Jaylon Thomas

Jalen Mills is back in Houston. After being included among the team’s final preseason cuts, the veteran defensive back is signing with the Texans practice squad, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

Mills brings plenty of experience to Houston’s taxi squad, as the 31-year-old has made 115 regular-season appearances during his career. A former seventh-round pick, Mills evolved into a full-time starter during his time in Philly, where he hauled in five interceptions across five seasons. After being limited to 17 combined games between 2018 and 2019, Mills rebounded with a 15-game showing in 2020.

Mills inked a four-year, $24MM deal with the Patriots ahead of the 2021 campaign and ended up spending three years with the organization. He was a starter through his first two seasons in New England but settled into more of a rotational role in 2023, when he collected 45 tackles in 17 games (eight starts).

He joined the Giants last offseason but didn’t make it to the regular season with his new squad. He joined the Jets in late September and proceeded to start eight of his nine appearances, tallying 44 stops, six passes defended, and one interception. He suffered an injured collarbone in December that ended his season prematurely.

Mills joined the Texans this past August but was cut by the team only a few weeks later. Mills brings some familiarity with DeMeco Ryans‘ defense, as the veteran is coming off a 2024 campaign where he played under Robert Saleh, another member of the 49ers coaching tree. The Texans will likely be counting on Mills to provide that veteran savviness during this current stint with the team, where he’ll serve as depth behind C.J. Gardner-Johnson, Calen Bullock, and M.J. Stewart.

To make room on the practice squad, the Texans cut wide receiver Silas Bolden and offensive tackle Jaylon Thomas, per Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 in Houston.