HOUSTON – The Texans have re-signed veteran linebacker Cory Littleton to a one-year, $2.7 million contract with a base value of $2.2 million after releasing him in a procedural move for one day, according to a league source.
The deal includes $500,000 in incentives and a $1.3 million salary and has a base value of $2.2 million for the former Las Vegas Rams Pro Bowl selection and second-team All-Pro, according to a league source.
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The Texans also released and re-signed running back Mike Boone, per a league source.
A former undrafted free agent from Cincinnati, Boone re-signed his identical two-year, $3.1 million contract as a free agent this offseason that includes base salaries of $1.15 million, $1.25 million, $300,000 signing bonus, $200,000 in annual per game active roster bonuses and $300,000 in annual playtime incentives.
Boone has had an impressive preseason, earning the third running back spot as he has displayed speed and power.
Veteran defensive end Derek Rivers was released from the 53-man roster and is signing with the Texans practice squad, per a league source.
Littleton, 29, is a former Los Angeles Rams Pro Bowl selection and second-team All-Pro who has also played for the Las Vegas Raiders.
Littleton played last season for the Carolina Panthers. He started seven of 15 games last season and recorded 47 tackles, a half-sack and two passes defensed.
A former undrafted free agent from Washington, Littleton has made 542 career tackles, 27 for losses, 9 1/2 sacks, six interceptions, three forced fumbles and five fumble recoveries.
Littleton was voted to the 2019 Pro Bowl for the Rams. He had a career-high 134 tackles with four sacks, three interceptions, two forced fumbles and returned an interception for a touchdown.
After that breakthrough season, Littleton signed a three-year, $36 million contract with the Las Vegas Raiders.
The Texans have re-signed former Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver and kick returner Steven Sims Jr., to the practice squad, per a league source.
He was previously signed to a one-year, $1.7 million maximum value deal that has a base value of $1.5 million and $500,000 guaranteed, according to a league source
Sims played collegiately at Kansas and signed with the Washington franchise after going undrafted.
He played last season for the Steelers, catching 19 passes for 105 yards. He had 13 runs for 70 yards The 5-foot-9, 184-pound Travis High School graduate had a touchdown return as a rookie.
He returned 24 punts for a 5.5 average and averaged 25.5 yards per kickoff return last season for Pittsburgh. He has 75 career receptions for 679 yards and five touchdowns.
The Texans had the top-ranked special teams unit in the NFL last season under special teams coordinator Frank Ross in the prestigious annual Rick Gosselin rankings of the kicking game.
Aaron Wilson is a Texans and NFL reporter for KPRC 2 and click2houston.com