Irv Smith Jr.
refer to caption
Smith in 2021
No. 81 – Cincinnati Bengals
Position:Tight end
Personal information
Born: (1998-08-09) August 9, 1998
New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.
Height:6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight:240 lb (109 kg)
Career information
High school:Brother Martin (New Orleans, Louisiana)
College:Alabama (2016–2018)
NFL Draft:2019 / Round: 2 / Pick: 50
Career history
Roster status:Active
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics as of 2023
Receptions:109
Receiving yards:973
Receiving touchdowns:10
Player stats at NFL.com · PFR

Irvin Martin Smith Jr. (born August 9, 1998) is an American football tight end for the Cincinnati Bengals of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Alabama and was drafted in second round of the 2019 NFL Draft by the Vikings.

Early years

Smith Jr. was born in New Orleans, Louisiana on August 9, 1998. Shortly after being born, he moved to Arizona where he spent the first 14 years of his life. Smith Jr. moved back to New Orleans at age 14 and attended Brother Martin High School in New Orleans, Louisiana, where he played high school football. As a senior, he had 31 receptions for 558 yards and four touchdowns. He originally committed to Texas A&M University to play college football, but changed to the University of Alabama.[1][2]

College career

After not recording a reception as a true freshman at Alabama in 2016, Smith Jr, had 14 receptions for 128 yards and three touchdowns over 14 games as a sophomore in 2017.[3] He returned to Alabama as a starter in 2018.[4][5] On January 11, 2019, Smith announced that he would declare for the 2019 NFL Draft.[6]

College statistics

Season Team GP Receiving
RecYdsAvgTD
2017Alabama 9141289.13
2018Alabama 154471016.17
Career245883814.410

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables
HeightWeightArm lengthHand span40-yard dash10-yard split20-yard split20-yard shuttleThree-cone drillVertical jumpBroad jumpBench press
6 ft 2+3⁄8 in
(1.89 m)		 242 lb
(110 kg)		 31+1⁄2 in
(0.80 m)		 9+1⁄2 in
(0.24 m)		4.63 s1.68 s2.74 s4.33 s7.32 s32.5 in
(0.83 m)		9 ft 2 in
(2.79 m)		19 reps
All values from NFL Combine[7][8]

Minnesota Vikings

Smith Jr. in 2020

2019

Smith Jr. was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in the second round with the 50th overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft.[9] Smith made his NFL debut in Week 1 against the Atlanta Falcons but did not record any meaningful statistics.[10] He recorded his first reception in the next game against the Green Bay Packers.[11] He recorded a season-high and team-leading 60 receiving yards on three receptions against the Oakland Raiders in the following game.[12] He scored his first professional touchdown in Week 11 against the Denver Broncos on a 10-yard reception from Kirk Cousins.[13] Overall, as a rookie, he appeared in all 16 games and started six. He recorded 36 receptions for 311 receiving yards and two receiving touchdowns.[14]

2020

In Week 9, against the Detroit Lions, Smith had two receiving touchdowns in the same game for his first multi-touchdown game as a professional.[15] In Week 16 against the New Orleans Saints on Christmas Day, Smith had two receiving touchdowns during the 52–33 loss.[16] He finished the 2020 season with 30 receptions for 365 receiving yards and five receiving touchdowns in 13 games and seven starts.[17]

2021

On September 1, 2021, it was revealed that Smith underwent surgery to repair a torn meniscus, which prevented him from playing for the entire 2021 season.[18] He was placed on injured reserve on September 1, 2021.[19]

2022

On November 1, 2022, Smith was placed on injured reserve after suffering an ankle injury in the Week 8 win over the Arizona Cardinals.[20] In the 2022 season, Smith had 25 receptions for 182 receiving yards and two receiving touchdowns in eight games and one start.[21] He was activated on January 7, 2023. During the Vikings' Wild Card Round loss to the New York Giants, Smith had a receiving touchdown.[22]

Cincinnati Bengals

2023

On March 30, 2023, Smith Jr. signed a one-year, $1.75 million deal with the Cincinnati Bengals.[23] He was named the starting tight end on the depth chart to begin the season.[24] Smith suffered a hamstring injury during the Bengals' Week 3 win against the Los Angeles Rams.[25] His injury sidelined him for several weeks, and a rise in the production and play of Tanner Hudson and Drew Sample caused Smith to lose the starting job upon his return.[26]

In Week 8 against the San Francisco 49ers, Smith looked to be in line for his first touchdown of the season, catching a screen pass from Joe Burrow in the red zone, but fumbled the ball resulting in a turnover in the final two minutes of the first half.[27] He caught his first touchdown pass of the season in Week 9 against the Buffalo Bills.[28]

Personal life

His father, Irv Smith Sr., played college football at the University of Notre Dame and in the NFL for the Saints, 49ers, and Cleveland Browns.[29]

Career NFL statistics

Regular season

Year Team Games Receiving Fumbles
GP GS Tgt Rec Yds Avg Lng TD Fum Lost
2019 MIN 16 7 47 36 311 8.6 29 2 1 0
2020 MIN 13 7 43 30 365 12.2 36 5 0 0
2021 MIN DNP
2022 MIN 8 1 36 25 182 7.3 17 2 1 1
2023 CIN 12 6 26 18 115 6.4 14 1 1 1
Career 49 21 152 109 973 8.9 36 10 3 2

Postseason

Year Team Games Receiving Fumbles
GP GS Tgt Rec Yds Avg Lng TD Fum Lost
2019 MIN 2 1 3 3 39 13.0 21 0 0 0
2022 MIN 1 0 2 1 3 3.0 3 1 0 0
Career 3 1 5 4 42 8.0 21 1 0 0

References

  1. ↑ Lopez, Andrew (January 22, 2016). "Brother Martin tight end Irvin Smith de-commits from Texas A&M, could visit LSU". NOLA.com. Retrieved August 14, 2023.
  2. ↑ Lopez, Andrew (February 4, 2016). "Brother Martin tight end Irvin Smith signs with Alabama". NOLA.com. Retrieved August 14, 2023.
  3. ↑ Williams, Darrell (December 30, 2017). "Brother Martin alum Irv Smith's New Orleans homecoming with Alabama as sweet as sugar". The Advocate. Retrieved August 14, 2023.
  4. ↑ Paschall, David (October 12, 2018). "Tight end Irv Smith Jr. an integral part of Alabama's big-play offense". Chattanooga Times Free Press. Retrieved November 12, 2018.
  5. ↑ Byington, Alex (November 3, 2018). "Improved blocking from tight end Smith Jr. has expanded his game, Tide offense". Montgomery Advertiser. Retrieved August 14, 2023.
  6. ↑ Scarborough, Alex (January 11, 2019). "Quinnen Williams, Jonah Williams among four from Alabama going pro". ESPN.com. Retrieved January 12, 2019.
  7. ↑ "Irv Smith Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved November 11, 2019.
  8. ↑ "Irv Smith Jr., Alabama, TE, 2019 NFL Draft Scout, NCAA College Football". draftscout.com. Retrieved November 10, 2021.
  9. ↑ Peters, Craig (April 26, 2019). "Vikings Draft Irv Smith Jr. in 2nd Round of 2019 NFL Draft". Vikings.com. Retrieved August 13, 2023.
  10. ↑ "Atlanta Falcons at Minnesota Vikings - September 8th, 2019". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved July 4, 2020.
  11. ↑ "Minnesota Vikings at Green Bay Packers - September 15th, 2019". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved July 4, 2020.
  12. ↑ "Oakland Raiders at Minnesota Vikings - September 22nd, 2019". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved July 4, 2020.
  13. ↑ "Denver Broncos at Minnesota Vikings - November 17th, 2019". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved July 4, 2020.
  14. ↑ "Irv Smith 2019 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved July 4, 2020.
  15. ↑ "Detroit Lions at Minnesota Vikings - November 8th, 2020". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved November 13, 2020.
  16. ↑ "Minnesota Vikings at New Orleans Saints - December 25th, 2020". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved December 26, 2020.
  17. ↑ "Irv Smith Jr. 2020 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved August 14, 2023.
  18. ↑ Cronin, Courtney (September 1, 2021). "Irv Smith Jr. has meniscus surgery, out indefinitely". ESPN.com. Retrieved September 1, 2021.
  19. ↑ Peters, Craig (September 1, 2021). "Vikings Claim TE Ben Ellefson & Sign 14 to Practice Squad". Vikings.com. Retrieved August 13, 2023.
  20. ↑ Peters, Craig (November 1, 2022). "Vikings Acquire TE T.J. Hockenson; Place Smith on IR". Vikings.com. Retrieved November 1, 2022.
  21. ↑ "Irv Smith Jr. 2022 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved August 14, 2023.
  22. ↑ "Wild Card - New York Giants at Minnesota Vikings - January 15th, 2023". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved August 14, 2023.
  23. ↑ "Bengals Sign Irv Smith Jr". Bengals.com. March 30, 2023. Retrieved April 17, 2023.
  24. ↑ "Bengals reveal first depth chart of 2023 season ahead of Week 1 vs. Browns". Bengals Wire. September 6, 2023. Retrieved December 2, 2023.
  25. ↑ Shelton, Cole (October 5, 2023). "Irv Smith Jr. injury update: Latest on Bengals TE for Week 5". www.sportskeeda.com. Retrieved December 2, 2023.
  26. ↑ "Bengals at Jaguars preview". November 28, 2023.
  27. ↑ "Bengals need to trade for a tight end and let go of Irv Smith Jr. - A to Z Sports". A to Z Sports. Retrieved October 31, 2023.
  28. ↑ "Irv Smith Jr, Cincinnati TE, opens Buffalo game with his first touchdown as a Bengal". The Enquirer. Retrieved November 6, 2023.
  29. ↑ Zenitz, Matt (July 3, 2017). "Promising Alabama tight end following in father's footsteps". AL.com. Retrieved November 12, 2018.
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