The Houston Texans have made another adjustment to their practice squad by signing wide receiver Jared Wayne and releasing defensive tackle Marcus Harris in a corresponding move. This change is part of the ongoing efforts to optimize their roster and provide depth as needed.
Wayne, who is 24 years old, went undrafted out of the University of Pittsburgh during the 2023 NFL Draft. Despite not being selected in the draft, Wayne quickly found an opportunity with the Texans, where he joined the team shortly after the draft concluded. However, his NFL journey has been a bit of a rollercoaster. Initially, Wayne had been drafted in the second round of the Canadian Football League (CFL) Draft by the Toronto Argonauts, but he opted to pursue his NFL dream with Houston instead. Since then, Wayne has bounced between being waived and re-signed to the Texans’ practice squad and has yet to make his official debut in an NFL game.
The Texans’ practice squad is a critical resource for maintaining depth across key positions, especially in a league where injuries can disrupt any team’s plans. Alongside Wayne, the practice squad includes various players across different positions, from quarterbacks and wide receivers to defensive backs and linemen. Here’s an updated list of players currently on the Texans’ practice squad:
– DE Solomon Byrd
– FB Troy Hairston
– WR Johnny Johnson III
– T David Sharpe
– RB J.J. Taylor
– T Kilian Zierer (International player)
– QB Kedon Slovis
– WR Xavier Johnson
– TE Chris Myarick
– G Arlington Hambright
– DB Desmond King
– DB Troy Pride
– DT Tommy Togiai
– C Scott Quessenberry
– TE Irv Smith Jr.
– LB Shaun Bradley
– WR Jared Wayne
Wayne’s continued presence on the practice squad reflects his potential to develop and contribute to the team, though he is still waiting for his chance to play in an official NFL game. As the Texans work to build depth and manage injuries throughout the season, players like Wayne offer essential backup options that could be called up at any time to fill necessary roles on the active roster.