Vikings’ Harrison Smith doubtful to play Monday night vs. the Bears; Christian Darrisaw is questionable

The Vikings defense will likely not have safety Harrison Smith for Monday night’s season opener in Chicago. He’s officially listed doubtful to play due to an illness that has affected him for nearly a month.

Smith, the 36-year-old team captain entering his 14th Vikings season, returned to meetings and walkthroughs this week. The team has described his ailment as a personal health matter; it has kept him out since at least Aug. 11. Smith was limited during Saturday’s practice: a final, light session before the team departs for Chicago on Sunday.

Smith needs more practice time to be physically ready for a game, coach Kevin O’Connell said.

“He probably did a little more than I expected, which was really encouraging,” O’Connell said of Saturday’s practice. “It’s just a matter of time back on the grass.”

Defensive coordinator Brian Flores said nobody can replicate Smith’s varied roles and responsibilities in the defense. Safety Theo Jackson is expected to replace Smith in the starting lineup.

“Not to say we don’t have other highly intelligent, high-football-IQ guys,” Flores said, but “there’s a lot of reasons it’s unique to him: 14 years in the league, playing at a high level, just high-level acumen.”

Left tackle Christian Darrisaw is listed questionable after taking every rep in Saturday’s practice. He’s about 10½ months removed from the season-ending left knee injury suffered in Los Angeles last year. Tackle Justin Skule is up next if Darrisaw does not play.

After a heavy workload in Wednesday’s practice, Darrisaw pointed toward the confidence he’s going to need before deciding whether he’ll return.

“I got to have confidence in myself mentally, physically,” Darrisaw said this week. “I know I got to be there all the way. You just don’t want to put yourself in a worse position or kind of like half-stepping. When I have that confidence and just knowing I’m ready to rock out, I’ll be out there.”

Two young Vikings players — defensive tackle Elijah Williams (hamstring) and running back Zavier Scott (ankle) — have been ruled out. Neither practiced this week due to injuries lingering from the preseason. Both rehabbed on a side field with the team’s medical staff on Saturday.

Receiver Jalen Nailor will play after taking every rep in practices this week. Nailor told the Minnesota Star Tribune on Saturday that he suffered a left hand fracture during the Aug. 14 joint practice against the Patriots. He required a procedure and did not catch for a couple of weeks.

“I just landed wrong on the ball,” Nailor said, “but I’m good to go.”

Receiver Jordan Addison on Monday night will miss the first game of his three-game suspension stemming from a DUI arrest in July 2024. Adjusted NFL rules will allow Addison back into the team’s facility starting Tuesday, according to O’Connell. But he will also miss the following two games, against the Falcons on Sept. 14 and the Bengals on Sept. 21.

Offensive coordinator Wes Phillips joined the chorus praising Addison’s summer on the field when asked how the team will keep him sharp.

“The guy is ready to play,” Phillips said. “I’m sure he’s champing at the bit to get back here. He looked like a man on a mission, and I really don’t have any concerns about him coming back and being ready.”

Safety Josh Metellus enjoyed being the first player who Flores, the 44-year-old defensive coordinator, has allowed to call plays. Metellus called one series during the Vikings’ Aug. 22 preseason finale in Tennessee, where Metellus and other starters did not play. This came after Flores delegated preseason play calls to assistant coaches Daronte Jones, Mike Siravo and Michael Hutchings.

Metellus pestered Flores this summer to let him do it.

“I’m like, ‘Shut up,’ ” Metellus said incredulously. “We get to the game and it’s like second quarter and he’s like, ‘Put the headset on.’ I said, ‘Dang, I’m really coaching?’ ”

Metellus gripped the play card and practiced reciting calls to rookie linebacker Kobe King on the sideline. Then his decisions helped force a Titans punt after just four plays and 12 yards.

“It’s funny, he’s got the coach voice,” Flores said. “He’s like, ‘What are we doing here?’ ”

Flores has said Metellus, who’s capable of playing multiple positions, could be a coach one day. Metellus has said no thanks. But after this?

“I thought about it for a second,” Metellus said, “because that was a hell of an experience.”