The Houston Texans are less than 100 days away from kicking off the 2025 season in Los Angeles against the Rams at SoFi Stadium and we’re counting down the days until a victory ensues on the west coast.
Texans Wire will each day tell you which player has worn the number of the day leading up to kickoff and pick the player who ensured the number best during their time at NRG Stadium. As for today, let’s take a look at who has won No. 83 since the inaugural season in 2002.
Texans players to wear No. 83
No. 83 currently belongs to tight end Irv Smith Jr., who signed a one-year deal this offseason to return to Houston after spending the past season between the active roster and practice squad. There’s a chance Smith doesn’t even make the active roster, but his size, physicality and willingness to block might make him the future No. 3 option in the tight end room behind Dalton Schultz and Brevin Jordan.
Since he’s been with the team for less than a year and was a minor contributor to the passing attack, Smith can’t be the best player to ever wear the No. 83 in a Texans uniform. The options, however, are slim over the last two decades.
Best Player: Kevin Walter
There was only one option. Not only is Walter one of the top 10 receivers in franchise history, but he was a consistent force for seven seasons, moving from being a special-teams standout to a quality No. 2 option in hey day of the Gary Kubiak era.
Drafted by the New York Giants in 2003 out of Eastern Michigan, Walter never played a down in the Big Apple. He was claimed off waivers by Cincinnati and spent three seasons in the AFC North. When he arrived in Houston, a roster spot wasn’t even promised. He began his Texans tenure with the No. 85, seeing most of reps on kickoff and punt return duty.
In 2007, something clicked for the slot receiver. He doubled his career rep count, hauling in a then-best 65 passes for 800 yards. After that, Walter became the Texans’ No. 2 weapon until 2012. Over the next six seasons, he averaged 49 catches for 611 yards and four touchdowns. In 2008, Walter finished with career-highs in receiving yards (899) and touchdown receptions (eight), helping Houston finish 8-8 for the second consecutive season.
While he won’t go down as the greatest Texans’ pass-catcher, Walter will be remembered as an influential target in helping the franchise complete the revival and punch their ticket to the postseason for the first time in 2009. Entering the 2025 season, Walter ranks fourth all-time in receptions (326), targets (499), receiving yards (4083), and touchdowns (24) while ranking sixth in yards per reception (12.4).
If anyone would like to argue the selection, it’s frankly wrong.
This article originally appeared on Texans Wire: 83 days until the Texans’ 2025 season opener: Who has worn No. 83?
Reporting by Cole Thompson, Texans Wire / Texans Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
