Minnesota Vikings outside linebackers coach Mike Smith has not been with the team since training camp for personal reasons, team officials said Monday.
Smith, who also coaches the pass rush specialists, is on personal leave that is ongoing and not a legal matter, officials told media outlets.
Assistant head coach Mike Pettine will assume Smith’s duties for the season and home opener Sunday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Defensive assistant Imarjaye Albury also will help Pettine coach the positions, according to reports.
Smith, 42, is in his second year with the Vikings after three seasons (2019-21) with the Green Bay Packers. Smith worked with Pettine with the Packers and the New York Jets (2010-12).
The Baltimore Ravens selected Smith in the seventh round of the 2005 NFL Draft out of Texas Tech. He played linebacker in 14 games (one start) over two seasons for the Ravens (2005-06). Pettine was an assistant with the Ravens from 2002-08, including a linebackers coach in 2005-07.
Pettine, 56, is a former head coach of the Cleveland Browns, who went 10-22 under him from 2014-15. He also has been the defensive coordinator of the Jets (2009-12), Buffalo Bills (2013) and Packers (2018-20), and a senior defensive assistant with the Chicago Bears (2021) before assuming his current title with the Vikings in 2022.
Also Monday, Minnesota signed wide receiver N’Keal Harry to its practice squad and released center Alan Ali from the practice squad.
—Field Level Media
Original source here
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