The Facts: With David Morgan out and Kyle Rudolph missing a day of OTAs, young tight ends Smith Jr. and Tyler Conklin gained praise for their efforts. Smith Jr. lined up all over the field, from split out wide to in line next to the tackle. It’s an early sign of what is likely to come for the promising rookie. Smith Jr. showed off his 4.6-second speed by beating cornerback Trae Waynes down the sideline in red-zone drills, but the ball was short. “I would’ve loved to have thrown a better ball there so he could’ve come down with that one,” QB Kirk Cousins said.

Diehards Line: Morgan has been sidelined this spring due to an undisclosed injury. He observed from the sideline on Wednesday, helping direct Smith Jr. during portions of team drills. Rudolph was in Ohio taking part in charity events associated with the NFL’s Walter Payton Man of the Year award, for which he was a nominee. While rookie TEs rarely produce at the desired levels, Smith Jr. is a player to watch.