HEADLINES

Dylan Horton

Texans Activate DE Dylan Horton, Place DE Jerry Hughes On IR

October 5th, 2024 at 4:31pm CST by Adam La Rose

Dylan Horton‘s road to recovery is officially complete. The second-year defensive end was activated from the reserve/NFI list on Saturday, the Texans announced.

Horton’s rookie campaign was ended by a Stage 4 Hodgkin’s lymphoma diagnosis last December. He spent the spring undergoing treatment as a result, a process which was completed in May. Horton was moved to the NFI list while the Texans set their final roster, guaranteeing at least a four-game absence to begin the season. In time for Week 5, though, he has returned to the active roster.

The 24-year-old made 10 appearances last season, logging a rotational workload on defense while also chipping in on special teams. A major step forward in playing time should not be expected for Horton (especially early on during the season), but he could carve out a notable role while making his first appearances in nearly one year. Despite his return, Houston will be shorthanded along the defensive line for the time being.

Jerry Hughes was placed on injured reserve in a corresponding move to Horton’s activation. The veteran will miss at least four games as a result, ending his run of durability with Houston. Hughes played all 17 games during both of his first two Texans campaigns, collecting 12 sacks over that span. It thus came as little surprise when he re-signed in July on a deal positioning him to remain a depth contributor up front.

Hughes, 36, played in each of the Texans’ first four games this year but he was held without a sack. His attention will now turn to recovery while Horton takes over a rotational role on a defense which has posted strong numbers in a number of categories in 2024.

Texans DE Dylan Horton Returns To Practice Following Cancer Remission

October 2nd, 2024 at 12:32pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

Texans defensive end Dylan Horton will return to practice today after starting the season on the reserve/non-football injury list, according to KPRC 2’s Aaron Wilson.

Horton was diagnosed with Stage 4 Hodgkin’s lymphoma in December 2023, sidelining him for Houston’s last seven regular-season matchups and the postseason. He completed his cancer treatment in May but did not practice with the team during training camp as he finished his recovery. The Texans placed Horton on the NFI list during final roster cuts, giving him additional time to get back into playing shape before hitting the field with his teammates.

The TCU alum played 175 defensive snaps as a rotational presence last season with Houston, seeing time on special teams as well. The Texans have largely the same DE group they did last season, with one notable free agency update, so the second-year player will have a chance to mix in soon. Horton joins 2022 second-round wide receiver John Metchie as Texans to battle cancer and resume their football careers since being drafted.

Now in remission, Horton will play football for the first time since last November, hoping to fortify a Texans defense that has allowed the fifth-fewest points but 11th-most yards. He will slot in behind Houston’s deep defensive end group, featuring 2023 no. 3 overall pick Will Anderson, 2024 free agency signing Danielle Hunter, and veterans Derek Barnett and Jerry Hughes.

That depth will allow head coach DeMeco Ryans to take a conservative approach with Horton’s return to the field, instead prioritizing the 2023 fourth-rounder’s health and long-term development.

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

August 27th, 2024 at 7:44pm CST by Sam Robinson

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.

Minor NFL Transactions: 7/17/24

July 17th, 2024 at 6:47pm CST by Ely Allen

Some roster movement today in minor transactions as several teams are starting to add players to early injured lists:

Chicago Bears

  • Placed on active/NFI list: T Kiran Amegadjie
  • Placed on active/PUP list: DT Jamree Kromah

Denver Broncos

Green Bay Packers

Houston Texans

Kansas City Chiefs

Los Angeles Chargers

Seattle Seahawks

There was good news on the Horton front back in May as it was announced that the Texans defender had completed his final treatment for Hodgkin lymphoma. As a rookie out of TCU, Horton sat out the final seven games of the 2023 season on the non-football illness list. As he continues to work his way back to the field, it appears he’ll start the summer on the list, as well.

Thompson’s situation in Kansas City also received some good news of late. After suffering a seizure that caused him to go into cardiac arrest in early-June, the Chiefs defender continues to make progress towards a return. He’ll start the summer on the non-football injury list but will continue to work his way back as he continues with medical procedures, per Nate Taylor of The Athletic.

Texans DE Dylan Horton Completes Cancer Treatments

May 17th, 2024 at 11:16am CST by Adam La Rose

Dylan Horton ended his rookie season on the NFI list, but his attempts to return to the field for the coming campaign recently saw a welcomed development. The Texans defensive end completed his final treatment for Hodgkin lymphoma, as noted by Aaron Wilson of KPRC2.

Horton was in stage four of the disease, but he is now in remission, Wilson adds. The positive news on the treatment front clears the way for him to attempt a comeback for the 2024 season. The 23-year-old made 10 appearances last year, logging a part-time role on both defense and special teams. He posted 13 tackles and one fumble recovery in that span.

Three years remain on Horton’s rookie contract, and staying cancer-free would allow him to carry on in a depth capacity with the Texans. The team relied heavily on 2023 third overall pick Will Anderson last season, and his performance earned him Defensive Rookie of the Year honors. Anderson will no doubt continue as a full-time starter for years to come. Houston lost fellow first-teamer Jonathan Greenard in free agency, but Danielle Hunter was added as a replacement.

The latter inked a two-year deal featuring $48MM guaranteed, and he will be counted on to remain a high-end sack artist with his hometown team. Hunter posted a career-high 16.5 sacks last season, and a repeat of that performance would help the Texans build off their surprise 2023 run to the divisional round of the postseason. Houston ranked just 17th in sacks during head coach DeMeco Ryans‘ first season at the helm, and an improvement in that department will be a goal for 2024.

Horton – a third-round selection out of TCU – will aim to play a role in that effort. He will find himself behind Anderson, Hunter and Denico Autry on the depth chart this season, but managing to take part in offseason workouts and/or training camp will represent a sign he will be available for the start of his second NFL campaign. His status will be worth monitoring as the offseason progresses.

Minor NFL Transactions: 11/23/23

November 23rd, 2023 at 8:08pm CST by Ely Allen

Thanksgiving Day transactions from around the league:

Houston Texans

Miami Dolphins

New York Jets

San Francisco 49ers

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Horton, a fourth-round rookie out of TCU, released a statement from the team that he is “dealing with a personal health matter that will keep (him) away from the team for an indefinite period of time.” His spot on the roster will be taken by Hyder, a practice squad end who is one of several former 49ers defenders to join head coach DeMeco Ryans in Houston.

The 49ers have upgraded one of their cornerback roster spots, subbing Womack in off the injured reserve for Jean-Charles. Womack was a much more active participant in his rookie season last year than Jean-Charles has been for the 49ers so far this season. While Womack was ready to return, the same could not be said for rookie fifth-round defensive end Robert Beal Jr. Beal was downgraded to out for tonight’s game and will remain on IR with his 21-day practice window still open for four more days.

Meanwhile, Miami and New York are making their standard gameday elevations for the league’s first ever Black Friday football game tomorrow.

NFL Draft Pick Signings: 5/18/23

May 18th, 2023 at 5:37pm CST by Ben Levine

Non-first-round picks continue to sign their four-year contracts. We’ve collected today’s signings below:

Arizona Cardinals

Houston Texans

New York Jets

Philadelphia Eagles

Williams was one of the more intriguing prospects in the draft considering his status heading into the 2022 campaign. The Syracuse cornerback is still recovering from a torn ACL that limited him to only seven games last season. As the rookie told Darren Urban of the team’s website, he’s already progressed to running.

“You feel like football season is around the corner, but you’ve got to stay patient,” Williams said. “I can’t rush it. But obviously I can’t wait to put the cleats and pads back on … The hard part’s done. Now it’s the fun part, strengthening things, I’m able to run. I feel like a football player again.”

The defensive back also made it clear that he’s aiming to be back on the field for training camp, but he understands that the organization may want to bring him along more slowly.

“I am seeing it as, I can come back from this and make my story,” Williams said. “I see my life as a movie [and] make my movie that much cooler, that much better at the end.”