Earlier this month, Vikings LB Cameron Smith revealed on his Instagram account that a COVID-19 test revealed a dangerous heart condition that caused one of his aortic valves to be very enlarged. This condition likely would have been fatal if it had gone unnoticed.
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Earlier this week I found out I need open heart surgery to fix a bicuspid aortic valve that I was born with. Although this will unfortunately end my 2020 season, it is really a blessing that we found this as my heart is severely enlarged and wouldn’t have lasted much longer. I found this out after I tested positive for COVID and had to have further testing done as protocol. The Lord works in mysterious ways, but I could really feel him on this one!?? There is a surgery that will allow me to continue to play football as soon as I am healed and cleared and I didn’t think twice about going with that one. By no means am I ready to be done playing football, there is still so much more I want to accomplish on the field. Im going to attack this like everything else I have in life. Already looking forward to the comeback! #SKOL

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Smith has now had surgery that was reportedly successful. Smith said that he intends to return to football as soon as possible, but it is unclear when that will be. Something as taxing on your body as open heart surgery and a heart condition likely means that he will be out a significant part of the season or the whole season. The team has yet to release a statement on Smith’s status, but it is likely that the Vikings defense will be missing a key cog for a significant amount of time.

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Article by Nico Ribadeneyra

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