The Texans recently signed a pair of practice squad players to their active roster, and according to Aaron Wilson, the two players both received multiyear deals. Both defensive end Derek Rivers and safety Jonathan Owens were signed to deals through the 2022 campaign.
Rivers was a third-round pick by the Patriots back in 2017, and he collected 12 tackles and 2.5 sacks in his three-plus seasons with the team (including a 2019 campaign that was lost due to injury). The defensive lineman was waived during the 2020 campaign, and after finishing that season with the Rams, he caught on with Texans in March. He’s spent most of the season on the practice squad, but he has collected five tackles in three games.
Per Wilson, Rivers’ deal includes a $1MM base salary for 2022, plus a $100K signing bonus, up to $100K in per-game roster bonuses, and a $50K workout bonus. The pseudo-two-year deal is ultimately worth $1.58MM.
Owens caught on with the Cardinals after going undrafted in the 2018 draft, but he’s otherwise spent his professional career with the Texans. The 26-year-old has spent time on and off Houston’s roster since 2019, but he’s gotten into one game with the organization. Per Wilson, Owens’ new deal is worth $1.175MM, including a $10K signing bonus, a $10K workout bonus, and a 2022 base salary of $895K.
