EAGAN, Minn. — Harrison Smith is returning to the football field.
Well … the flag football field, for now.
The Vikings All-Pro safety hasn't yet made any decisions on whether he'll be back for a 15th NFL season — but it was announced Thursday he'll replace Chargers safety Derwin James in the Fanatics Flag Football Classic. James suffered a "minor injury" earlier in the week.
The Classic initially was scheduled to be hosted in Saudi Arabia but was relocated to Los Angeles. Three teams will compete — two (the Founders and Wildcats) made up of current and former NFL players and celebrities, and the third being the U.S. Men's National Flag Football Team.
FOX will televise the Fanatics Flag Football Classic at 3 p.m. (CT) Saturday.
Smith is joining the Wildcats team captained by Commanders QB Jayden Daniels and Bengals QB Joe Burrow. The rest of the Wildcats roster is as follows: Eagles RB Saquon Barkley, 49ers FB Kyle Juszczyk, free agent WR Odell Bekham, Jr., Rams WR Davante Adams, free agent WR DeAndre Hopkins, Hall of Fame LB Luke Kuechly, Steelers S Jalen Ramsey, influencer and pro wrestler Logan Paul and YouTuber Darren Jason Watkins, Jr., who goes by the online name of IShowSpeed.
Smith will play against two former Vikings teammates in Stefon Diggs and Patrick Peterson, both members of the Founders team captained by Tom Brady and Jalen Hurts. Their roster also includes Raiders RB Ashton Jeanty, Saints RB Alvin Kamara, former TE Rob Gronkowski, Bucs S Antoine Winfield, Jr., Eagles WR DeVonta Smith, OLB Von Miller, free agent S Damar Hamlin and boxer Terence Crawford.
The U.S. men's flag football team is led by Darrell "Housh" Doucette III, who has expressed strong sentiment that flag football players get a fair chance to compete with active NFL players for the 2028 Olympics.
The Olympics tournament will feature a 5-on-5 format with six teams and 10 players per team. The NFL has limited eligibility to a max of one player from any NFL team, along with the franchise's International Pathway Program player.
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