Texans TE Cade Stover Suffers Broken Foot
The Texans’ tight end depth has been dealt another blow early in the season. Cade Stover suffered a broken foot yesterday, KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson reports. 
Stover is now out indefinitely as a result. The news comes after fellow tight end Brevin Jordan was lost for the season in August. A lengthy absence in Stover’s case would leave Houston notably short on options at the position.
The 2024 fourth-rounder played 16 combined regular and postseason games as a rookie despite undergoing an emergency appendectomy in December. Stover also had offseason shoulder surgery but was at full strength in time for Week 1. Losing him for an extended period will leave the Texans with Dalton Schultz as their top tight end; only he and Stover dressed at that position on Sunday.
Houston has a pair of replacement options on the practice squad. Harrison Bryant – acquired from the Eagles in the John Metchie trade – as well as seventh-round rookie Luke Lachey are in place on the team’s taxi squad at the moment. It would come as little surprise if at least one were to be elevated to the active roster shortly. Bryant is a veteran of 78 games, so the pending free agent could offer experienced depth at the position at least until other roster moves take place.
Stover recorded just 15 receptions and one touchdown last season, but he served as the Texans’ starter yesterday. The 25-year-old led the team in catches with four, producing 22 yards along the way. As Houston looks to improve on offense moving forward, the team will do so without an important figure in the picture for the time being.
2025 Offseason In Review Series
Here are PFR’s breakdowns of each NFL team’s 2025 offseason.
AFC East
AFC North
AFC South
AFC West
NFC East
NFC North
NFC South
NFC West
Minor NFL Transactions: 9/6/25
With our first slate of Sunday games tomorrow, we’ll see our first slew of standard gameday practice squad elevations. Here are today’s minor transactions:
Atlanta Falcons
- Elevated: WR David Sills, RB Carlos Washington Jr.
Baltimore Ravens
- Elevated: TE Zaire Mitchell-Paden
Buffalo Bills
- Elevated: G Kendrick Green, K Matt Prater
Carolina Panthers
- Signed from practice squad: DT Jaden Crumedy
- Placed on IR: CB Damarri Mathis (story)
Cincinnati Bengals
- Elevated: DT Mike Pennel
Denver Broncos
- Elevated: FB Adam Prentice, LB Levelle Bailey
Detroit Lions
- Signed from practice squad: RB Jacob Saylors
- Elevated: LB Anthony Pittman
- Placed on IR: T Jamarco Jones
Green Bay Packers
- Elevated: CB Micah Robinson
Houston Texans
- Elevated: FB Jakob Johnson
Indianapolis Colts
- Elevated: LB Austin Ajiake, RB Ulysses Bentley IV
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Elevated: T Ricky Lee
Las Vegas Raiders
- Elevated: WR Alex Bachman, S Terrell Edmunds
Los Angeles Rams
- Elevated: RB Cody Schrader
Miami Dolphins
- Elevated: K Riley Patterson, RB Jeff Wilson
New England Patriots
- Signed from practice squad: DT Cory Durden
- Elevated: CB Corey Ballentine, LB Mark Robinson
- Released: DT Jeremiah Pharms
New Orleans Saints
- Signed from practice squad: DE Fadil Diggs
- Elevated: TE Jack Stoll, DE Jonah Williams
- Waived: QB Jake Haener
New York Giants
- Elevated: DT Elijah Garcia
New York Jets
- Elevated: WR Tyler Johnson
- Placed on IR: G Alijah Vera-Tucker (story)
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Elevated: CB James Pierre
San Francisco 49ers
- Elevated: WR Russell Gage, LB Curtis Robinson
Seattle Seahawks
- Elevated: CB Shaquill Griffin, DT Quinton Bohanna
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Elevated: DT Adam Gotsis, G Michael Jordan
Tennessee Titans
- Elevated: C Corey Levin, DT Carlos Watkins
Washington Commanders
- Elevated: C Michael Deiter, WR Chris Moore
Each NFL team is granted up to two standard gameday practice squad elevations each game, allowing them to call up two members of their practice squad who are able to play in that weekend’s game. After the game is played, the elevated players revert back to the practice squad with no transaction required. This differs from the situation with somebody like Crumedy in Carolina. With Mathis’ placement on injured reserve opening a spot on the 53-man roster, Crumedy has been promoted from the practice squad to the active roster, where he will remain until he is cut or his contract expires.
Practice squad players can be called up a maximum of three times under a single practice squad contract. If a team wants to call up a player who’s been called up three times already, the team will usually sign the player to their active roster for a game, cut them after, and then sign them to a new practice squad contract. Under the new contract, the player would be eligible to be elevated for three more games.
As the Dolphins await Jason Sanders‘ return from IR, Patterson was named the winner of a kicking audition with three other veteran kickers. Miami will be able to elevate him three times but will have to promote him to the active roster for any games between that and Sanders’ activation. Similarly, Prater will likely be on the same plan in Buffalo.
Haener’s stint on the Saints’ active roster was short-lived as the team decides to move forward with only two quarterbacks. Spencer Rattler will handle starting duties to begin the campaign with second-round rookie Tyler Shough serving as his backup.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 9/3/25
Today’s practice squad moves:
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed: S J.T. Gray
- Released: CB Thomas Graham
Buffalo Bills
- Released: S Jordan Poyer
Detroit Lions
- Signed: QB C.J. Beathard
Houston Texans
- Signed: WR Silas Bolden, CB D’Angelo Ross, OT Sidy Sow
- Released: G Reid Holskey, LB K.C. Ossai, OT Jaylon Thomas
New England Patriots
- Signed: LB Darius Harris
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: CB Eli Ricks
- Released: OL Hollin Pierce
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: WR Lance McCutcheon, LB Jon Rhattigan
- Released: OL Aiden Williams
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: WR Russell Gage
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: RB Damien Martinez
Tennessee Titans
- Released: DL Isaiah Raikes
The Ravens added a notable special teamer to their taxi squad today, agreeing to a deal with veteran J.T. Gray. The 29-year-old spent his entire professional career with the Saints before getting cut by the team last week. The majority of Gray’s playing time has come on special teams, where he’s earned three All-Pro nods for his efforts. As Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic notes, the veteran will likely see a role in Baltimore, as the team is still looking to fill holes left by a handful of departed core special teamers this past offseason.
To accommodate the addition of old friend Gabe Davis to the practice squad, the Bills had to get a bit creative. Temporarily, the team has released veteran safety Jordan Poyer, but the former Buffalo starter shouldn’t be gone for long. According to Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 in Houston, Poyer is expected to rejoin the Bills practice squad once Davis is placed on the taxi squad injured list.
The Lions landed on a third-string quarterback after holding an audition earlier today. NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo reports that the team has signed C.J. Beathard to the practice squad. Beathard worked out for the team earlier today alongside Nathan Peterman. Beathard has only started one game since garnering 12 starts for the 49ers between 2017 and 2020. He split last season with the Jaguars and Dolphins without getting into a game. In Detroit, he’ll serve as a third-stringer behind Jared Goff and Kyle Allen.
AFC South Notes: Texans, Jaguars, Grant
The Texans shopped Cam Robinson before last week’s roster-setting deadline but held onto the $12MM tackle. However, Houston’s O-line overhaul indeed will not have a Week 1 job waiting for the ninth-year veteran. Aireontae Ersery beat out Robinson for the Texans’ left tackle position, according to the team’s depth chart. This indicates a high degree of confidence in the Minnesota product, whom the team traded up for in Round 2. Robinson joins 2024 second-round pick Blake Fisher as backup tackles. The veteran’s name could appear in pre-deadline trade rumors for the second straight year. Laken Tomlinson, Jake Andrews and Ed Ingram round out Houston’s front five. Robinson, 29, has started all 101 games he has played. That streak will end Sunday.
Here is the latest from the AFC South:
- C.J. Gardner-Johnson was feared to have suffered a training camp ACL tear. Even when the veteran safety turned out to have evaded a season-ending diagnosis, he missed time leading up to the season. As it turns out, the famed trash talker is expected to be on the field for the Texans in Week 1, ESPN’s Adam Schefter tweets. The Texans are down Jimmie Ward, who is on the commissioner’s exempt list, but having CJGJ available alongside Calen Bullock will help one of the NFL’s best defenses.
- Houston created nearly $5MM in cap space by restructuring Dalton Schultz‘s contract, KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson notes. This is a simple restructure, rather than a true rework, with most of the veteran TE’s 2025 base salary shifted into a signing bonus to drop his cap hit from $14MM to $9.09MM. Schultz’s three-year, $36MM deal still runs through 2026, though it now carries a $18.92MM 2026 cap number.
- The Jaguars‘ backfield makeup is rather interesting entering the season. Two holdovers (Travis Etienne, Tank Bigsby) join two Liam Coen–James Gladstone rookie investments (Bhayshul Tuten, LeQuint Allen) on the depth chart. While Etienne came up as a trade candidate earlier this year, the former first-rounder remains rostered. Despite going in the seventh round, Allen has impressed Jags brass enough a role as the team’s third-down back is in play, per ESPN.com’s Dan Graziano. A two-year starter at Syracuse, Allen led the ACC with 20 touchdowns last season. His third and final Orange year produced a pass-game uptick — in the form of 64 catches for 521 yards. With Tuten clocking a 4.32-second 40-yard dash time at the Combine, the Jags have an interesting array of options here. While Travis Hunter‘s early-season deployment will garner far more attention, how the Jags’ RB hierarchy looks will also be of interest as the Coen era starts.
- Bumped off the 49ers’ 53-man roster after making the initial squad, Richie Grant is still receiving looks. The Colts worked out Grant (32 career starts) this week, ESPN.com’s Nick Wagoner notes. Indianapolis also brought in Boston Scott for an audition, per NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo. Scott has not caught on with a team yet this year; the 30-year-old RB — a six-year Eagles contributor — did not see any game action in 2024.
Texans To Extend QB Davis Mills
Last September, the Texans signed backup quarterback Davis Mills to an extension as he entered a contract year.
Almost exactly a year later, Houston is tacking on another year to Mills’ deal, per Dianna Russini of The Athletic. Mills’ extension is worth a fully guaranteed $7MM, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, securing his services through the 2026 season as the No. 2 quarterback behind C.J. Stroud.
Mills, a 2021 third-round pick, wrested the starting job away from Tyrod Taylor as a rookie and carried it into 2022. However, it quickly became clear that he was not a long-term option under center after throwing a league-high 15 interceptions in 15 games. His struggles led the Texans to a 3-13-1 record in 2022, allowing them to draft Stroud with the No. 2 pick in the 2023 draft. Over his two years as a starter, Mills completed 62.8% of his passes for 5,955 yards for 35 touchdowns and 25 interceptions.
Since then, Mills has served as Stroud’s backup with six games played and zero starts. Virtually all of his appearances have come at the end of blowouts with one true relief showing in 2023.
Mills’ 2024 extension was worth $5MM, so his new deal includes a solid raise as well as some security for another year. However, Stroud will become eligible for an extension next offseason, so Houston may not be able to spend premium backup money on Mills for the rest of the decade. The Texans drafted former Wisconsin and Florida quarterback Graham Mertz in the sixth round of April’s draft and may look to groom him as a successor to Mills in their quarterback room.
Minor NFL Transactions: 9/1/25
NFL teams are continuing to make minor roster moves as the regular season approaches. On Monday, four clubs released players from their injured reserve lists with an injury settlement. Players who land on the IR without a return designation have to remain there for the entire season, but those with a chance to recover often seek injury settlements so they can return to the field that season. The settlements pay a portion of the player’s salary, typically based on the amount of time the player is expected to miss, while freeing up cap space for the team during the season.
Houston Texans
- Removed from IR with injury settlement: WR Juwann Winfree
Los Angeles Chargers
- Removed from IR with injury settlement: S Jaylen Jones
San Francisco 49ers
- Removed from IR with injury settlement: CB Tre Brown, OT Isaiah Prince
Seattle Seahawks
- Removed from IR with injury settlement: LB Wesley Steiner
Texans S Jimmie Ward’s Case To Proceed To Grand Jury
Jimmie Ward will be unavailable for at least the first four weeks of the campaign, but it remains to be seen when he will be available to the Texans even when healthy. 
Last week, Ward was placed on the commissioner’s exempt list pending the outcome of his legal case. The 34-year-old was arrested in June on an assault family violence charge, which is a third-degree felony. An arrest also took place in August after Ward violated the conditions of his bail by consuming alcohol. The matter of the family violence charge is now set to be presented to a grand jury.
“We are prepared to present a strong packet to the grand jury to show that Jimmie should not be indicted,” Ward’s attorney Steve Jackson said in a pair of statements to KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson. “We believe we have strong information and facts to assist the grand jury to no-bill Mr. Ward.”
Jackson’s submission is due tomorrow, and it is currently scheduled to be presented to the grand jury later this week. The outcome of that process will determine if the criminal case proceeds or if Ward is no-billed and charges are therefore dropped. Regardless of how that plays out, Ward will also have a civil suit stemming from the alleged incident to attend to.
The commissioner’s exempt list is generally reserved for domestic violence cases, so it comes as little surprise Ward finds himself on it for the time being. The 11-year veteran is prohibited from practicing or playing while on the list, although he was slated to begin the year with a reserve/PUP designation anyway. Ward will thus be sidelined during September while recovering from offseason foot surgery.
The longtime 49ers defensive back has one year remaining on his contract and he is owed $3.25MM in 2025. It remains to be seen when Ward will be eligible to return to the Texans’ active roster (if at all), but clarity on his criminal case emerge shortly.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 8/28/25
Teams around the NFL continued to adjust their practice squads as new players came free from Wednesday’s transactions. Here are all the latest updates:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: CB Chigozie Anusiem, OL Demontrey Jacobs, QB Kedon Slovis
- Released: OL Sincere Haynesworth
Arizona Falcons
- Signed: OT Ryan Hayes
Buffalo Bills
- Signed: CB Jalen Kimber, DE Andre Jones Jr.
- Released: CB Daequan Hardy
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: DT Jaden Crumedy, DB Kalen King, RB DeeJay Dallas
- Released: DB Shemar Bartholomew
Chicago Bears
- Signed: TE Nikola Kalinic, DB Dontae Manning, DB Gervarrius Owens
- Released: LS Luke Elkin, DB Mekhi Garner
Cincinnati Bengals
- Signed: OT Javon Foster, S Russ Yeast
- Released: OT Devin Cochran
- Signed: CB Dom Jones, TE Brenden Bates, OT Logan Brown, G Garrett Dellinger, LB Edefuan Ulofoshio
- Released: DT Ralph Holley
Dallas Cowboys
- Signed: DE Isaiah Land
Denver Broncos:
- Signed: TE Patrick Murtaugh
Detroit Lions:
- Signed: DE Andre Carter
Green Bay Packers:
- Signed: OT Dalton Cooper, QB Clayton Tune, TE Josh Whyle
Houston Texans:
- Signed: OT Reid Holskey, WR Josh Kelly
Indianapolis Colts:
- Signed: WR Laquon Treadwell, S Ben Nikkel, WR Tyler Scott
- Released: WR Tyler Kahmann
Jacksonville Jaguars:
- Signed: DL Matt Dickerson, WR Erik Ezukanma
Kansas City Chiefs:
- Signed: S Jammie Robinson
Los Angeles Chargers:
- Signed: OT Foster Sarell
Miami Dolphins:
- Signed: RB JaMycal Hasty
Minnesota Vikings:
- Signed: S K’Von Wallace
New England Patriots:
- Signed: LB Mark Robinson, DB Corey Ballentine, DT Cory Durden, DT Fabien Lovett
- Released: LB Cam Riley, TE Gee Scott Jr., CB Brandon Crossley
New York Giants:
- Signed: TE Qadir Ismail
New York Jets:
- Signed: OL Marquis Hayes, DB Korie Black
Philadelphia Eagles:
- Signed: WR Britain Covey, OT Luke Felix Fualalo
San Francisco 49ers:
- Signed: QB Adrian Martinez, RB Sincere McCormick
Seattle Seahawks:
- Signed: LB Chris Paul Jr., WR/KR Courtney Jackson, CB Shaquill Griffin
- Released: DT Anthony Campbell, LB Jalan Gaines, RB Anthony Tyus III
Tampa Bay Buccaneers:
- Signed: QB Connor Bazelak, DL C.J. Brewer, WR Garrett Greene, G Luke Haggard, CB Bryce Hall, S Jack Henderson, WR Dennis Houston, DL Nash Hutmacher, LB Nick Jackson, DL Jayson Jones, OL Michael Jordan, OLB Mohamed Kamara, T Tyler McLellan, T Lorenz Metz, G Ben Scott, TE Tanner Taula
Tennessee Titans:
- Signed: OL Corey Levin, OL Clay Webb, DB Sam Webb
Washington Commanders:
Signed: RB Donovan Edwards, CB Darius Rush
Ismail was one of 17 players to work out for the Giants on Thursday, per The Athletic’s Dan Duggan. He won the practice squad spot over more notable players like former Broncos safety Caden Sterns and former Browns quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson. Canadian quarterback Taylor Elgersma also attended the workout, per Ryan Dunleavy of the New York Post, suggesting that the Giants might be looking for extra depth at the position.
Wallace worked out for the Vikings on Thursday, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. It must have gone well, as he was signed to the practice squad hours later as extra depth both in the secondary and on special teams.
Griffin returned to the Seahawks this offseason, eight years after they made him a third-round pick in the 2017 draft. He did not make Seattle’s 53-man roster, but as a vested veteran, he was able to re-sign to the practice squad without going through waivers.
Wednesday NFL Transactions: AFC South
Following the 53-man roster cutdown deadline Tuesday, many teams will make slight tweaks to their rosters. In addition to waiver claims, teams can begin constructing their 16-man practice squads today. These Colts, Jaguars, Texans and Titans moves are noted below.
Houston Texans
Signed to practice squad:
- CB Damon Arnette, T Trent Brown, TE Harrison Bryant, DB Myles Bryant, DE Solomon Byrd, OL Eli Cox, FB Jakob Johnson, RB Jawhar Jordan, TE Luke Lachey, DT Haggai Ndubuisi, LB K.C. Ossai, DT Junior Tafuna, OL Jaylon Thomas, WR Jared Wayne, LB Jackson Woodard
Indianapolis Colts
Claimed:
- LB Chad Muma (from Jaguars)
Signed to practice squad:
- LB Austin Ajiake, RB Ulysses Bentley IV, RB Khalil Herbert, T Marcellus Johnson, WR Tyler Kahmann, CB Chris Lammons, TE Maximilian Mang, TE Sean McKeon, DE Durell Nchami, WR Coleman Owen, G Josh Sills, DT Josh Tupou, C Mose Vavao, S Trey Washington
Jacksonville Jaguars
Signed to practice squad:
- WR Chandler Brayboy, OL Jerome Carvin, LB Branson Combs, QB Seth Henigan, TE Patrick Herbert,RB Ja’Quinden Jackson, OL Ricky Lee, CB Keni-H Lovely, TE Quintin Morris, DB Jabbar Muhammad, DL Keivie Rose, DB Cam’Ron Silmon-Craig, WR Dorian Singer, OL Sal Wormley
Tennessee Titans
Claimed:
- CB Jalyn Armour-Davis (from Ravens), LB Dorian Mausi (from Vikings), C.J. Ravenell (from Ravens), CB Samuel Womack (from Colts)
Waived:
- DT Timmy Horne, LB Curtis Jacobs, CB Gabe Jeudy-Lally, T John Ojukwu
Released:
Signed to practice squad:
-
DB Kendell Brooks, DL Ali Gaye, DT Cam Horsley, RB Jermar Jefferson, WR Mason Kinsey, RB Jordan Mims, TE Thomas Odukova, CB Amani Oruwariye, WR James Proche, WR Xavier Restrepo, DT Isaiah Raikes, OL Andrew Rupcich, QB Trevor Siemian, DL Carlos Watkins