The Houston Texans have been hit with a slew of injuries, one of which, that of 2021 fifth-round pick Brevin Jordan, is a season-ender. With that, the Texans delved into free agency for a replacement, landing on former Los Angeles Chargers tight end Tre’ McKitty ahead of their preseason Week 2 tilt against the Carolina Panthers.
LA selected McKitty with the No. 97 overall pick as part of the same class that the Texans selected Jordan.
McKitty, 26, has caught 16 passes for 117 yards in his career.
“#Texans signed veteran tight end Tre McKitty,” KPRC 2’s Aaron Wilson reported on X on August 13, noting in a later post all of the young veteran’s stops in between on-field stints with the Chargers and Cleveland Browns, with whom he spent part of his offseason.
Reviews of McKitty reveal a trend of Chargers tight ends, though one that could still bode well for the Texans.
Texans TE Tre’ McKitty Part of Dubious Trend
GettyTre’ McKitty #83 of the Buffalo Bills makes a catch for a 2-point conversion against the Carolina Panthers.
The Texans may be hoping to coax more out of McKitty than the coaching staffs at his previous stops did.
“A blocking prospect with the perceived upside to develop into something more, McKitty was only with the Chargers from 2021-2023. Before getting cut and going on to join the Buffalo Bills, McKitty caught just 16 passes over 28 appearances with the Chargers,” On SI’s Chris Roling wrote in June.
“Tight end … has been a sour point for the organization for years. Recent gambles like Hayden Hurst and Will Dissly have ranged from outright flopping to underwhelming at best, at least when joining an offense spearheaded by a quarterback as talented as Justin Herbert.”
Hurst and Dissly have both been positive contributors in new situations.
Dissly was a fourth-round pick by the Seattle Seahawks in 2018. He caught 50 passes for 481 yards and 2 TDs in 2024, his first season with the Chargers.
Hurst was a first-rounder of the Baltimore Ravens in that same class. The 2020 Alan Page Award winner, which recognizes players’ off-field contributions, was less productive, posting an 8-73-0 line for LA last season, also his first with the club.
He had a 56-570-6 line in that 2020 season.
If the Texans can get similar production out of McKitty when they need him, that will be a win for head coach DeMeco Ryans, quarterback C.J. Stroud, and Co.
Texans TE Room Gets Boost
GettyNico Collins #12 of the Houston Texans celebrates a touchdown with teammate Irv Smith Jr. #83 against the Tennessee Titans.
McKitty is not being thrust into a position of great need by the Texans. Jordan played in two games in 2024, and the Texans have Dalton Schultz and 2024 fourth-rounder Cade Stover at the top of their depth chart.
They also get a boost with the return of 2024 free agent pickup Irv Smith Jr., another tight end.
“Irv Smith Jr. #Texans tight end participating in practice,” Wilson reported on X on August 13. “He missed time with hand injury, per league source.”
Timing aside, Smith, a second-round selection of the Cincinnati Bengals in 2019, did not contribute much to the Texans in 2024. Moreover, his role does not figure to change much as long as Schultz and Stover remain healthy.
Smith, like McKitty, serves as a reminder of attrition for the Texans.
They are vying for a third straight AFC South crown, a first in franchise history. If the Texans are suddenly relying on McKitty or Smith, the season could already be on life support.
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