Andre Smith Reportedly Returning To Bengals

As we’ve seen on numerous occasions throughout this early period of free agency, a member of the Minnesota Vikings is pulling up stakes and heading elsewhere.

This time, it’s offensive tackle Andre Smith, who will reportedly be heading back to the team he started his career with, the Cincinnati Bengals.

Smith appeared in just three games with the Vikings in 2016 after signing a one-year contract during the offseason. He suffered a triceps injury in the Vikings’ victory over the Carolina Panthers in Week 3, and was subsequently placed on injured reserve.

It didn’t seem as though there was ever a great likelihood of Smith returning to Minnesota this season, and with Mike Remmers being signed to take over the right tackle spot, that likelihood was reduced to zero early on in free agency.

Smith is the eighth of the Vikings’ fourteen in-house free agents that has left the team in the week since free agency began. Like many of them, Smith is a loss that likely won’t be felt that harshly by the franchise as they continue their re-tooling of the offensive line.