When Tremon Smith signed his contract extension over the weekend, it felt like a long time coming for the fourth-year defensive back and special teams player. Smith, a former sixth-round draft pick in 2018, bounced around the league before signing with the Texans in free agency earlier this year.
"It feels good," Smith said. "It's been something I have been working on my whole career, just to get an extension. You know these past three years, I've been on three different teams, so to be somewhere back to back in two years is a good feeling and brought out confidence in me."
Smith played in 10 regular-season games and one postseason contest for the Colts last season. He spent the 2019 season with three different teams, the Green Bay Packers, the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles. Smith is the first player signed to a contract extension in-season by General Manager Nick Caserio, who he says did approach him about the possibility.
"We have our talks here and there," Smith said. "For the most part, I was just worried about our next opponent and going on and getting our next win."
The former Central Arkansas standout took over kickoff return duties this season for the Texans, starting in Week 7 at Arizona. The following week, Smith recorded a 44-yard kickoff return against the Los Angeles Rams for the team's longest kickoff return of the season. In the Texans' win at Tennessee, Smith recovered a muffed punt by Titans PR Chester Rogers at the Tennessee five-yard line for a takeaway in the third quarter.
"It feels good," Smith said. "I just want to make sure I bring the same energy, coming in to work hard every day. I felt like that showed off, and that was why I was one of the first ones to extend. I just want to come in and work hard every day."
As a kickoff returner, Smith has fielded eight kicks for 204 yards, averaging 25.5 yards per kickoff return this season. He has also recorded eight tackles (four solo) on defense and six tackles and one fumble recovery on special teams through 12 games with one start this season.
See the Texans host the Seahawks on December 12 at NRG Stadium in Week 14.Kickoff is set for noon CT. Click here for tickets
