The Houston Texans have signed veteran defensive again Jalen Mills, as ESPN’s Adam Schefter reviews. Houston introduced Mills in for a exercise final week, and with some uncertainty surrounding a number of members of the group’s security depth chart, Mills will present an skilled reinforcement.
Mills, 31, entered the NFL as a seventh-round decide of the Eagles in 2016, and he spent most of his first few seasons within the league at cornerback. In 2020, nonetheless, Philadelphia moved him all around the secondary, and he turned in probably the greatest seasons of his profession (74 tackles, 1.5 sacks, one interception, 68.9 Professional Soccer Focus grade). That efficiency earned him a four-year, $24M deal from the Patriots in 2021.
New England deployed him primarily as a cornerback over his first two years in Foxborough, however after the group reduce and re-signed him in 2023, he was utilized extra as a security. As of final offseason, he was now not within the membership’s plans, and when a Giants contract failed to provide a roster spot in 2024, he caught on with the Jets’ taxi squad. He finally appeared in 9 video games (eight begins) for Gang Inexperienced, spending most of his time at security and recording 44 tackles and a decide.
Veteran C.J. Gardner-Johnson, who was acquired through commerce with the Eagles in March, lately suffered a knee damage in observe. He didn’t tear his ACL, as was initially feared, however it’s unclear when he’ll return to the sector. Dianna Russini of The Athletic (subscription required) stated the damage was not a season-ender, and each ESPN’s Adam Schefter (through ESPN colleague DJ Bien-Aime) and Aaron Wilson of KPRC2.com indicated CJGJ may very well be out there for Week 1 (with Wilson including relaxation and rehab, or maybe a PRP injection, might do the trick).
Fellow security Jimmie Ward, who stays on the PUP listing resulting from offseason foot surgical procedure, is going through a felony home violence cost. His subsequent courtroom look is scheduled for Wednesday. And as Wilson observes in a separate piece, rookie security Jaylen Reed is coping with an ankle damage and is predicted to overlook about three weeks.
The Texans have been clearly in want of some cowl on the security place, and Mills, a Tremendous Bowl champion and veteran of 115 NFL appearances (together with 91 begins), will at the least assist the membership get by means of the remainder of camp and the preseason schedule. The Dallas native’s spot on the roster is hardly assured, however it will not be stunning to see him stick round as examined and versatile depth.
