For the Vikings to place linebacker Cameron Smith on the non-football injury list, the team first must waive him, in order to follow NFL procedures, the team announced.
If he clears waivers, he will revert to the Vikings’ reserve/NFI list.
Smith recently announced on Instagram that he would miss the 2020 NFL season. He found out that his heart is severely enlarged after testing positive for COVID-19. He had to have further testing done as protocol.
“Although this will unfortunately end my 2020 season, it is really a blessing that we found this as my heart is severely enlarged and wouldn’t have lasted much longer,” Smith said on Instagram.
Ben Goessling of the Star Tribune recently said on Twitter that his “understanding is [Minnesota is] still planning to pay him his $675,000 salary for the season.”
Smith provided depth to the Vikings as a linebacker and special teams player. Minnesota recently signed Quentin Poling, a linebacker who could fill out a similar role. Poling’s most recent team was the Raiders.