Feb 2, 2023; Houston, TX, USA; A detail shot of a Houston Texans helmet prior to a press conference introducing Demeco Ryans as head coach at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Erik Williams-USA TODAY Sports.
The Houston Texans will visit the postseason, and former Minnesota Vikings tight end Irv Smith Jr. will be a part of the fun.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter tweeted before the start of Week 16, “Texans are signing TE Irv Smith to their active roster today ahead of Saturday’s game vs. Kansas City.”
Smith Jr. didn’t record any receptions in Houston’s loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, but he will be on the field Christmas Day against the Baltimore Ravens. The once-promising ex-Viking has played 58 snaps on offense in three games this season. And with that activation to the 53-man roster, Smith Jr. appears here to stay for the remainder of the regular season and postseason.
The Texans also employ tight ends Dalton Schultz and Cade Stover ahead of Smith Jr. on the depth chart.
Smith Jr., 26, was selected by the Vikings in the 2nd Round of the 2019 NFL Draft and possessed heaps of upside during his entire Minnesota tenure. But the franchise traded for T.J. Hockenson in November 2022, spelling the beginning of the end to Smith’s career in purple.
He then latched onto the Cincinnati Bengals in the 2023 offseason, on deck for a career rebirth — that never occurred. Smith Jr. banked 18 catches for 115 yards in 12 games, also known as TE4 numbers. Chiefs fans hoped his potential could be unlocked with the NFL’s best player, Patrick Mahomes, but that probably would’ve happened in 2023 with Joe Burrow and friends. Or any season with the Vikings.
Smith Jr. was a part of the Vikings operations for four years but was overshadowed by veteran TE1 Kyle Rudolph in 2019 and 2020 and experienced injuries in 2021 and 2022. Since the start of 2019, Smith has registered 109 receptions on 152 targets for 973 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns. He’s averaged 19.8 receiving yards per game and missed 44% of all Vikings games due to injury. When he played, Smith made a difference at times but also experienced a couple of crucial dropped passes.
He suffered a high ankle sprain in October 2022 versus the Arizona Cardinals, an ailment sidelining him for about two months. Soon after, the Vikings traded for the aforementioned Hockenson, and the former Detroit Lion made the TE1 job his own.
Kansas City signed Smith Jr. in March during the first wave of 2024 free agency, an indicator that the Super Bowl champs valued him. But Kansas City dropped Smith Jr. in late August amid 53-man roster cuts, and that was that.
The Texans also employ former Danielle Hunter (EDGE), Stefon Diggs (WR, IR), Case Keenum (QB, IR), and Kris Boyd (CB).
Houston has already locked up the AFC South.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. The show features guests, analysis, and opinion on all things related to the purple team, with 4-7 episodes per week. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band). He follows the NBA as closely as the NFL.
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.