Minnesota Vikings safety Harrison Smith missed practice Wednesday, but it doesn’t sound like he’s too worried about the severity of an injury to his left knee.
Smith was hurt during the first quarter of Sunday’s loss to Green Bay when Terence Newman lunged for a ball and collided with Smith’s knee.
“At this point in the year, everyone is banged up so I’m just trying to get ready for Sunday,” Smith told reporters before Wednesday’s practice.
He only sat out five snaps before returning to the game. Smith walked gingerly in the locker room Sunday evening and added that he felt worse on Monday.
Sitting out practice today are Harrison Smith (knee) and Everson Griffen, also banged up last Saturday against Green Bay
— Chris Tomasson (@christomasson) November 25, 2015
“Even when you don’t get hurt, it’s worse on Mondays,” Smith added. “But winning helps, so we need to get back to that.”
The Vikings undoubtedly will need Smith and the rest of the secondary on Sunday when they line up against a high-powered Atlanta passing game that features quarterback Matt Ryan and one of the game’s best receivers in Julio Jones.
Smith wasn’t the only Vikings defensive player to miss practice. Pass rusher Everson Griffen also sat out Wednesday after he was also “banged up” against the Packers.
