Texans Place Case Keenum On Season-Ending IR, Reduce Roster To 53

Several vested veterans hit the chopping block in Houston. Here is how the defending NFC South champions reached 53 today:

Released:

• FB Nick Bawden
• FB Andrew Beck
• QB Tim Boyle
• WR Noah Brown (story)
• T Cameron Erving
• CB Mike Ford
• T Charlie Heck
• CB C.J. Henderson (story)
• DB Lonnie Johnson
• CB Desmond King (story)
• LB Jacob Phillips
• G Chris Reed
• CB D’Angelo Ross
• T David Sharpe

Waived:

• DT McTelvin Agim
• LB Tarique Barnes
• DE Solomon Byrd
• WR Quintez Cephus
• G Dieter Eiselen
• DE Malik Fisher
• DE Ali Gaye
• FB Troy Hairston
• DT Marcus Harris
• WR Johnny Johnson
• CB Troy Pride
• WR Ben Skowronek (story)
• RB J.J. Taylor
• LB Max Tooley
• T Kilian Zierer

Waived/injured:

• RB Jawhar Jordan
• DE Pheldarius Payne
• TE Teagan Quitoriano

Placed on season-ending IR:

• S Brandon Hill
• QB Case Keenum

Placed on IR/designated for return:

• LB Christian Harris
• DT Kurt Hinish

Placed on reserve/non-football illness list:

• DL Dylan Horton

Placed on reserve/suspended list:

• DL Denico Autry (story)

Keenum was headed into the second season of a two-year deal with his original NFL team, but a major injury will sidetrack the veteran arm. A foot injury will sideline the 36-year-old quarterback, KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson tweets. Keenum is expected to be down for three or four months, The Athletic’s Dianna Russini adds. Houston still has Davis Mills, who is in a contract year, as its top backup behind C.J. Stroud.

A calf injury will shut down Harris for the time being, Wilson adds. The Texans used both their allotted IR-return moves. The team used the 2022 third-round pick as a 12-game starter last season. Harris has played at least 71% of the Texans’ defensive snaps in both of his seasons, explaining his being prioritized via the NFL’s IR rule tweak. Despite being a 2022 UDFA, Hinish has been a key rotational player in Houston in each of his two pro seasons.

Horton is in remission from his bout with Hodgkin’s lymphoma. The second-year player completed his final treatment this spring but did not practice with the team during training camp. The Texans’ run of WR cuts leaves 2022 second-rounder John Metchie, who missed his rookie season after a leukemia diagnosis, and Robert Woods on the roster behind starters Nico Collins, Tank Dell and Stefon Diggs. Cutting Jordan, a sixth-round pick from Louisville, leaves Dameon Pierce, Dare Ogunbowale and Cam Akers rostered behind Joe Mixon.