katero
Jul 01, 2026

Texans Cut Two Injured Defenders Weeks Before Training Camp

Texans Cut Two Injured Defenders Weeks Before Training Camp

The Houston Texans have waived a pair of defenders from their roster. Here's what to know.Jared Koch|
Jun 10, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans speaks with safety Jalen Pitre (5) during the team’s minicamp at Houston Methodist Training Center. Mandatory Credit: Maria Lysaker-Imagn Images
Jun 10, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans speaks with safety Jalen Pitre (5) during the team’s minicamp at Houston Methodist Training Center. Mandatory Credit: Maria Lysaker-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

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Houston Texans

The Houston Texans are still three weeks away from getting their training camp action off and rolling, but it hasn't stopped them from making a couple of roster moves in the off-months of the NFL calendar.

Per the Houston Chronicle's Jonathan M. Alexander, the Texans have waived both cornerback Ajani Carter and defensive end Xavier Thomas from the reserve/injured list.

The #Texans have waived DB Ajani Carter and DE Xavier Thomas, per the team.

— Jonathan M Alexander (@jonmalexander) July 1, 2026

Both players had been on the injured list dating back to May earlier this offseason. Carter had been with the team since before the 2025 season, and Thomas was an addition via a futures contract earlier in December.

However, it seems like the Texans wanted to cut ties with both in the days that remain ahead of camp.

While both players were on the reserve/injured list, they were still accounted for on Houston's 90-man roster, meaning that the release of both now clears the way for the team to sign a couple of free agents in those spots.

As to how the Texans decide to use those roster vacancies remains to be seen. They could even decide to re-sign either Carter or Thomas before camp, if they felt there was a place for either as potential competition to find a spot on the practice squad.

But to this point, the signs seem to point in the direction of a departure for both.

What the Texans Are Losing in Ajani Carter & Xavier Thomas

Both of Carter and Thomas were bound to face an uphill battle to make the 53-man roster spot heading into camp, but had been a part of the Texans roster at least dating back to January of this year.

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