DeMeco Ryans and the Houston Texans underwent a set of changes to their roster, preparing for the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 16. Specifically, the Texans shook up their practice squad, including parting ways with a former first-round draft pick.
In fact, the Texans moved on from three draft picks in total. Two of those players were selected by the franchise.
In their place arrive three more players, including one drafted by the Arizona Cardinals.
Texans Part Ways With Damon Arnette, 2 Others
GettyDamon Arnette #41 of the Houston Texans makes an interception against Jacolby George #80 of the Carolina Panthers.
The Texans announced they “released the following players from the practice squad” via their official website on December 23, naming cornerback Damon Arnette, defensive tackle Marcus Harris, and safety Brandon Hill.
Harris and Hill are former draft picks of the Texans from the 2024 and 2023 cycles, respectively.
Arnette was a first-round pick by the Las Vegas Raiders in 2020, taken 19th overall. He has bounced back and forth between the Texans’ roster, practice squad, and free agency since initially signing during the offseason.
Arnette is the only one of the three who has played for the Texans this season, recording 3 total tackles in his two games played.
The Texans could also be planning for the future, too, with the playoffs two weeks away.
Since all three players were so sparingly used, if at all, filling their roster spots with players who might be more likely to contribute in the postseason could prove wise. That gives the Texans’ new additions time to acclimate themselves to the system.
Former Cardinals DT Leki Fotu Leads Texans Roster Additions
GettyLeki Fotu #95 of the Las Vegas Raiders reacts against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
“The Houston Texans have signed the following players to the practice squad,” the team announced in their release, naming defensive tackle Leki Fotu, linebacker Power Echols, and safety Kaevon Merriweather.
The Texans agreed to a deal with Merriweather, a former undrafted free agent safety, last week.
This week, they confirmed the deal while adding Echols, a rookie UDFA who has been with the Baltimore Ravens and Chicago Bears, and Fotu.
Fotu, the No. 114 overall pick in 2020, has played in 64 games and started 26 of them. He has 100 total tackles, 4.5 sacks, 1 forced fumble, and 1 recovery in his career. Fotu has also played for the Raiders and New York Jets.
Merriweather has 46 combined stops, 1.0 sacks, and 1 recovery in his two-plus NFL seasons.
Echols is an undersized prospect, but he was among the priority UDFAs following the draft in 2024. He also has yet to see the field in an NFL regular-season contest in his young career.
Texans Fine-Tuning Roster for Postseason
GettyHouston Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans looks on against the Seattle Seahawks.
The Texans still face a slew of different outcomes for the postseason, including not making it in at all. That puts additional emphasis on any decisions they make regarding their roster, the bulk of which has been responsible for the team’s turnaround after they started the season 0-3.
They face a red-hot Chargers team on the road in their next test.
The Texans will close out the regular season against the Indianapolis Colts. Indy has a greater chance of playing spoiler than making the postseason, given all the help they would need.
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