Former Chiefs Playmaker Signs With AFC Contender Before Week 3

Former Kansas City Chiefs tight end Irv Smith Jr. has found a new opportunity before Week 3 in the NFL kicks off on Thursday night. 

According to Aaron Wilson of KPRC-2, the former Chiefs tight end was signed to the Houston Texans practice squad on Tuesday. Kansas City released Smith Jr. late last month ahead of the 53-man roster deadline.

The former second-round pick signed a one-year, $1.29 million contract with the Chiefs at the start of free agency. Smith Jr. had a tough road to make the Chiefs’ 53-man roster at tight end due to the exceptional talent at the position.

The former Vikings and Bengals tight end had four receptions (four targets) for 22 yards in the preseason with the Chiefs. Smith’s performance wasn’t good enough to stick in Kansas City, but he did enough to garner interest from other teams around the league.

Before joining Houston’s practice squad, Smith had workouts with the New England Patriots and Cleveland Browns throughout the first two weeks of the regular season.

The former Kansas City pass catcher would’ve been a nice addition to the Browns’ roster, given the injury status of star David Njoku. But the Browns decided to go with Geoff Swaim.

Nonetheless, Smith will get a chance to prove himself with Houston, which is one of the ascending teams in the AFC that will try to contend with the Chiefs. Last season with the Bengals, Smith recorded 18 receptions (26 targets) for 115 yards and a touchdown.

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