Stephen A Smith mistakenly calls Texans wide receiver Charlie Kirk

Stephen A. Smith mistakenly referred to Houston Texans wide receiver Christian Kirk arsenic Charlie Kirk connected Tuesday.

Smith was talking astir Kirk’s large crippled successful the Texans' 30-6 playoff triumph implicit the Pittsburgh Steelers during ESPN’s "First Take" erstwhile helium had a gaffe of the tongue.

"We saw Charlie Kirk drawback 8 receptions for 144 yards," Smith said.

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Stephen A. Smith speaks onstage astatine Day 2 of the 2025 HOPE Global Forum astatine Signia by Hilton Atlanta successful Atlanta, Georgia, connected Dec. 2, 2025. (Paras Griffin/Getty Images)

He was rapidly corrected and promptly apologized. "I apologize. Oh my God. Christian Kirk."

Charlie Kirk was assassinated successful September 2025 portion speaking astatine an outdoor field statement planned by Turning Point USA.

Christian Kirk had his champion show of the play erstwhile the Texans needed it most. Kirk hadn’t had much than 4 receptions and 64 yards successful a crippled each regular season, making his playoff show basal out.

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Houston Texans wide receiver Christian Kirk (13) dives into the extremity portion for a touchdown portion defended by Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Brandin Echols (26) during the archetypal fractional of an NFL wild-card playoff shot crippled successful Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, connected Monday, Jan. 12, 2026. (Justin Berl/AP Photo)

Kirk’s 8 catches for 144 yards and 1 receiving touchdown each led the team.

The Texans volition look for Kirk to measurement up again adjacent week, arsenic the squad could beryllium without apical wide receiver Nico Collins, who near the crippled with a concussion. In 15 games this season, Collins had 71 catches for 1,117 yards and six touchdowns.

The two-time Pro Bowler has built a beardown rapport with backmost C.J. Stroud and if helium cannot wide concussion protocol earlier the team’s crippled against the New England Patriots connected Sunday, it would beryllium large loss.

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Houston Texans wide receiver Christian Kirk (13) celebrates with wide receiver Nico Collins (12) aft a touchdown during the archetypal fractional of an NFL wild-card playoff shot crippled against the Pittsburgh Steelers successful Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, connected Monday, Jan. 12, 2026. (Justin Berl/AP Photo)

Stroud would beryllium relying heavy connected Kirk, wide receivers Jayden Higgins and Xavier Hutchinson, and choky extremity Dalton Schultz if Collins cannot clear.

The No. 5 seeded Texans instrumentality connected the No. 2 seeded New England Patriots connected Sunday astatine 3:30 p.m. ET.

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