Mario Edwards‘ two-year run with the Texans has come to an end. The veteran defensive lineman has been released, per the transactions wire (h/t Mike Garafolo of NFL Network).
Edwards has been cut with a failed physical designation, Aaron Wilson KPRC2 reports. Wilson adds, however, that Edwards is still on course for a full recovery from a pectoral tear; that could lead to a number of suitors showing interest. Houston will save $4.41MM with this move while generating a dead money charge of $1MM.
Edwards joined the Texans ahead of the 2024 campaign. He missed a handful of games after being hit with a suspension for violating the league’s substance abuse policy, but he otherwise started 12 of his 13 appearances. He inked a two-year, $9.5MM deal with the organization last offseason but saw a lesser role, appearing in 33 percent of his team’s snaps through 14 games. His season ended prematurely thanks to that aforementioned pec tear.
Edwards has turned into a true journeyman, as his next squad will represent the ninth of his career. Still, he’s proven to be a dependable rotational defensive lineman who can get after the QB. The 32-year-old has tallied 26 sacks in his career, including 4.5 during his stint with the Texans.
Pro Football Focus wasn’t fond of his performance in 2025, ranking Edwards 126th among 127 qualifying interior defenders. However, the site graded him as more of a middle-of-the-road defender in recent years, including a third-place showing in 2020. Teams will surely bank on Edwards improving a bit in 2026, but even then, he’ll likely be competing for a roster spot come the preseason.
Ben Levine contributed to this post.