Ali Gaye

Wednesday NFL Transactions: AFC South

Following the 53-man roster cutdown deadline Tuesday, many teams will make slight tweaks to their rosters. In addition to waiver claims, teams can begin constructing their 16-man practice squads today. These ColtsJaguars, Texans and Titans moves are noted below.

Houston Texans

Signed:

Claimed:

Signed to practice squad:

Reverted to IR:

Indianapolis Colts

Signed:

Claimed:

Waived:

Signed to practice squad:

Jacksonville Jaguars

Signed:

Claimed:

Signed to practice squad:

Tennessee Titans

Signed:

Claimed:

Waived:

Signed to practice squad:

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:

Waived:

Waived/injured:

Placed on season-ending IR:

Placed on IR/designated for return:

Placed on reserve/non-football illness list:

Placed on reserve/suspended list:

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.

Wednesday NFL Transactions: AFC South

Following the 53-man roster cutdown deadline Tuesday, many teams will make slight tweaks to their rosters. In addition to waiver claims, teams can begin constructing their 16-man practice squads today. These ColtsJaguarsTexans and Titans moves are noted below.

Houston Texans

Claimed:

Waived:

Signed to practice squad:

Indianapolis Colts

Placed on IR:

Signed:

Claimed:

Waived:

Signed to practice squad: 

Jacksonville Jaguars

Claimed:

Waived:

Signed to practice squad:

Tennessee Titans

Claimed:

Waived:

Signed to practice squad:

Released:

Released from IR via injury settlement:

Texans Set 53-Man Roster

The Texans are in the midst of a rebuild, but that doesn’t make their roster decisions any easier. The organization ultimately settled on 53 players today:

Released:

Waived:

Waived/injured:

Placed on reserve/PUP:

Three veteran tight ends were let go in Mason Schreck, Eric Tomlinson, and Nick Vannett. Vannett has the most epxerience of the bunch, having seen time in 86 career games. He spent the 2022 seasons with the Giants and Saints, hauling in six catches. Tomlinson has appeared in 85 career games, including 34 over the past two seasons. He started 12 of his 17 appearances for Denver in 2022, serving mostly as an extra blocker.

Adam Humphries was an 800-yard receiver with the Buccaneers in 2018, but he’s compiled only 985 yards in three years since. He didn’t get into a game during the 2022 season, but he did haul in 41 catches for Washington in 2021.

Texans Add Nine Undrafted Free Agents

The Texans were one of the busiest teams in the draft, and the front office is continuing to be active after the seventh rou. The team announced that they’ve signed nine undrafted free agents:

Xazavian Valladay got $175K in guaranteed money from the Texans, per Aaron Wilson of ProFootballNetwork.com (via Twitter). The running back had three productive seasons at Wyoming before transferring to Arizona State for the 2022 campaign, where he compiled 1,481 yards from scrimmage and 18 touchdowns. Dameon Pierce has a firm hold on the starting gig and the Texans brought in Devin Singletary as a reliable backup, but Valladay could push for a role as an RB3.

Kilian Zierer got $180K guaranteed from Houston, per Wilson (on Twitter). The offensive lineman held his own against SEC competition despite having only started playing football at the age of 16. Fortunately for the Texans, they can take the rookie along slowly with the hopes that he will eventually be a serviceable backup to Laremy Tunsil and Tytus Howard.

Jared Wayne got the biggest payday of the grouping, earning $210K in guaranteed money (via Wilson on Twitter). The Pittsburgh product earned second-team All-ACC honors in 2022 after finishing with 60 receptions for 1,063 yards and five touchdowns. His size put him on the NFL radar but his lack of elite speed led to him going undrafted, but with the Texans eyeing a completely revamped WR depth chart, he’ll have as good of a chance as anyone to earn a role on the team.