The Houston Texans are not standing idly by as they navigate yet another injury in their secondary, this time with second-year cornerback Kamari Lassiter. Instead, the Texans have added Ja’Marcus Ingram.
Lassiter’s status remains a source of intrigue, but there remains hope even for this week.
The Texans’ secondary was arguably their most talented position group, but it continues to suffer significant blows, and Ingram can help.
Texans Claim Former Bills UDFA Ja’Marcus Ingram
GettyJa’Marcus Ingram #46 of the Buffalo Bills looks on against the Seattle Seahawks.
The Texans announced via the team’s website on December 4 that they “claimed the following player via waivers from the Buffalo Bills,” naming Ingram.
Ingram, 28, joins the Texans after three-plus seasons with the Bills, which followed a winding collegiate career with stops at Utah, Texas Tech, and, lastly, Buffalo. The 6-foot-2 defensive back has 6 total tackles in five games this season.
For his career, Ingram has 33 total stops, 4 deflections, 2 interceptions, and 1.0 sacks.
Ingram has been a special teams player for most of his career, and he has only logged double-digit appearances in one season, 2024.
The Bills not only re-signed Tre’Davious White in free agency this past offseason, but they also selected Maxwell Hairston in the first round of the 2025 draft. The writing was on the wall for Ingram, who has been a healthy scratch on game days often this season.
He figures to see some run with the Texans once he learns the playbook.
Because the Texans claimed Ingram off waivers, they are on the hook for the remainder of his expiring two-year, $1.9 million contract.
The Texans took advantage of an otherwise unfortunate event, using the roster spot created from placing defensive tackle Tim Settle Jr. on injured reserve to add Ingram. They announced that decision in the same release as their claim on Ingram.
Texans CB Kamari Lassiter Holding Out Hope
GettyKamari Lassiter #4 and Calen Bullock #21 of the Houston Texans react after an interception against the Indianapolis Colts.
The Texans made the move for Ingram out of necessity, with Lassiter missing the first two practices of Week 14 with a foot issue.
He is the only Texans starter who did not practice on Thursday, and his outlook is uncertain.
“While it isn’t regarded as season-ending situation, his availability for Sunday’s game against #Chiefs is up in the air, per sources,” KPRC 2’s Aaron Wilson reported in a post on X on December 4. “Team added corner Ja’Marcus Ingram off waivers today from #Bills.”
According to Wilson on a separate post, Lassiter is “still hoping to make it back for Sunday’s game against #Chiefs per sources, but availability uncertain due to foot injury.
Wilson reported that Tremon Smith would replace Lassiter in the starting lineup if need be.
Much to the Texans’ benefit, the Bills waived Ingram to make room for Darius Slay, whom they similarly acquired from the Pittsburgh Steelers on Wednesday. However, the Texans may have played foil to the plan.
Texans Get One Last Win Over Bills
GettyHouston Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans reacts against the Seattle Seahawks.
There were at least some outside designs on Ingram returning as a member of the Bills’ practice squad. Instead, the head coach DeMeco Ryans and the Texans, who defeated the Bills on “Thursday Night Football” in Week 12, get Ingram, while Slay informed Buffalo he will not report.
The 2024 Super Bowl champion will instead contemplate retirement.
“Another [Bills general manager] Brandon Beane embarrassment,” Buffalo Bills on SI’s Alex Brasky wrote on December 4. “The move to bring in Slay was questionable when it happened, as the 34-year-old struggled mightily throughout his time with the Pittsburgh Steelers and did not appear to be much of an upgrade over Ingram, who performed well for Buffalo, albeit in a reserve role, a season ago.
“Now, after Slay has apparently decided he doesn’t want to join the Bills, and with Ingram having now been claimed by another team, Beane’s incompetence has once again reared its ugly head.”
Brasky noted the Bills have three perimeter corners on their roster after the set of transactions, with a fourth on the practice squad. The Texans may not call on Ingram in Week 14, but he could prove to be a steal later.
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