HOUSTON -- Less than three years ago, Houston Texans receiver Vyncint Smith was working at a car detail shop in South Carolina and idolizing receiver Demaryius Thomas, even using a photo of Thomas as the background on his cell phone.
On Sunday, after Thomas was carted off the field with an Achilles injury, Smith was asked to take on an elevated role in Houston's passing game. With two minutes remaining and the Texans trailing the Philadelphia Eagles 29-23, Smith broke free and made a sliding catch in the back of the end zone on a 35-yard pass from Deshaun Watson for his first career touchdown.