Buccaneers safety Antoine Winfield Jr. stood at the goal line when Vikings tight end Irv Smith Jr. caught a pass at the 7-yard line during Sunday's loss in Tampa Bay.
They collided at the 2-yard line. Opting not to meet in the middle, the 203-pound Winfield stopped early to brace for a blow from the 242-pound Smith.
Advantage, Smith. The impact carried both into the end zone for a Vikings touchdown.
Smith's spry routes and displays of force Sunday signaled his return to form after missing three of the previous four games because of injuries. It's a good sign for coordinator Gary Kubiak, who anticipated a "big month" ahead to cap Smith's second NFL season, a curious one for veteran Kyle Rudolph, and a welcomed one for quarterback Kirk Cousins.
"He's a great asset," Cousins said of Smith. "It's a big boost, especially with Kyle — not having him last week. To have Irv helped us kind of stay with our normal personnel groupings and not get too crazy with the plan. He showed up big time in the game for us. I think it showed on Sunday the difference he makes."
The Vikings got a glimpse of potential life after Rudolph as Smith and third-year tight end Tyler Conklin combined for nine catches, 103 yards and a touchdown against the Buccaneers, getting open while Tampa Bay tilted coverages toward receivers Justin Jefferson and Adam Thielen.
Coaches limited Smith in his return from the back injury, which first appeared on an injury report Nov. 25 before the Panthers game. He didn't get into Sunday's game until the eighth play and finished with a season-low 35% playing time, behind Conklin (57%), who started for Rudolph.
Expect Smith's limitations to loosen. He looked unencumbered by either the groin or back injury while catching all four targets for 63 yards against the Bucs. And this week, for the first time since early November, Smith wasn't on the injury report. Rudolph (foot) remained sidelined on Wednesday.