R. Smith To Return To Vikes Sunday
The NFL's highest-scoring offense is expected to have 1,000-yard rusher Robert Smith back in the arsenal Sunday when the Minnesota Vikings host the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Smith missed the last two games with a sprained right knee, but the Vikings still scored a combined 86 points in victories over Chicago and Baltimore. He returned to practice this week and is listed as probable for Sunday's game.
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Smith suffered the injury in the second quarter of Minnesota's 46-36 victory over Dallas on Thanksgiving Day when he attempted to change direction on a running play and turned his ankle while Dallas safety Darren Woodson tackled him. Before he was injured, Smith rushed for 46 yards on eight carries to eclipse the 1,000-yard mark for the second consecutive season.
The Vikings (13-1) own the best record in the NFC and have clinched the Central Division title. After playing Jacksonville on Sunday, Minnesota will conclude the regular season at Tennessee on Dec. 26.
In Smith's absence, Leroy Hoard started at halfback and rushed for 137 yards and a touchdown on 45 carries over the last two games.
Minnesota's dynamic offense has produced an NFL-high 480 points, an average of 34.3 points per game. Randall Cunningham, who has filled in for inured starter Brad Johnson, leads the league in quarterback rating, completing 61 percent of his passes for 3,259 yards and 29 touchdowns with just nine interceptions.
Rookie receiver Randy Moss leads the NFL with 1,209 receiving yards and 15 touchdown catches, and veteran Cris Carter has a team-leading 68 receptions for 906 yards and 10 scores.
The 26-year-old Smith has provided a strong running game to complement the passing attack, rushing for 1,013 yards and six touchdowns on 215 carries this season. He also has 24 catches for 241 yards and two scores.
The Vikings re-signed Smith to a five-year, $25 million contract after he rushed for a career-high 1,266 yards in 1997. The six-year veteran had struggled with injuries through most of his career before he played in a career-high 14 games last year.
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