Smith (knee) is participating in OTAs this week, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.
A third-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, Smith suffered a hamstring injury in Week 2 that landed him on injured reserve until returning in Week 8. He then sustained a season-ending torn meniscus in his knee in Week 9. Wilson reports Smith is now 100 percent healthy and has no restrictions this offseason. He'll compete for a role behind starters Derek Stingley, Kamari Lassiter and slot corner Jalen Pitre.
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Texans' Ajani Carter: Reverts to IR
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Carter (knee) reverted to Houston's injured reserve list Tuesday, per NFL Communications.
Carter was waived/injured by the Texans on May 21, but after going unclaimed on waivers, he's reverted to IR. The Houston product underwent arthroscopic knee surgery last week but should be able to return at some point during the 2026 season, per Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston. Carter appeared in just two regular-season games during the Texans' 2025 campaign, handling 36 special-teams snaps.
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Texans' E.J. Speed: Needs surgery for quad injury
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Speed partially tore his quadriceps and quad tendon during training and will have surgery next week, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.
Per Wilson, Speed was injured while lifting weights. He's expected to need at least three months after surgery before he can begin rehab, so it's almost certain that the veteran linebacker will miss a significant portion of the upcoming season, though the expectation is that he'll be able to return at some point during the campaign. Speed started nine of the 16 regular-season games in which he played for Houston last season and also was a contributor on special teams. Jake Hansen (chest), Jamal Hill, Marte Mapu and Jake Hummel, along with rookie draft picks Wade Woodaz and Aiden Fisher, are candidates to get significant defensive snaps in Speed's absence.
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Ajani Carter: Waived with injury tag
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The Texans waived/injured Carter (hamstring) on Thursday, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.
Carter ended his rookie season on injured reserve due to a hamstring injury, and it's uncertain if his current injury is related. Regardless, the 25-year-old cornerback will land on injured reserve if he isn't claimed on waivers. Carter played two games for the Texans last year and stuck to special teams.
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Texans' Xavier Thomas: Shifts back to IR
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Thomas (undisclosed) cleared waivers Thursday and reverted to injured reserve, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.
The 2024 fifth-round pick (Cardinals) played 18 games over his first two seasons, recording 10 tackles, 2.5 sacks and a pass breakup. However, he was waived by the Cardinals midway through the 2025 season before landing on the Texans' practice squad. It's unclear what he's dealing with, but he'll remain on IR unless he reaches an injury settlement with the Texans.
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Xavier Thomas: Gets waived with injury designation
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Houston waived Thomas (undisclosed) with an injury designation Wednesday, Jonathan M. Alexander of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Unless he's claimed by another team during the current waiver period, Thomas is on track to revert to the Texans' injured reserve list. Then, he'd have to stay there for the entire 2026 season unless an injury settlement is negotiated with the club.
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Ravens' K'Von Wallace: Signs with Baltimore
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The Ravens signed Wallace on Monday, Clifton Brown of the team's official site reports.
Wallace is a six-year veteran who has appeared in 74 career regular-season games. The safety was signed to compete for a depth role in the Baltimore secondary under new head coach Jesse Minter. Minter likes to run three safeties frequently, so Wallace will compete with Keondre Jackson and Jahquez Robinson for snaps behind the team's starters. The 28-year-old's experience as both a depth option and special teams player will give him an edge during what will likely be a heated training camp battle to stay on the 53-man roster.
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Texans' Ali Gaye: Claimed by Houston
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Gaye was claimed off waivers by the Texans on Friday.
The defensive end dressed for three regular-season games for Tennessee last year, playing on 37 defensive snaps and 21 special-teams snaps, making one tackle. Gaye has nine tackles (eight solo) across two NFL campaigns.
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Giants' Leki Fotu: Headed to New York
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Fotu and the Giants agreed on a one-year contract Wednesday, Patricia Traina of SI.com reports.
Fotu will head to New York after recording 11 total tackles (three solo), including 1.0 sacks, over eight regular-season contests with the Texans and Raiders last year. The 28-year-old will provide the Giants with an additional veteran option at defensive tackle in 2026.
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Texans' Kamari Ramsey: Added by Houston
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The Texans selected Ramsey in the fifth round of the 2026 NFL Draft, 141st overall.
Ramsey (6-foot-0, 202 pounds) started the second of his first two collegiate seasons at UCLA and then both of his campaigns at USC, though over the course of his three seasons as a starter he missed a total of seven games due to injury. While Ramsey doesn't stand out in terms of frame, athleticism or physicality, he boasts experience and versatility, having rotated between his natural position at safety and nickel in 2025 to help round out USC's secondary. As a rookie in Houston, Ramsey figures to compete with M.J. Stewart and Jaylen Reed for depth opportunities behind Reed Blankenship and Calen Bullock.
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Texans' Will Anderson: Signs three-year, $150M extension
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Anderson agreed to a three-year, $150 million extension with the Texans on Friday, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Anderson's extension includes $134 million in guaranteed money and gives him the highest salary in NFL history for a non-quarterback. This contract also includes a no-trade clause. The 2023 first-round pick has been among the most dominant defenders in the NFL since entering the league, generating 30.0 sacks through three regular seasons.
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Texans' Will Anderson: Texans exercise fifth-year option
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Houston picked up the fifth-year option on Anderson's rookie contract Wednesday, Field Yates of ESPN reports.
Anderson is now under contract with the Texans through 2027, though the team likely remains motivated to work out terms on a long-term deal for the star defensive end. Across 17 regular-season appearances in 2025, Anderson tallied 54 tackles (35 solo), including 12.0 sacks, plus one touchdown. In addition to those career-high marks, Anderson added three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. He remains a pillar of Houston's pass rush alongside Danielle Hunter, and he is a high-end fantasy option in IDP formats.
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Browns' Myles Bryant: Links up with Browns
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Cleveland signed Bryant to a contract on Monday.
Bryant appeared in 11 regular-season games with the Texans in 2025, totaling 40 tackles (22 solo in that span). He began last year on Houston's practice squad but garnered an increased workload on defense as the campaign progressed. Now with the Browns, Bryant looks set to compete for snaps at slot corner with Myles Harden.
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Lions' Damone Clark: Pens deal with Lions
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Clark signed a contract with Detroit on Wednesday, Eric Woodyard of ESPN.com reports.
Clark appeared in 14 combined regular-season games between the Cowboys and Texans in 2025, totaling 28 tackles (14 solo) across that span. He'll spend the offseason competing for a depth role with the Lions. Clark's ability to contribute both as a reserve linebacker and on special teams could boost his odds of carving out a depth gig with Detroit.
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Commanders' Tim Settle: Reuniting with Washington
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Settle and the Commanders agreed to a three-year contract worth up to $25.5 million Monday, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports.
Settle will reunite with Washington, where he spent the first four years of his NFL career after being selected in the fifth round of the 2018 NFL Draft. The Virginia Tech product spent the last two years in Houston and enjoyed a productive 2024 campaign, but his 2025 season was cut short in early December by a foot injury that required season-ending surgery. Settle will join Daron Payne and Javon Kinlaw on the Commanders' defensive line while flanked by edge rushers Odafe Oweh and Dorance Armstrong (knee).
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Texans' Sheldon Rankins: Re-ups with Texans for two years
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Rankins agreed to a two-year extension with the Texans on Monday, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports.
Rankins' new contract includes $12 million in guaranteed money. The veteran defensive tackle had been scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent but will instead remain in Houston, where he contributed 3.0 sacks among his 35 tackles (15 solo) while appearing in all 17 regular-season games.
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Texans' Naquan Jones: Re-ups with Houston
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The Texans re-signed Jones to a one-year, $2 million contract Sunday, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.
Jones can earn an additional $500K via incentives. Houston claimed the 28-year-old defensive lineman off waivers from the Chargers back in December, and Jones appeared in the final four regular-season games in addition to both of the Texans' playoff contests. Jones figures to fill a rotational role along the defensive line.
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Texans' E.J. Speed: Staying in Houston
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Speed and the Texans agreed to a two-year, $13 million contract Saturday that includes $7.5 million guaranteed, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.
Speed joined the Texans on a one-year deal in March of 2025 after spending the first six years of his NFL career with the Colts. His new deal Saturday includes a $4 million signing bonus and ensures that he'll stick around in Houston for the foreseeable future. Speed finished the 2025 regular season with 62 tackles (33 solo) and one pass defense over 16 games, which broke his streak of 100-tackle seasons at two.
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Texans' Jalen Pitre: Contract restructured
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Pitre had $9 million of his salary converted into a signing bonus by the Texans on Friday, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.
The restructuring of Pitre's contract adds two void years and creates additional cap space for the Texans ahead of the 2026 season. Pitre is one of Houston's most impactful defenders, recording 74 total tackles and 12 passes defensed, including four interceptions, across just 14 regular-season games while operating as the team's top nickel cornerback last year. The Baylor product is expected to remain a key piece on the Texans' defense, starting alongside Derek Stingley and Kamari Lassiter.
Hunter and the Texans agreed on a one-year, $40.1 million contract extension Thursday, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.
Hunter -- who is now under contract with Houston through 2027 -- is coming off of a 2025 campaign during which he compiled 54 total tackles (28 solo), including 15.0 sacks, while also recording three passes defensed, three forced fumbles and a fumble recovery over 17 regular-season games. The defensive lineman has combined to produced 27.0 sacks over two years with the Texans, and his new extension certainly reflects his value to the franchise. Look for Hunter to have another productive season in 2026 while starting opposite of Will Anderson on Houston's defensive line.
