Vikings rookie tight end Irv Smith Jr. had himself a solid second preseason game on Sunday against the Seahawks, finishing with five catches for 28 yards and a touchdown.
For his efforts, Bucky Brooks over at NFL.com gave the second-round pick a B+ grade.
Here’s what Brooks wrote about Smith Jr.:
Although the yardage was minimal, the consistent pass-catching should encourage Vikings officials to find more ways to utilize the rookie in the passing game. Smith could help his cause by turning those receptions into bigger gains; moving the chains is always a good way to stand out.
It will be interesting to see what his role will be with the Vikings throughout the season assuming he’s the primary backup for starter Kyle Rudolph.
We’ll have a better idea of what that will be in the team’s third preseason game on Saturday against the Cardinals. The third game is generally the most like a regular-season game.
