The former Alabama tight end is set to make his 2024 NFL debut on Sunday

The Houston Texans signed Irv Smith Jr. from their practice squad on Saturday, making the former Alabama tight end eligible to play for the first time of the 2024 NFL season on Sunday.

The Texans play the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday at noon CST at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Florida.

Houston elevated Smith after tight end Teagan Quitoriano was placed on injured reserve with a knee injury on Thursday. Quitoriano will have to miss at least the next four games.

Smith has been with the Texans since Sept. 18 but has not played this season. Each NFL team can promote two members of its practice squad to active status for each game.

Smith signed with Houston after being released by the Kansas City Chiefs at the end of the preseason.

Smith, a second-round pick of the Minnesota Vikings in the 2019 NFL Draft, had 66 receptions for 676 yards and seven touchdowns in 29 games in his first two NFL seasons. Since he missed the 2021 season due to a torn meniscus, Smith has 43 receptions for 297 yards and three touchdowns in 20 games. He played for the Vikings in 2022 and the Cincinnati Bengals in 2023.

There was also a close finish on the other side of the Iron Bowl rivalry on Saturday. The Philadelphia Eagles have signed Auburn graduate CJ Uzomah from their practice squad for Sunday’s game against the Baltimore Ravens.

Uzomah has played 19 offensive snaps as a practice player in the last two games.

Because NFL rules limit the number of times a practice squad member can be promoted per season to three, if Uzomah plays for the Eagles after Sunday’s game, he must be a member of Philadelphia’s 53-man active roster.

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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.