The Houston Texans got proactive with their latest roster move, showing aggression with big-bodied defensive back Ameer Speed.
Speed signed with the Texans ahead of their Week 13 showdown against the Indianapolis Colts.
Despite the Texans being Speed’s third team since early August, he saw his first action of the season with them in the 20-16 Houston victory. The Texans decided to forgo the formalities of exhausting their options with him, bringing him on to their 53-man roster.
Texans Promote Ameer Speed From Practice Squad to Active Roster
GettyAmeer Speed #37 of the Indianapolis Colts celebrate a win against the New England Patriots.
“#Texans are signing 6-foot-3, 215-pound cornerback Ameer Speed, who excelled on special teams as practice squad elevation vs. #Colts, to the 53-man roster, per a league source,” KPRC 2’s Aaron Wilson reported on X on December 2.
Speed addresses a critical personnel quandary for the Texans.
“Houston Texans have depth issues to address in the secondary,” TexansCap posted on X on December 2. “Currently, they have only 7 defensive backs, and one (Jaylen Reed) is injured.”
The Texans remain strong at the top of the depth chart with Derek Stingley Jr. and Kamari Lassiter. They also have veterans Myles Bryant and Tremon Smith on the active roster and Alijah Huzzie, Damon Arnette, and K’Von Wallace on the practice squad.
Rookie third-round draft pick Jaylin Smith is on injured reserve.
Moreover, starting nickelback Jalen Pitre is an option to replace Reed (already a replacement himself) at his natural safety spot.
Speed beat out four other players, including fellow corner LaMareon James, in a tryout for the Texans. They enter Week 14 at 7-5 and in contention for the AFC South crown, but have cycled through multiple starters at safety and navigated injuries at CB.
Speed showed well in his Texans debut.
“Ameer Speed made an impact early on the Texans special teams,” DrRoto’s Jayson Braddock posted on X on November 30, highlighting a first-quarter tackle with a clip.
Ameer Speed Delivered on Pre-Draft Profile
GettyAmeer Speed #9 of the Georgia Bulldogs reacts after the Spring Game.
Speed, who is listed at 6-foot-3 and turned 26 in October, recorded 1 total tackle for the Texans in their win over the Colts. He did not see the field on defense for Houston. However, he did log 18 snaps on special teams, per Pro Football Reference.
Speed was a sixth-round pick of the New England Patriots, taken 214th overall in the 2023 draft.
He won a national championship with Georgia during the 2021 season. Speed transferred to Michigan State for his final season in 2022.
“Speed’s tape and production don’t stand out,” NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein wrote before the draft in 2023. “However, his rare size and speed, along with his potential to star on special teams, could give him a chance to find an NFL home.”
The Texans are Speed’s NFL home, for now.
Speed has also played for the Colts, Chicago Bears, and the Cleveland Browns before signing with the Texans.
His next opportunity to show well for the Texans is in Week 14 against the Kansas City Chiefs. The Texans are still making up ground after a 0-3 start. Speed has 10 combined stops in 16 regular-season games during his two-plus-year NFL career, including his Texans debut.
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