw was when he suffered a high ankle sprain against the Arizona Cardinals in late October. That was one of the catalysts of the T.J. Hockenson trade.
Smith Jr., goes to a really good situation in Cincinnati where he won’t be relied upon to be a heavy contributor, but his skillset up the seam and as a flex tight end will be valuable to the Bengals offense.
https://sports.yahoo.com/vikings-te-irv-smith-jr-045601293.html
Hurry-up Vikings, we ain't getting any younger!
He's a smallish, athletic TE. Good speed. Hands are decent, but not great. Lots of injuries. Minnesota needed to move on and they did. Wish him the best of luck staying healthy.
If ever there were a reason to spell out a name it's this completely forgettable guy.
Smart move for the Bengals. 1-year prove it deal. Still only 24 years old. If he stays healthy, he's going to add a lot to that offense...that already has the best WR group in the NFL.
@"MaroonBells" said: Smart move for the Bengals. 1-year prove it deal. Still only 24 years old. If he stays healthy, he's going to add a lot to that offense...that already has the best WR group in the NFL.
If he stays healthy lolololololol
Beyond always being hurt, I'm just not sure Irv is any good. He's flashed at times for sure but so has OJ Howard and plenty of highly-touted others who haven't panned out. Low-risk move for the Bengals but very glad to have Hockenson on this team.
@"pattersaur" said: Beyond always being hurt, I'm just not sure Irv is any good. He's flashed at times for sure but so has OJ Howard and plenty of highly-touted others who haven't panned out. Low-risk move for the Bengals but very glad to have Hockenson on this team.
When you see what Hock did his first game in KOC's offense, and wonder where that was from Irv, I completely agree. Had some physical talent, but if it never comes out in a game, it just isn't going to.
@"greediron" said:@"pattersaur" said: Beyond always being hurt, I'm just not sure Irv is any good. He's flashed at times for sure but so has OJ Howard and plenty of highly-touted others who haven't panned out. Low-risk move for the Bengals but very glad to have Hockenson on this team.
When you see what Hock did his first game in KOC's offense, and wonder where that was from Irv, I completely agree. Had some physical talent, but if it never comes out in a game, it just isn't going to.
I wouldn't put ISJ on Hockenson's level, but I would put him just below. ISJ never really got a chance. He was behind Rudy for two years, then when it was finally his show, he got hurt. And then got hurt again. If he stays healthy this year, I think Viking fans are going to be very surprised by what he does in Cincy.
I don’t think anyone is going to really remember the 350 receiving
yards he has for the Bengals in 2023. KJ Osborne is a better WR than ISJ is a TE.
@"MaroonBells" said:@"greediron" said:@"pattersaur" said: Beyond always being hurt, I'm just not sure Irv is any good. He's flashed at times for sure but so has OJ Howard and plenty of highly-touted others who haven't panned out. Low-risk move for the Bengals but very glad to have Hockenson on this team.
When you see what Hock did his first game in KOC's offense, and wonder where that was from Irv, I completely agree. Had some physical talent, but if it never comes out in a game, it just isn't going to.
I wouldn't put ISJ on Hockenson's level, but I would put him just below. ISJ never really got a chance. He was behind Rudy for two years, then when it was finally his show, he got hurt. And then got hurt again. If he stays healthy this year, I think Viking fans are going to be very surprised by what he does in Cincy.
If he does, good for him and good for them. I wouldn't put ISJ on much of any level yet as he hasn't done much of anything yet. Whatever he does from here on is just gravy.
@"MaroonBells" said:@"greediron" said:@"pattersaur" said: Beyond always being hurt, I'm just not sure Irv is any good. He's flashed at times for sure but so has OJ Howard and plenty of highly-touted others who haven't panned out. Low-risk move for the Bengals but very glad to have Hockenson on this team.
When you see what Hock did his first game in KOC's offense, and wonder where that was from Irv, I completely agree. Had some physical talent, but if it never comes out in a game, it just isn't going to.
I wouldn't put ISJ on Hockenson's level, but I would put him just below. ISJ never really got a chance. He was behind Rudy for two years, then when it was finally his show, he got hurt. And then got hurt again. If he stays healthy this year, I think Viking fans are going to be very surprisedby what he does in Cincy.
fixed it for ya!
The reality never matched the hype. He can probably make a career bouncing around as a 2nd string TE.
@"greediron" said:@"MaroonBells" said:@"greediron" said:@"pattersaur" said: Beyond always being hurt, I'm just not sure Irv is any good. He's flashed at times for sure but so has OJ Howard and plenty of highly-touted others who haven't panned out. Low-risk move for the Bengals but very glad to have Hockenson on this team.
When you see what Hock did his first game in KOC's offense, and wonder where that was from Irv, I completely agree. Had some physical talent, but if it never comes out in a game, it just isn't going to.
I wouldn't put ISJ on Hockenson's level, but I would put him just below. ISJ never really got a chance. He was behind Rudy for two years, then when it was finally his show, he got hurt. And then got hurt again. If he stays healthy this year, I think Viking fans are going to be very surprised by what he does in Cincy.
If he does, good for him and good for them. I wouldn't put ISJ on much of any level yet as he hasn't done much of anything yet. Whatever he does from here on is just gravy.
I don't think you guys saw him at Alabama, nor do you remember his 2nd season when he scored 5 TDs as a TE2. Or his training camp and preseason in '21 before the injury. That's what I base this on. But I'm not trying to convince anyone. He's not a Viking anymore so I couldn't care less what he does. I just think in a couple years we'll be revisiting this thread. :-)
Wish him luck but won't miss him. He had some decent games for the Vikes, just not nearly enough of them.
He's 6'2 242lbs.
At the NFL level a TE that size isn't gonna dominate.
@"MaroonBells" said:@"greediron" said:@"MaroonBells" said:@"greediron" said:@"pattersaur" said: Beyond always being hurt, I'm just not sure Irv is any good. He's flashed at times for sure but so has OJ Howard and plenty of highly-touted others who haven't panned out. Low-risk move for the Bengals but very glad to have Hockenson on this team.
When you see what Hock did his first game in KOC's offense, and wonder where that was from Irv, I completely agree. Had some physical talent, but if it never comes out in a game, it just isn't going to.
I wouldn't put ISJ on Hockenson's level, but I would put him just below. ISJ never really got a chance. He was behind Rudy for two years, then when it was finally his show, he got hurt. And then got hurt again. If he stays healthy this year, I think Viking fans are going to be very surprised by what he does in Cincy.
If he does, good for him and good for them. I wouldn't put ISJ on much of any level yet as he hasn't done much of anything yet. Whatever he does from here on is just gravy.
I don't think you guys saw him at Alabama, nor do you remember his 2nd season when he scored 5 TDs as a TE2. Or his training camp and preseason in '21 before the injury. That's what I base this on. But I'm not trying to convince anyone. He's not a Viking anymore so I couldn't care less what he does. I just think in a couple years we'll be revisiting this thread. :-)
Lots of college stars never make the jump. Agree that it matters not, just don't see his trajectory changing much.
Took awhile to even place the initials
Meeeeeah
Decent back up TE---just don't bank on him being available say late November or so.
Edit Post (mod action — author will see a notice)
Warn Poster
Suspend User (3 days)
The user will be suspended for 3 days and will receive an email with the reason and information about how to appeal.