Cameron Smith returns to the practice field

The Minnesota Vikings returned to the practice field on Monday for the start of their Organized Team Activities. Of all the players that took to the field in purple today, however, there was one that was probably happier than just about all of them.

Just nine months after undergoing surgery to repair an enlarged heart, linebacker Cameron Smith was back on the field today with his Minnesota teammates.

Smith had surgery last August to repair the heart issue, which was discovered during his first COVID-19 test at the start of Training Camp. After a successful surgery and a few months of rehab, he was back with the team for the end part of the 2020 season on the sidelines.

Smith was the Vikings’ fifth-round pick in the 2019 NFL Draft out of Southern Cal. He spent most of 2019 on the practice squad but was called up to the active roster on a couple of occasions.

With the Vikings having questions about their linebacker depth behind Anthony Barr and Eric Kendricks, Smith is going to have an opportunity to have a much larger impact for the Vikings than he had during his rookie year. Given what he’s been through, however, he’s already cleared the most important hurdle in his attempt to claim that roster spot.

Welcome back, Cameron Smith!