12:25pm: To accommodate Hunt, the team has placed safety Lonnie Ballentine on the injured reserve, reports Berman (via Twitter). The 2014 seventh-round pick has played in four games during his three-year career, compiling three tackles.
Berman also notes that running back Jonathan Grimes is not traveling with the team and will not play this weekend. Hunt will presumably take his spot on the running back depth chart behind Lamar Miller, Alfred Blue, and Tyler Ervin.
10:32am: As the Texans current crop of running backs recover from their various ailments, the team has added some reinforcement to the backfield. According to Mark Berman of Fox26 in Houston (via Twitter), the team has promoted running back Akeem Hunt from the practice squad.
Hunt, a speedy second-year back, will provide the Texans with some insurance in case one of their running backs can’t go this weekend. Starter Lamar Miller is recovering from a shoulder injury, but Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle reports that the veteran is hoping to play against the Jaguars. Meanwhile, fourth-string running back Jonathan Grimes missed a practice this week due to an illness.
The former Purdue standout joined the Texans as an undrafted free agent in 2015 (following a brief tenure with the Ravens and Giants). In seven games as a rookie, Hunt ran for 96 yards on 17 carries, and he added another 39 yards via six receptions. The running back scored a pair of touchdowns during the Texans preseason finale this year, but he was ultimately cut prior to the regular season.