HEADLINES

Fili Moala

Texans Trim Roster To 53 Players

September 5th, 2015 at 4:52pm CST by Luke Adams

Warning: Hard Knocks spoilers ahead. The Texans finalized their initial regular season roster today, announcing several cuts and other transactions in order to get down from 75 players to 53. In addition to cutting defensive tackle Louis Nix, defensive tackle Brandon Deaderick, and wide receiver Damaris Johnson (as we heard yesterday), and placing quarterback Tom Savage on injured reserve (as we heard today), the club made the following moves, per a press release:

Waived:

  • OLB Kourtnei Brown
  • ILB Max Bullough
  • S Kurtis Drummond
  • T Matt Feiler
  • C James Ferentz
  • DE Tevita Finau
  • RB Kenny Hilliard
  • CB Charles James
  • S Corey Moore
  • WR EZ Nwachukwu
  • DE Dan Pettinato
  • T Joseph Treadwell
  • WR Chandler Worthy

Released:

  • DE Fili Moala

Waived/injured:

  • OLB Lynden Trail
  • OLB Tony Washington

Placed on injured reserve:

  • G Chad Slade

Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle tweeted earlier today that the Texans were exploring trade scenarios involving cornerbacks Jumal Rolle and Charles James. James showed up on the list above as having been cut, so it’s clear Houston didn’t find a trade partner there. For now, Rolle remains on the team’s roster.

Meanwhile, another’s team’s roster casualty, veteran quarterback Matt Cassel, could be an option for Houston, writes Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. Cassel and Texans head coach Bill O’Brien were in New England at the same time, and with Savage landing on IR, Houston is in the market for an insurance policy at quarterback behind Brian Hoyer and Ryan Mallett.

Texans Sign Quintin Demps, Fili Moala

August 19th, 2015 at 8:22am CST by Luke Adams

The Texans have added a pair of veteran defenders to their roster, according to John McClain of the Houston Chronicle, who reports (via Twitter) that safety Quintin Demps and defensive lineman Fili Moala have signed with the club. Per Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle (Twitter links), both deals are one-year, minimum-salary pacts.

Demps, who turned 30 earlier this summer, has spent time in Houston previously in his NFL career, having played for the Texans in 2011 and 2012. The former fourth-round pick has also played for the Eagles, Chiefs, and Giants since entering the league in 2008, starting a career-high nine games last season in New York. In his one year with the Giants, Demps recorded 57 tackles and grabbed four interceptions. He’ll join Rahim Moore and former teammate Stevie Brown as part of a revamped group of safeties in Houston.

Moala, meanwhile, has spent his entire NFL career with another AFC South team, playing 64 regular season contests (45 starts) for the Colts. Moala, a second-round pick out of USC back in 2009, missed the entire 2014 season due to an ACL injury, and will compete for a roster spot with the Texans.

By my count, Houston had a full 90-man roster prior to the signings, so a pair of corresponding moves should be required. The Texans have yet to officially announce the transactions.

Minor Moves: Cowboys, Falcons, Pats, Colts

June 11th, 2014 at 4:54pm CST by Luke Adams

Today’s minor moves include a veteran defender heading to IR, a CFL signing, and other smaller signings and cuts from around the NFL. Let’s dive in and round up Wednesday’s minor transactions, with additional moves added to the top of the list throughout the day:

  • Former Bethel cornerback Jocquel Skinner, who signed with the Cowboys as an undrafted free agent in May, has been waived-injured by the club, tweets Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun. Per Wilson, the Cowboys have also removed Marvin Robinson from their IR with an injury settlement.

Earlier updates:

  • Tight end Andrew Szczerba and punter Matt Yoklic have been cut by the Falcons, according to a team release. Szczerba spent last season on injured reserve, while Yoklic was signed by Atlanta a month ago as a rookie free agent.
  • The Patriots have waived offensive lineman R.J. Mattes, the team announced today in a press release. It’s the third time since last May that the former North Carolina State lineman has been cut by New England.
  • The Colts have placed defensive end Fili Moala on injured reserve, tweets Craig Kelley of Colts.com. Moala, who missed half of the 2012 season with a torn ACL, has suffered a similar injury, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link). Per Rapoport, the 28-year-old’s ACL is only partially torn, but it’s enough to sideline him for the 2014 season. To replace Moala, the Colts have signed former Arizona State defensive end Gannon Conway, who was waived by the Dolphins last month.
  • A former Valdosa State wideout with a presidential name has signed with the Dolphins, according the team, who announced today (via Twitter) that Gerald Ford has been added to the roster. Tight end Emmanuel Ogbuehi has been cut to clear space on the roster for Ford.
  • Offensive lineman Mike Golic Jr. was cut by the Saints recently, has signed with the CFL’s Montreal Alouettes, according to ESPN.com’s Adam Caplan (Twitter link).

Colts, Fili Moala Agree To Terms

March 11th, 2014 at 5:51pm CST by Dallas Robinson

TUESDAY, 5:52pm: Moala’s one-year contract is worth $1.4MM, with $300,000 guaranteed and another $600,000 in possible incentives, according to Tom Pelissero of USA Today (via Twitter).

MONDAY, 9:48pm: Moala’s contract is for one year, tweets ESPN’s Adam Caplan.

8:01pm: The Colts have agreed to terms with defensive end Fili Moala, reports Mike Chappell of the Indianapolis Star (via Twitter). The team has confirmed the transaction.

Moala, a second-round pick in 2009, was scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent. He played 2013 under a one-year deal, after missing much of 2012 due to a torn ACL. He has started 45 games over the course of his career. Last season, he started only six games, accruing 19 tackles and 1.5 sacks, and ended the season on injured reserve.