Roster

The Houston Chronicle reports the Texans have signed kicker Kris Brown to a four-year, $10 million contract extension. Brown, who scored 124 points last season, will get $2.5 million guaranteed. Brown connected on 29 of 33 field goals last year and made all 37 of his extra-point kicks.

The Texans have listed the following players as inactive for Week 11 at Indianapolis: WR Andre Davis, LB Kevis Coley, LB Morlon Greenwood, TE Mark Bruener and DL Amobi Okoye.

The Texans re-signed four of their own free agents Saturday: tight end Joel Dreessen, defensive end Stanley McClover, center Chris White and safety Eugene Wilson.

Texans CB Antwaun Molden broke his ankle in Week 15 vs. the Titans and will miss the last two games.

According to the team web site, Texans QB Matt Schaub is having a good offseason. When OTAs rolled around last year, Schaub was finishing rehab on his surgically-repaired shoulder. He wasn't at full strength and appeared slightly hesitant on the field. That's not the case this year. Schaub entered the offseason healthy and has worked to get stronger than ever. "I just feel more comfortable and confident in what I'm doing and what the coaches expect since last year," Schaub said. "I just understand the offense that much more. We know what we want to do. We know what we're good at."

The Chicago Bears cut a pair of first-day draft picks in the 2007 NFL Draft in DE Dan Bazuin and LB Michael Okwo on Saturday. Among the other cuts to get the roster down to 53 players were: DE Ervin Baldwin, CB Trey Brown, DE Joe Clermond, WR Mike Hass, LB Joey LaRocque, TE Fontel Mines, DE Nick Osborn, S Leonard Peters, RB P.J. Pope, WR Brandon Rideau and TE Marcus Stone.

Texans DL Tim Bulman recorded his third sack of the season Week 10 against the Ravens, and all have come in the last four games. He finished with two solo tackles.

Houston DB Jacques Reeves and LB Kevin Bentley both recovered fumbles Week 16 at Oakland. Bentley also had six tackles while Reeves had two.

Texans DB Dominique Barber (hamstring) has been ruled out for Week 8 vs. Cincinnati. It will be the third straight game he misses.

According to the team web site, Texans RB Ryan Moats is trying to prove he can be the No. 2 RB in Houston behind starter Steve Slaton. "You can say what you want to say about a person's size," Moats said. "But when you're on the field, you're on the field and it doesn't matter anymore. So that's kind of how I've approached it my whole career." Moats is rotating with Chris Brown behind Slaton. Coach Gary Kubiak has called Moats and Brown his "2a and 2b" backups, giving the edge to Moats because he played last season and he has shown tremendous speed during OTAs.

Back - Probable for start of training camp

Texans DB Eugene Wilson, LB Xavier Adibi, TE Mark Bruener, DL Earl Cochran and DL Travis Johnson have all been ruled inactive for Week 3 at Tennessee.

Along with adjusting to the size of the players, Texans second-round pick Connor Barwin is receiving a crash course in learning Houston's defense and on improving his technique. His learning curve might be a bit steeper than most rookies after spending just one year on defense in college after being a tight end for the first part of his career at Cincinnati. He immediately excelled at the position, piling up a Big East-best 12 sacks and finishing with 53 tackles. He broke an NCAA record for most sacks in a player's first season on defense. Barwin also starred on special teams for the Bearcats, blocking three kicks in 2008, which may help him get on the field even earlier for the Texans. Kubiak is impressed with his work ethic but knows Barwin has a lot to learn.

The Houston Texans signed the following players to their practice squad on Sunday: LB Kevis Coley, WR Darnell Jenkins, DT Gabe Long, DE Jesse Nading, CB Derrick Roberson, WR Mark Simmons and RB Darius Walker. Also, the team signed DE Stanley McClover from the Carolina Panthers off waivers.

The Houston Chronicle reports Texans TE Owen Daniels will skip the remaining OTA workouts this offseason because of a contract dispute. Daniels, who had participated in the first three weeks of OTAs, did not show up to the team's voluntary workout Tuesday. "Obviously we're in the middle of negotiations," GM Rick Smith said. "He's well within in his rights not to be here. We wish he were working out like he had been, but we understand it. Every day he is out here he's getting better. Things like this have a way of working themselves out." Daniels, a fourth-round pick in 20! 06, is a restricted free agent. He has yet to sign the one-year, $2.7 million tender that he was offered.

The Houston Texans have re-signed free agent safety Nick Ferguson. The 5-foot-11, 201-pound Ferguson, who signed Thursday, joined the Texans as an unrestricted free agent before the 2008 season after five seasons in Denver. Ferguson had 52 tackles last season in 14 games, nine of them starts. Ferguson will play his 10th season in 2009. He has 265 tackles, seven interceptions, six forced fumbles and four fumble recoveries in 122 career games.

The Houston Chronicle reports the Texans released LB Kevis Coley and QB Alex Brink on Wednesday. The move to release Brink likely means Rex Grossman should be the No. 3 QB for the Texans unless he is released during training camp.

In the Texans' 13-12 win vs. the Titans in Week 15, notable Texans defenders included LB Kevin Bentley (eight total tackles), DB Nick Ferguson (five solo tackles, forced fumble), LB DeMeco Ryans (three total tackles, forced fumble) and CB Fred Bennett (one interception).

In the Texans' 13-12 win vs. the Titans in Week 15, notable Texans defenders included LB Kevin Bentley (eight total tackles), DB Nick Ferguson (five solo tackles, forced fumble), LB DeMeco Ryans (three total tackles, forced fumble) and CB Fred Bennett (one interception).

For the first time since injuring his neck and spine last week, Texans WR Harry Williams has walked by himself. Houston television station KRIV reports that Williams walked by himself Thursday morning at Presbyterian Hospital in Dallas. He suffered a cracked vertebrate and severe ligament damage in his neck Aug. 22 during a preseason game against the Dallas Cowboys. Williams told the station, "I started walking today. I brushed my own teeth today, sat up in a chair today, fed myself today." "I'm doing good man." Doctors say its unlikely he'll be able to play football again, something the 26-year-old says he accepts. Williams was on the New York Jets and New York Giants squads in 2005 before signing with the Texans in 2006.

The Houston Texans signed the following players to their practice squad on Sunday: LB Kevis Coley, WR Darnell Jenkins, DT Gabe Long, DE Jesse Nading, CB Derrick Roberson, WR Mark Simmons and RB Darius Walker. Also, the team signed DE Stanley McClover from the Carolina Panthers off waivers.

The Texans played almost the entire second half of their Week 17 game vs. Chicago without defensive end Mario Williams after he injured a groin on the third play after halftime and didn't return.

The Broncos listed WR Chad Jackson, WR Glenn Martinez, DB Marlon McCree, DB Champ Bailey, LB D.J. Williams, DL Josh Shaw and DL Tim Crowder among their inactives for Week 10 at Cleveland.

The Colts have signed linebacker Adam Seward, a free agent who played the past four years with Carolina. Seward was a fifth-round draft pick out of UNLV in 2005 and started two of 40 games with the Panthers. He appeared in only nine games last season as he was hobbled by an ankle injury. The Colts also waived reserve running back Clifton Dawson, who played in 13 games over two seasons and totaled 64 yards and one touchdown on 30 carries.

The Houston Texans signed the following players to their practice squad on Sunday: LB Kevis Coley, WR Darnell Jenkins, DT Gabe Long, DE Jesse Nading, CB Derrick Roberson, WR Mark Simmons and RB Darius Walker. Also, the team signed DE Stanley McClover from the Carolina Panthers off waivers.

The Dolphins on Tuesday waived G Emmanuel Akah, QB Brock Berlin, WR Jason Willis, WR Frank Murphy, WR Jamall Broussard, DT Steve Fifita, DT Howard Green, LB Travis Harris, LB Sam McGrew, K Ola Kimrin, P Thomas Olmsted, S Siddeeq Shabazz, S Norman LeJeune and CB Art Thomas.

Andre Johnson is one of the top receivers in the NFL, piling up yards and accolades by the armful in his six-year career. But Johnson knows he won't go down in history as one of the game's best unless he can help the Texans to more than just their first playoff appearance. Johnson's performance last season was key in Houston ranking third in total offense with more than 382 yards a game. He finished with a career-high and NFL-best 1,575 yards receiving and made his second Pro Bowl a year after a tough season where he missed seven games with injuries. "I play this game of football for only one reason and that's to win," Johnson said Monday. "I don't play it for anything else. When you go over guys' careers, of all the former guys that have played, the first question they ask is how many Super Bowls have they won. So that's my goal. To win as many Super Bowls as I can before my time is up."

Texans DL DelJuan Robinson (knee) was activated in Week 4. He had been listed as probable on the injury report.

Notable inactives from the Bears-Texans Week 17 game include: Bears WR Devin Aromashodu, RB Kevin Jones, QB Caleb Hanie, DB Marcus Hamilton, DL Matt Toeaina, LB Hunter Hillenmeyer and DL Ervin Baldwin. For the Texans, LB Xavier Adibi, DB Nick Ferguson, DB Matterral Richardson, DL Frank Okam, DB David Pittman and WR Darnell Jenkins are inactive.

Texans WR Kevin Walter had another sorry performance Week 16 at Oakland with only two catches for 17 yards and one rushing attempt that went 13 yards. It's Walter's second game in a row with only two catches after exploding Week 14 for 148 yards on six catches.

Notable inactives from the Bears-Texans Week 17 game include: Bears WR Devin Aromashodu, RB Kevin Jones, QB Caleb Hanie, DB Marcus Hamilton, DL Matt Toeaina, LB Hunter Hillenmeyer and DL Ervin Baldwin. For the Texans, LB Xavier Adibi, DB Nick Ferguson, DB Matterral Richardson, DL Frank Okam, DB David Pittman and WR Darnell Jenkins are inactive.

The Texans re-signed four of their own free agents Saturday: tight end Joel Dreessen, defensive end Stanley McClover, center Chris White and safety Eugene Wilson.

The Houston Chronicle reports Texans TE Owen Daniels will skip the remaining OTA workouts this offseason because of a contract dispute. Daniels, who had participated in the first three weeks of OTAs, did not show up to the team's voluntary workout Tuesday. "Obviously we're in the middle of negotiations," GM Rick Smith said. "He's well within in his rights not to be here. We wish he were working out like he had been, but we understand it. Every day he is out here he's getting better. Things like this have a way of working themselves out." Daniels, a fourth-round pick in 20! 06, is a restricted free agent. He has yet to sign the one-year, $2.7 million tender that he was offered.

Linebacker Zac Diles, who leads the Texans in tackles, broke his left leg and will miss the rest of the season. Diles was injured early in practice Wednesday in what coach Gary Kubiak described as a freak accident. He was scheduled to have a rod placed in his tibia Wednesday night. The second-year player was a 2007 seventh-round draft pick for the Texans. He has started each game this season and has 66 tackles and an interception. Kevin Bentley will start in his place against Baltimore.

The Houston Chronicle reports the Texans have signed sixth-round pick Brice McCain from Utah. McCain, a cornerback, signed a four-year contract worth $1.8 million, including a signing bonus of $101,750.

The Texans have signed free agent linebacker Buster Davis, his fourth NFL team in two seasons. Davis played in six games and started three for Indianapolis last year, finishing with 26 tackles. The Florida State product was drafted by Arizona in 2007 and spent part of his rookie season on Detroit's practice squad.

The Colts signed tight end Jamie Petrowski off Tennessee's practice squad and promoted defensive back Brandon Foster from their own practice squad. They also placed defensive backs A.J. Davis and Brannon Condren and receiver Marques Hagans on the practice squad. Condren played eight games with the Colts last season, but was cut Aug. 30. To make room for the newcomers, the team released tight end Eric Butler and quarterback David Greene from the practice squad.

The Chicago Tribune reports that FB Jason Davis was signed off the Bears' practice squad by the Raiders on Monday, according to his agent.

The Texans have signed free agent defensive tackle Shaun Cody. Cody has spent his entire four-year career with the Detroit Lions, who drafted him in the second round in 2005. A career backup, he appeared in each game for the Lions last season with four starts and finished with a career-high 36 tackles. He'll join a group of defensive linemen that includes first-round draft picks Mario Williams - the top overall pick in 2006 - Amobi Okoye and Travis Johnson, as well as recently added defensive end Antonio Smith.

The Houston Chronicle reports Texans TE Owen Daniels, who signed his tender of $2.79 million this week, missed a third consecutive day of minicamp Wednesday. Because he's under contract, Daniels was fined $9,000 for missing the minicamp.

The Houston Chronicle reports Texans RB Steve Slaton is hoping to avoid a sophomore slump after leading the AFC in yards from scrimmage as a rookie last year. "That's what I'm trying to prevent," Slaton said. "(Sophomore slumps) happened to a lot of people and didn't happen to a lot of people. I'm just trying to be one of those people that it didn't happen to." How much better can Slaton be? The Texans are hoping he continues to improve even though he had 1,282 rushing yards and 377 receiving yards. "He had a great year, a great rookie year," coach Gary Kubiak said. "Is he going to become a great player in this league? Is he going to be a Pro Bowl guy? ... He's as important as any guy on this team to take the next step forward for us next year. If he's an even better player for us next year, then we're going to have a chance to be much better on the offensive side."

Houston RB Vonta Leach had one carry in Week 16's game at Oakland and it was good for a one-yard TD at the goal line. It was Leach's first carry of the entire season. He also made a reception for three yards in the game.

Texans DL Travis Johnson made his first sack since 2005 when he took down Ryan Fitzpatrick in Houston's Week 8 rout of the Bengals.

Houston DB Jacques Reeves and LB Kevin Bentley both recovered fumbles Week 16 at Oakland. Bentley also had six tackles while Reeves had two.

The Texans listed WR Andre Davis, DB Will Demps, LB Chaun Thompson, TE Mark Bruener and DL Amobi Okoye among their inactives for Week 10 against the Ravens.

WR Andre Davis, QB Sage Rosenfels, RB Ryan Moats, WR Jacoby Jones, TE Clark Harris, WR Darnell Jenkins and WR David Anderson all failed to record a stat Week 16 at Oakland.

The Bengals tried to keep linebackers Brandon Johnson and Rashad Jeanty by turning them into restricted free agents on Thursday. The Bengals tendered contract offers to the linebackers that gives them the right to match any offer. If the Bengals decide not to match another team's offer, they get a second-round draft pick as compensation. The team decided not to make tender offers to running back DeDe Dorsey, receiver Glenn Holt, linebacker Corey Mays and safety John Busing, allowing them to become free agents.

The Texans signed free agent defensive end Antonio Smith on Saturday. Smith appeared in each regular season game and started three of four playoff games for the NFC champion Arizona Cardinals last season. The Texans needed someone to start opposite former No. 1 pick Mario Williams after releasing Anthony Weaver earlier this week. Weaver had just one sack in his three years in Houston.

The Houston Chronicle reports Texans WR Jacoby Jones is ready to become the returner and receiver the Texans wanted when they acquired him as a third-round draft choice. It has been a maturation process for Jones, and it began last March when he was arrested for suspicion of driving while intoxicated. Jones was found passed out at a stoplight, asleep at the wheel of his running car. "I can tell I'm maturing," Jones said. "I see things that you do when you are younger and think, 'I used to do those things.' I guess I'm getting old — even though I'm only 24. This life you live as an athlete makes you mature faster than what you are." This offseason, he has devoted himself more than ever to improving as a player. With the Texans presently participating in organized team activities, his newfound dedication has not gone unnoticed. "He's been excellent in the offseason," coach Gary Kubiak said. "He's grown up. He's handled himself a lot better than he has in the past. He's becoming a pro to me, so with that should come better play and more consistency."

The Houston Chronicle reports the Texans have agreed to a one-year contract with QB Rex Grossman on Thursday. If Grossman passes his physical Friday as expected, he will give the Texans four quarterbacks entering next week's minicamp. Grossman, the Bears' No. 1 pick in 2003 will sign a one-year deal for the minimum $745,000. He will join starter Matt Schaub and backups Dan Orlovsky and Alex Brink as the four quarterbacks on the roster.

Notable inactives from the Bears-Texans Week 17 game include: Bears WR Devin Aromashodu, RB Kevin Jones, QB Caleb Hanie, DB Marcus Hamilton, DL Matt Toeaina, LB Hunter Hillenmeyer and DL Ervin Baldwin. For the Texans, LB Xavier Adibi, DB Nick Ferguson, DB Matterral Richardson, DL Frank Okam, DB David Pittman and WR Darnell Jenkins are inactive.

The Houston Chronicle reports the Texans have signed rookie TE Anthony Hill, who played at North Carolina State, to a four-year deal worth $2,206,500. He was the team's second fourth-round draft choice in April. Hill and James Casey, a fifth-round pick, are competing for playing time behind veterans Joel Dreessen and Owen Daniels.

Cato June is back in the AFC South, joining the Texans, a team he used to plague while playing for the Colts. June agreed to a one-year, $1.5 million contract with the Texans after playing the last two seasons in Tampa Bay. June started 14 games last year for the Buccaneers and finished with 67 tackles and one interception.

The Houston Texans will keep wide receiver David Anderson after matching a contract offer from the Denver Broncos. The move Wednesday came five days after the Broncos signed Anderson to an offer sheet. Terms of the deal weren't released. Anderson was in the mix behind Pro Bowl receiver Andre Johnson and Kevin Walter, the other starter. He had 19 catches for 241 yards and two touchdowns last season.

According to the team web site, the Texans signed FB Boomer Grigsby on Tuesday. Grigsby is entering his fifth year in the NFL and has made a name for himself on special teams.

Notable inactives from the Bears-Texans Week 17 game include: Bears WR Devin Aromashodu, RB Kevin Jones, QB Caleb Hanie, DB Marcus Hamilton, DL Matt Toeaina, LB Hunter Hillenmeyer and DL Ervin Baldwin. For the Texans, LB Xavier Adibi, DB Nick Ferguson, DB Matterral Richardson, DL Frank Okam, DB David Pittman and WR Darnell Jenkins are inactive.

Notable inactives from the Bears-Texans Week 17 game include: Bears WR Devin Aromashodu, RB Kevin Jones, QB Caleb Hanie, DB Marcus Hamilton, DL Matt Toeaina, LB Hunter Hillenmeyer and DL Ervin Baldwin. For the Texans, LB Xavier Adibi, DB Nick Ferguson, DB Matterral Richardson, DL Frank Okam, DB David Pittman and WR Darnell Jenkins are inactive.

WR Andre Davis, QB Sage Rosenfels, RB Ryan Moats, WR Jacoby Jones, TE Clark Harris, WR Darnell Jenkins and WR David Anderson all failed to record a stat Week 16 at Oakland.

According to the team web site, Texans RB Ryan Moats is trying to prove he can be the No. 2 RB in Houston behind starter Steve Slaton. "You can say what you want to say about a person's size," Moats said. "But when you're on the field, you're on the field and it doesn't matter anymore. So that's kind of how I've approached it my whole career." Moats is rotating with Chris Brown behind Slaton. Coach Gary Kubiak has called Moats and Brown his "2a and 2b" backups, giving the edge to Moats because he played last season and he has shown tremendous speed during OTAs.