Who Should I Start? Tyler Conklin or Irv Smith Jr.

Thursday, January 2, 10:13 AM

New York Jets tight end Tyler Conklin (calf) did not practice with the rest of the team on Wednesday. Conklin apparently picked up a calf injury in the Week 17 loss to the division-rival Buffalo Bills in which he had one of his best showings of the season. The 29-year-old caught all eight of his targets for 57 yards and a touchdown, but now his availability will be in question heading into the regular-season finale in Week 18 versus the division-rival Miami Dolphins. If Conklin is unable to get back on the practice field this week, the Jets would have more playing time available for tight ends Jeremy Ruckert and Kenny Yeboah, although neither player would excite fantasy managers setting DFS lineups. In his third year with the Jets in 2024, Conklin has barely moved the fantasy needle, catching 49 passes for 433 yards and three touchdowns on 69 targets in 15 games.

Tuesday, September 17, 10:22 PM

The Houston Texans signed free-agent tight end Irv Smith and former starting center Scott Quessenberry to their practice squad on Tuesday following successful tryouts, according to league sources. Smith, a former second-round pick by the Minnesota Vikings out of Alabama, will give Houston more depth at the TE position behind Dalton Schultz, Brevin Jordan and rookie Cade Stover. He has 109 career receptions for 973 yards and 10 touchdowns in his career with the Vikings, Bengals and Chiefs, but injuries have really held him back from reaching his true ceiling. Texans center Juice Scruggs (groin), who missed the Week 2 win over the Bears on Sunday night, is on track to return this week against the Vikings, but Quessenberry will give the team more depth at the position. Quessenberry started for Houston two seasons ago when Justin Britt stepped away for personal reasons.