The Houston Texans have re-signed tight end Irv Smith Jr. on a one-year deal. Smith Jr. spent most of the 2024 season on the Texans' practice squad before a promotion to the active roster in December.
Smith Jr. had a lone reception for the Texans in the 2024-25 season, which came against the Kansas City Chiefs in the Divisional Round.
Smith Jr. will likely be the third or fourth tight end for Houston, but has shown flashes with other organizations.
He had 18 receptions for 115 yards and a touchdown with the Cincinnati Bengals in the 2023 season before joining the Texans.
The 26-year-old has battled injuries throughout his career, but is a solid depth player for Houston. Stroud and the Texans' offense could use as many potential weapons as possible after losing Stefon Diggs in free agency.
Houston will also start the season without wide receiver Tank Dell, as he recovers from a gruesome knee injury.
They did add wide receiver Christian Kirk in a trade with the Jacksonville Jaguars, but could use more talent around Stroud.
While Smith Jr. won't be a star for the Texans, signing him on a one-year deal to add depth in the tight end room is a wise decision by general manager Nick Caserio.
Texans Re-Signing TE Irv Smith Jr
Adam Schefter of ESPN reports that the Texans are re-signing TE Irv Smith Jr to a one-year contract for the 2025 season.
Smith, 26, is a former second-round pick of the Vikings back in 2019. He played out the fourth year of his four-year, $5.798 million contract that included a $2.237 million signing bonus.
Smith was testing the open market as an unrestricted free agent for the first time last year when he agreed to a one-year contract with the Bengals.
Smith then signed a one-year deal with the Chiefs last year but was among the final roster cuts coming out of camp and caught on with Houston’s practice squad in September. He was on and off the Texans’ practice squad last season.
In 2024, Smith Jr appeared in five games for the Texans and made one start for them, but did not register a catch.
