Irv

Smith Jr.

The injury will sideline Jordan for the remainder of the 2024 season. It’s a disappointing development for a player that looked to be on the rise, but now will not be able to play until 2025. Dalton Schultz will remain the starting tight end for the Texans, with Cade Stover — and potentially Irv Smith Jr. — seeing more reps along the way.

It’s unclear why Jordan was placed on injured reserve at this time. He will be required to miss at least four games but could be out longer depending on the severity of his injury. His absence will keep Dalton Schultz running a full complement of routes and could free up a few extra reps for rookie Cade Stover. The Texans also signed Irv Smith Jr. to their practice squad today.

Smith is a four-year veteran who has struggled with injuries throughout his career, notably a torn meniscus that kept him out for the full 2021 season. Initially drafted by the Vikings, Smith spent last season with the Bengals and slashed 18/115/1 in 12 games. He will now try to latch on with the Texans, joining their practice squad. The Texans also added Scott Quessenberry to the practice squad with center Juice Scruggs banged up.

The Browns also hosted free agent tight ends Tommy Sweeney and Geoff Swaim for visits. David Njoku suffered an ankle injury in Week 1 and the visits suggest Cleveland expects him to miss some time. He is currently considered week-to-week. Smith was most recently cut by the Chiefs. Despite his second-round pedigree, Smith has failed to make much of an impact in the NFL. He would not be a fantasy option if he signs with Cleveland.

Smith Jr. was released by the Chiefs before the start of the season. The 26-year-old has dealt with injuries and hasn’t been particularly effective even when on the field, and he’d be nothing more than organizational depth for whatever team signs him.

The former second-round pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, Smith Jr. has never quite been able to live up to the hype after his collegiate career at Alabama. Smith came out of college as a plus athlete who had a career 58/838/10 (14.4 YPR) receiving line over three seasons with the Crimson Tide. Injuries have sapped some of his explosion, but his draft pedigree makes it likely that somebody else will give him another chance.

Smith, after managing just 18 catches in 12 games with the Bengals in 2023, will function as Kansas City’s TE2 behind Travis Kelce. Smith was dead last among tight ends in yards per route run last year and struggled with a serious ankle injury. Smith, a former second-round pick by the Vikings, would only have fantasy value if Kelce were to mis time in 2024.

Worth a $1.75 million cap charge this season, Smith was an injury bounce-back flier who ended up getting healthy scratched for the Bengals’ final three games. Two of those featured the team still in playoff contention. It just isn’t happening for the 2019 second-rounder, though he is still somehow only 25 years old. Perhaps someone will give Smith a third chance in free agency, but he’s not going to land guaranteed money. With his production history as short as his injury history is long, Smith’s career appears doomed to go down as a “what might have been.”

Hudson, with ten receptions over his past two games, has established himself as the team’s primary pass-catching tight end. Irv Smith had just one catch on limited routes in Week 10. Hudson had the second most targets on the team against Houston. He’ll profile as a deep league streaming play in Week 11 against the Ravens.

Smith played well behind Tanner Hudson, who had six catches on seven targets as the Bengals’ primary route-running tight end. Smith, who scored a touchdown last week against the Bills, should remain on waiver wires in most formats.