Tag: Ihmir Smith-Marsette

7 former Vikings have a chance at winning a Super Bowl

All four teams remaining have at least one former Minnesota Viking

The Minnesota Vikings were eliminated from the playoffs when they lost to the New York Giants in the NFL’s wild-card round of the playoffs. Even with the Vikings out, there are still some reasons to cheer during Conference Championship Sunday.

This weekend, the Kansas City Chiefs take on the Cincinnati Bengals for the AFC Championship. Meanwhile, the Philadelphia Eagles host the San Francisco 49ers for the NFC Championship. Let’s look at some former Vikings who are lacing up for different teams this weekend.

Bears 2022 WR review: New faces fail to make a difference

Our next Bears position review focuses on the wide receivers, a group that featured many new players who disappointed as a whole.

The Chicago Bears wrapped the 2022 season with a 3-14 record, which culminated in a 10-game losing streak. But there’s still reasons to be optimistic about the future, including a boatload of salary cap space, the first overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft and the emergence of quarterback Justin Fields.

Here at Bears Wire, we’re going position by position through the 2022 Bears and grading every player. After looking at quarterbacks and running backs, we’re staying on offense with the wide receivers, a group that featured many new faces but disappointed as a whole in 2022.

Chiefs elevate two players from practice squad for Week 18 vs. Raiders

The #Chiefs have officially elevated two players from the practice squad for Week 18’s game vs. the #Raiders.

The Kansas City Chiefs have made a pair of practice squad elevations ahead of their Week 18 away game against the Las Vegas Raiders.

With Skyy Moore ruled out and Mecole Hardman expected to be on a pitch count in Week 18, the first order of business for the Chiefs was shoring up their wide receiver group. As a result, the Chiefs have elevated WR Ihmir Smith-Marsette from the practice squad via standard elevation. This is the second time that Smith-Marsette has been elevated this season. In his first game against the Denver Broncos in Week 14, Smith-Marsette played three offensive snaps and no snaps on special teams. He recorded no official statistics in that game.

In another expected move, the Chiefs officially elevated K Matthew Wright to the 53-man roster via standard elevation. Wright was in for a tryout on Thursday and signed with the practice squad on Friday. This doesn’t mean for certain that he’ll play in place of Harrison Butker, who is questionable for Week 18 with back spasms. Wright simply provides the team with a suitable backup plan if Butker is unable to go.

Wright is 15-of-15 on extra points this season and has made 83.3% of his field goal attempts, including a 59-yarder for the Chiefs against the Raiders back in Week 5.

Another note from the personnel notice: LB Justin Hilliard was the player released to make room for Wright on the practice squad.

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Chiefs elevate one player from practice squad for Week 14 vs. Broncos

The #Chiefs have elevated a receiver from the practice squad for Week 14 vs. the #Broncos.

The Kansas City Chiefs have made a single practice squad elevation ahead of their Week 14 away game against the Denver Broncos.

After officially ruling out WR Kadarius Toney, the Chiefs elevated WR Ihmir Smith-Marsette from the practice squad via standard elevation. This is the only elevation for the team this week, meaning Melvin Gordon won’t be elevated to face his former team in Week 14.

This is the first standard elevation for Smith-Marsette since joining the practice squad in Kansas City in late October. One reason that the Chiefs have opted for Smith-Marsette is that WRs Marcus Kemp and Cornell Powell have both exhausted their limit of three standard elevations. Those limits go away once the postseason arrives, but only Smith-Marsette, Bryan Edwards and Jerrion Ealy have elevations available for the rest of the regular season.

An intriguing part of the Chiefs’ elevation of Smith-Marsette centers around special teams. He’ll surely be involved in the team’s coverage units, but will he be trusted as a return specialist? As an Iowa Hawkeye, Smith-Marsette was a very talented kick returner. He returned 53 kicks in college for over 1,500 yards and two touchdowns. He hasn’t done it much in the NFL, with just five kicks returned for 100 yards across time spent with two teams.

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Chiefs to sign former Bears WR Ihmir Smith-Marsette to practice squad

The #Chiefs have added a new wide receiver to their collection on the practice squad.

The Kansas City Chiefs have filled the latest vacancy on their practice squad.

After losing DE Benton Whitley to the Minnesota Vikings earlier this week, the Chiefs have added one of their former receivers to the practice squad. Kansas City signed Ihmir Smith-Marsette, who was waived by the Chicago Bears just a few days ago, to the practice squad as first reported by Chiefs Digest’s Matt Derrick.

A fifth-round draft pick by the Vikings in 2021, Smith-Marsette appeared in eight games with the Vikings last season. He caught five passes for 115 yards and two touchdowns in that span. After Minnesota traded to acquire Jalen Reagor from the Vikings ahead of the 2022 NFL season, Smith-Marsette was released in their final roster cuts.

Smith-Marsette was later claimed by the Chicago Bears, but things weren’t all sunshine and roses. His Week 5 struggles against his former team (2 penalties and a fumble) put him in the crosshairs of a new coaching staff and front office, who ultimately sought to release him.

Of interest to Kansas City, the former Iowa Hawkeye has experience as a kick returner, which could prove valuable if they suffer any injuries. The 6-1 and 185-pound wideout returned 53 kicks in college for over 1,500 yards and two touchdowns. In two NFL seasons across two teams, Smith-Marsette has returned just five kicks for 100 yards.

Smith-Marsette brings the K.C. practice squad total back up to 16 players. He joins Chris Conley, Cornell Powell, Marcus Kemp and Daurice Fountain as the fifth receiver on the practice squad for the team.

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Bears waive WR Ihmir Smith-Marsette, promote WR Isaiah Coulter to active roster

The Bears have parted ways with WR Ihmir Smith-Marsette and promoted WR Isaiah Coulter to the active roster ahead of Week 7.

The Chicago Bears announced a couple of roster moves ahead of their Week 7 matchup against the New England Patriots on Monday night. And one of those moves has been a long time coming.

The Bears have waived wide receiver Ihmir Smith-Marsette and signed wide receiver Isaiah Coulter to the active roster, the team announced Tuesday.

Smith-Marsette was claimed off waivers by Chicago ahead of the start of the regular season, and there was optimism about his potential on offense. But Smith-Marsette has had a number of dropped passes and a costly fumble that cost the Bears a chance at victory against the Minnesota Vikings back in Week 5.

In six games with the Bears, Smith-Marsette had one catch for 15 yards on four targets.

In a corresponding roster move, Coulter was promoted from the practice squad to the active roster. Coulter has spent the last couple of seasons on the Bears’ practice squad, and he was one of the standouts — and a favorite target of quarterback Justin Fields — during training camp.

Receiver Byron Pringle remains on injured reserve, and he’s eligible to return as early as Week 8 against the Dallas Cowboys. Chicago recently activated N’Keal Harry from IR to the active roster, and he’s slated to make his Bears debut against his former team, the Patriots, on Monday Night Football.

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Bears stock watch: Who’s up, who’s down following Week 5 loss vs. Vikings

Here’s a look at which Bears players are trending up or down following Sunday’s Week 5 loss against the Vikings.

The Chicago Bears were defeated by the Minnesota Vikings, 29-22, on Sunday, where they dropped to 2-3 on the season.

It was far from a demoralizing loss, especially considering how the Bears battled back from an 18-point deficit to take the lead in the fourth quarter. Unfortunately, a fumble prevented Chicago from a chance at victory for the second straight week.

But there were some encouraging (and not-so-encouraging) outings coming out of this game.

Here’s a look at which Bears players are trending up or down following Sunday’s Week 5 loss against the Vikings.

7 Takeaways from the Bears’ close loss to the Vikings

From Justin Fields’ development to the disappearance of the Bears defensive vets, here are our takeaways from Sunday’s loss to the Vikings.

The Chicago Bears played two games in one on Sunday when they faced off against the Minnesota Vikings. The first half felt like going back in time to the Marc Trestman days as the Vikings drove up and down the field, playing perfect offense to score 21 points and seemingly bury the Bears 21-3 late in the first half.

But Chicago dug out of a deep hole, clawing their way back to make things interesting thanks to a rejuvenated offense led by Justin Fields and a defense that finally clamped down on the Vikings. The Bears scored 22 unanswered points to lead 22-21, but a late Vikings score and a costly turnover ended any hope of sealing the comeback win. Minnesota won 29-22 to improve to 3-1 while the Bears fell below .500 for the first time this season at 2-3.

It was a roller coaster of a game that elicited strong emotions, both positive and negative. Here are our takeaways from Sunday’s game.

4 Downs: Making sense of the Bears’ divisional loss vs. Vikings

We’re breaking down the Bears’ loss to the Vikings and what it means looking ahead.

The Chicago Bears were defeated by the Minnesota Vikings, 29-22, on Sunday, falling to 2-3 ahead of a Week 6 prime-time matchup against the Washington Commanders.

Following a brutal first-half showing by both the offense and defense, the Bears overcame an 18-point deficit to take a 22-21 fourth-quarter lead. Unfortunately, another fumble cost Chicago a chance at victory.

But, in many ways, this loss feels like a win. Especially in a season where winning isn’t a priority, it’s development.

We’re breaking down the Bears’ loss to the Vikings and what it means looking ahead.

Bears’ Ihmir Smith-Marsette says Vikings defender ‘flopped’ on illegal block call

Vikings CB Cameron Dantzler gave the performance of a lifetime to draw a flag that negated Bears QB Justin Fields’ 52-yard TD run.

The coolest play to happen on the football field during Sunday’s divisional matchup between the Bears and Vikings technically didn’t even happen.

Facing second-and-11 from the Chicago 48-yard line, quarterback Justin Fields used his athletic ability to make something happen on a quarterback keeper. He took off on the ground, weaving through Vikings defenders, for a 52-yard touchdown run.

It was pretty epic. Unfortunately, it was nullified by an illegal block penalty on receiver Ihmir Smith-Marsette, where Vikings cornerback Cameron Dantzler gave the performance of a lifetime to draw the flag.

“He flopped,” Smith-Marsette said after the game, via NBC Sports Chicago.

It was a huge momentum shift in favor of the Vikings, who were able to hold the Bears to a 51-yard field goal. Chicago went up 22-21 instead of 26-21 in the fourth quarter.

It was made more painful when you realize the Bears would’ve only needed a field goal to win (or tie) the game on that final possession, where Dantzler played spoiler, ripping the ball out of Smith-Marsette’s hands to seal the 29-22 win for Minnesota.

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