Smith shows off offensive chops
Some of the silliness NFL coaches often deal with is the frequent propositions from players that they can play different positions.
Sometimes they verge on the ridiculous.
Almost every other day, Texans offensive lineman Justin McCray walks up to special teams coordinator Frank Ross with his hands cradled in the act of fielding a falling football and says, “I’ve got you, Coach! I can return the ball!”
Tytus Howard, who’s started at left guard and left tackle this season, still boasts about being a high school quarterback. Last year, he settled a teamwide debate by hurling a football 75 yards on the last practice of the season.
Sometimes the ridiculous becomes reality.
Safety Justin Reid became Houston’s “emergency kicker” after years of serious campaigning. When kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn pulled a muscle in warmups before the preseason finale against the Buccaneers, Reid booted kickoffs twice, although he didn’t get a chance to kick a field goal or point-after attempt.
The “emergency kicker” title has only gone so far for Reid, since the Texans signed Joey Slye to replace Fairbairn for the first three games, then, when Fairbairn tested positive for COVID-19 last week, the Texans added free-agent kicker Dominik Eberle to the roster against the Chargers.
But Tremon Smith might just be taken seriously as an offensive weapon. At first, the reserve defensive back and kick returner’s proposition to run the ball was just as much a joke as the other requests. Smith would ask and ask and ask, and offensive coordinator Tim Kelly would respond, “Yeah, if you score, we’ll have a conversation.”
Then, in Week 15 against the Jaguars, Smith returned a kickoff 98 yards for a touchdown — a play that snapped the franchise’s 12-year scoring drought on kickoffs in which Smith plowed through four defenders to break free.
Kelly said he went up to Smith after the touchdown and said, “I think it’s time to have that conversation.”
An offensive package was created that incorporated Smith at running back. Kelly deployed the play late in the third quarter against the Chargers, when it was still a one-score game and the Texans had reached the Los Angeles 15. Mills tossed the football to Smith, who curled along the right sideline for a 7-yard gain.
Rex Burkhead scored on a 1-yard touchdown run four plays later.
“He’s a triple threat,” Ross said of Smith. “He juiced that corner there. Wish he would’ve turned it all the way into six (points), but it was a nice run there.”
Smith, a cornerback at Central Arkansas, hadn’t touched the football on offense since he was an all-state quarterback at Saks High in Anniston, Ala., where his 36 career touchdowns (16 passing, 20 rushing) remain the most in school history.
“The more you watch him with the ball in his hand, he’s got unique ability to run with the football,” Kelly said. “He’s fast. He’s got good vision. He’s a strong runner. So, it would only make sense to put him in a position to where he can come out and help us on offense. And he did a good job with it in his one carry. So yeah, that was kind of the deal. He did a good job, and he was more than willing. I’m glad it turned out well for us.”
Amendola lands on COVID-19 list
Texans wide receiver Danny Amendola was placed on the COVID-19 reserve, the team announced Thursday.
The slot receiver was expected to make his return against the 49ers. But if Amendola does not turn in two negative tests taken 24 days apart, the NFL’s adapted five-day protocols place his maximum return timeline beyond Sunday’s game at San Francisco.
The Texans still have nine total players on the COVID-19 reserve. Reserve safety A.J. Moore was activated Thursday, and Amendola joined Howard, defensive tackle Maliek Collins, cornerback Lonnie Johnson and running back David Johnson. Wide receiver Chris Moore and defensive end Ron’Dell Carter were added to the list Wednesday. Eberle and fullback Paul Quessenberry are also sidelined with positive tests.
Collins remains on the COVID-19 reserve although he has practiced this week. His participation was in a very limited capacity, much like players who are designated to return from the injured reserve.
Amendola, who underwent knee surgery after suffering a Week 12 injury against the Jets, has missed four games. He returned to practice last week and was activated Saturday, but he was not yet ready to return and was made inactive in Houston’s upset of the Chargers.
The Texans have three wide receivers remaining on their active roster. Leading receiver Brandin Cooks, who missed the Chargers game, was activated from the COVID-19 reserve Wednesday and rejoined Chris Conley and rookie Nico Collins.
Practice squad receiver Jalen Camp, who made his NFL debut Sunday, would be available for an elevation along with Damon Hazelton, who has yet to play, and Jordan Veasy, who made his debut Dec. 19 against the Jaguars and played 35 total snaps.
Fairbairn primed to return vs. 49ers
Kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn is “ready to go” after returning from the COVID-19 reserve, special teams coordinator Frank Ross said Thursday.
Fairbairn was in a rhythm with five straight made field goals before he tested positive ahead of Houston’s upset against the Chargers on Sunday, and Ross credited Fairbairn for the mental preparation the five-year veteran did on his own during isolation.
“When you miss a game and you’re a competitor, it hurts,” Ross said. “To have him show and give the support he gave to the specialists room was great.”
The Texans were forced to sign an emergency kicker, Dominik Eberle, whom Ross said he knew from the draft process. Eberle, a Utah State graduate, went undrafted in 2019 and had yet to break into the league.
Eberle had “a couple good workouts” with the Texans this season, Ross said, and, when they signed him to the practice squad last week, he was able to get only one full practice with the Texans’ core specialteams unit Friday.
The Texans then called on Eberle to kick a 51-yard field goal against the Chargers on his first career attempt. He made the field goal, converted on all five of his extra points and made a 25-yard field goal while missing a 52-yard attempt just outside the right upright.
“You don’t expect to try and give him his first attempt at 50-plus yards, outside a PAT,” Ross said. “For him to go in and hit that speaks volumes to the preparation that kickers do. That’s a thankless job when you’re on the street and you’re just waiting for an opportunity. And then you get it, you’ve got to capitalize on it. Props to him. Super proud and he should be excited for taking advantage of the opportunity he did.”
Such a game could provide a chance with another NFL team for Eberle, who tested positive for coronavirus and is now on the team’s COVID-19 reserve. Fairbairn signed a four-year, $17.65 million contract last season.