HOUSTON – The Texans are promoting tight end Irv Smith Jr., a former Minnesota Vikings second-round draft pick, to the 53-man roster, per a league source.
Smith blocked extremely well as an elevation from the practice squad in a win over the Miami Dolphins last Sunday.
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Now, he’s part of the active roster with Cade Stover still recovering from an emergency appendectomy the night before the Miami game.
The Texans later confirmed the move. They also waived reserve wide receiver and return specialist Steven Sims Jr. from the active roster.
And the Texans elevated fullback Andrew Beck from the practice squad to provide depth at tight end and on special teams as well as elevating wide receiver Jared Wayne from the practice squad.
Smith is a former Alabama standout who has also played for the Cincinnati Bengals and Kansas City Chiefs.
Smith (6-2, 240) was a second-team All-Southeastern Conference selection for the Crimson Tide and won a national championship.
He has 109 career receptions in the NFL for 973 yards and 10 touchdowns.
He caught 18 passes for 115 yards and one touchdown last season in 12 games for the Bengals on 26 targets.
He caught a career-high 36 passes for 311 yards as a rookie for the Vikings. He had a career-high 365 yards and five touchdowns in 2020 for Minnesota.
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Aaron Wilson is a Texans and NFL reporter for KPRC 2 and click2houston.com.
