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By Judd Zulgad |

Vikings will be without Irv Smith Jr., against the Bears, Cameron Dantzler downgraded to out

Lions Vikings Football
Minnesota Vikings tight end Irv Smith Jr. catches a 9-yard touchdown pass ahead of Detroit Lions cornerback Desmond Trufant, right, during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 8, 2020, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn)

The Vikings will be without tight end Irv Smith Jr., for Monday night’s game in Chicago after he missed practice this week because of a groin injury. The Vikings listed Smith as out on the injury report issued Saturday. Smith caught his first two touchdown passes of the season last Sunday in the Vikings’ victory over the Detroit Lions.

Smith, a second-round pick in 2019, has 13 receptions for 159 yards in eight games this season. Veteran Kyle Rudolph leads Vikings tight ends with 14 catches for 175 yards and one touchdown in eight games.

Cornerback Cameron Dantzler, who missed the Lions game because of a concussion, was listed as questionable on Saturday but downgraded to out on Sunday.

The Vikings also announced Sunday that backup guard Dru Samia won’t travel for Monday’s game because of an illness. Samia, who started four games for the Vikings at right guard earlier this season before losing the job to rookie Ezra Cleveland, reportedly tested positive for COVID-19.  Defensive end Jordan Brailford (personal) and assistant offensive line coach Phil Rauscher also will not travel to Chicago.

This comes after the Vikings activated long snapper Austin Cutting from the COVID-19 reserve list and waived veteran guard Pat Elflein on Saturday. Elflein was activated from injured reserve on Friday. The Vikings added depth on the offensive line by promoting veteran Brett Jones from the practice squad. Tight end Brandon Dillon also was promoted for Monday’s game.

Here’s the Bears’ injury report. Running back David Montgomery (concussion) will not play.