Minnesota Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer is hopeful linebacker Cameron Smith will be able to play football again after undergoing open-heart surgery.
Speaking to reporters, Zimmer called Smith "a great kid" who will "be able to live a normal life and possibly play football" in the future.
Smith announced on Instagram last week that he will miss the 2020 season after doctors discovered a heart issue once he tested positive for COVID-19:
"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.