The Houston Texans signed two Alabama alumni as NFL free agents during the offseason. On Monday, the Texans got rid of both.
After trading offensive tackle Cam Robinson to the Cleveland Browns, Houston released tight end Irv Smith Jr. from injured reserve.
The Texans had placed Smith on injured reserve with an ankle injury on Aug. 26.
This season, the NFL allowed each team to designate two players on injured reserve for return during the season without being on the initial 53-man roster.
Houston had that option with Smith but did not take it, so the tight end’s only chance at playing in the 2025 NFL season was to be released from injured reserve and sign with another team when healthy.
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A second-round pick of the Minnesota Vikings in the 2019 NFL Draft, Smith had 66 receptions for 676 yards and seven touchdowns in 29 games in his first two NFL seasons.
But Smith missed the entire 2021 season because of a torn meniscus, and he missed nine games in 2022 because of a sprained ankle.
In the past two seasons, Smith played in 12 games with the Cincinnati Bengals in 2023 and five regular-season and two playoff contests with Houston in 2024. He had 19 receptions for 117 yards and one touchdown in those games.
Smith re-signed with Houston on April 21 for a one-year, $1.23 million contract, which included only $15,000 in guaranteed money.
In 54 regular-season games, Smith has 109 receptions for 973 yards and 10 touchdowns.
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