HOUSTON – The Texans promoted former Tennessee Titans outside linebacker Rashad Weaver from the practice squad to the active roster and placed cornerback Jeff Okudah on injured reserve after he aggravated a hip injury against the Indianapolis Colts.
Signed to a one-year contract with a maximum value of $6 million and a base value of $4.75 million with $2.5 million guaranteed, Okudah is a former third overall pick of the Detroit Lions out of Ohio State.
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Traded to the Atlanta Falcons last year in exchange for a fifth-round draft pick, Okudah ended his rookie season on injured reserve after undergoing surgery to repair a core muscle injury. A year later, he ruptured his Achilles tendon in the opening game against the San Francisco 49ers.
Okudah, signed to a deal that includes a $1.5 million signing bonus and a $2.75 million base salary with $1 million fully guaranteed, played in 13 games for Atlanta last season and had 44 tackles and three pass deflections.
Okudah has recorded 168 career tackles, two interceptions with one returned for a touchdown in 38 career games with 31 starts.
“It hurts losing Jeff, guys have to step up,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said. “That’s the league, all across the league, guys go down so next man up you got to be ready to go. That’s what it’s about.”
Weaver is a former fourth-round draft pick from Pitt.
Weaver (6-foot-4, 260) is a former consensus All-American. He has 49 career tackles, 5 1/2 sacks, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery for the Titans.
He played in 15 games last season and had 20 tackles and four tackles for losses. He had a career-high 5 1/2 sacks and 27 tackles with 15 quarterback hits in 2022.
The Texans officially signed cornerbacks Desmond King and Troy Pride to their practice squad. Both were with the Texans during training camp.
“Yeah, excited to add ‘Des’ and Troy, two guys that have been with us throughout the entire training camp,” Ryans said. “I always tell our players, I want you guys to be in the league so no matter it’s always hard conversations to have when you have to release players, but to get ‘Des’ and Troy back, guys who know how we operate, guys who are ready to go, we’ll see how the week plays out and how we can utilize those guys throughout our game plan.”
Aaron Wilson is a Texans and NFL reporter for KPRC 2 and click2houston.com.
