Silver linings can come from even the harshest of circumstances.
In the case of Vikings linebacker Cameron Smith, that may be the case as the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic served as the backdrop that brought a very serious heartbeat to the forefront.
Smith tested positive for COVID-19 and further testing revealed that he needed open heart surgery.
“He’s a great kid. It’s disappointing for him. But honestly, it’s probably a blessing for him,” Vikings coach Mike Zimmer said Friday. via the team’s Twitter account. “He will be able to live a normal life and possibly play football.”
Smith also considered the circumstances a “blessing” when he posted his news on Instagram on August 8.
If it has not been for Smith who tested positive for the novel coronavirus, it is one’s judgment when or if his need to repair a bicuspid aortic valve with which he was born was discovered. However, he does not believe he would have what he told reporters on Friday.
“Yes, the way it looks right now, I would never have known this – or as soon as I do now – without testing for COVID and testing positive in that time frame,” Smith said, via Craig Peters of the website of the website. “It feels like a blessing in a way that I test positive, and the further testing to make sure I was good saved my life. It’s an interesting feeling, but I feel like a blessing in disguise, and d “It’s a lot of good that came from there.”
Smith is currently on the reserve / non-football injury list as the Vikings sidelined him so he could be moved off the active roster and return to the NFI list as he prepares for surgery.
Smith, 23, is a USC product who selected the Vikings in the fifth round of the draft of 2019. He played in five games during his rookie season, saw time on special teams and at linebacker with eight total tackles.
