The Houston Texans took an opportunistic approach to a rival’s unexpected decision, adding former Tampa Bay Buccaneers safety Kaevon Merriweather to their roster after he recently became available.
Merriweather is a fitting addition for a Texans team that has been navigating changes to its secondary all season.
The Texans are hosting the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 16.
Texans Sign Ex-Buccaneers S Kaevon Merriweather
GettyKaevon Merriweather #26 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers looks on before a game against the New York Jets.
“Safety Kaevon Merriweather, who was released by the #Bucs on Wednesday, cleared waivers and is headed to the #Texans practice squad,” NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported on X on December 18. “A fresh start.”
The Buccaneers released Merriweather to make room for fellow safety Rashad Wisdom, a rookie undrafted free agent.
Merriweather has 8 total tackles in 12 games this season, all off the bench.
He has logged 192 of his 207 snaps in 2025 on special teams for the Buccaneers. The production and usage are consistent with the rest of his career, with Merriweather bringing 46 career stops, 2 pass deflections, 1.0 sacks, and 1 fumble recovery in 42 games (seven starts).
The Texans cut offseason trade acquisition C.J. Gardner-Johnson after Week 3, then lost replacement M.J. Stewart, and then his fill-in Jaylen Reed to injuries.
Jalen Pitre has also been in and out of the lineup this season.
The Texans can call Merriweather up three times from the practice squad without needing to sign him to their 53-man roster. That takes them through the end of the regular season, and teams can elevate players at will during the postseason.
Brandon Merriweather Pre-Draft Outlook Telling
GettyKaevon Merriweather #26 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers warms up before a game against the Philadelphia Eagles.
Merriweather, who turns 26 on December 20, also entered the league as an undrafted free agent, coming out of Iowa in 2023.
Despite that, NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein projected Merriweather as a sixth-round pick.
“Merriweather has the size and toughness of an NFL safety but needs to improve his consistency to finish tackles near the box,” Zierlein wrote in 2023. “He could struggle to keep up with wide receivers who get matched with him in space. He might have the tools necessary to cover tight ends, but he could be at his best playing short zone as a dime safety. Overall, Merriweather has physical traits that give him a chance to find a home as a backup safety.”
Bleacher Report’s NFL Scouting Department staff also forecasted that a team could justify using a sixth or seventh-round pick on Merriweather, and that he is most likely going to be a backup at this level.
“Kaevon Merriweather is a safety with average length and good size and weight,” the B/R staff wrote in January 2023. “He is a bigger body safety with very good functional strength. Although he has shown the ability to play deep and in coverage, he fits the mold of a strong safety who plays downhill and does his best work from the box.
“Ultimately, Merriweather is a draftable player with backup potential. Depending on where he lands, he will have to have a specific role for a defense to find the field. He will need to improve his movement and coverage skills in order to stick around for an extended career.”
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