The Texans signed fullback-tight end Paul Quessenberry, according to a league source not authorized to speak publicly.
The brother of former Texans offensive lineman David Quessenberry, a cancer survivor, Paul Quessenberry served five years in the Marine Corps where he served as a rifle platoon and weapons platoon commander and was a deputy director of the 1st Marine Division school.
Quessenberry has provided a physical presence as a lead blocker at the fullback position.
“He's done a good job being physical," Texans offensive coordinator Tim Kelly said. "He's done everything we've asked. He's smart, he works his butt off, and we're pleased with Paul. He's done a really good job for us.”
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The Texans signed veteran offensive guard Lane Taylor to their practice squad, according to a league source.
Taylor tore his anterior cruciate ligament last season while playing for the Green Bay Packers.
He began training camp on the active-physically unable to perform list and was waived Tuesday with a failed physical designation.
Playing for Texans offensive line coach James Campen for part of his tenure in Green Bay after going undrafted out of Oklahoma State, Taylor has played in 79 regular-season games and seven playoff games with 53 starts.
Taylor played left guard, right guard and left tackle for the Packers. He was an opening-game starter from 2016 to 2022 and allowed just 14 sacks in his first eight seasons.
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The Texans are signing former Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Antonio Phillips to their practice squad, according to a league source not authorized to speak publicly.
Phillips went undrafted after undergoing a microdiscectomy procedure, but is healthy now.
A four-year starter, the 5-foot-11, 187-pound St. Louis native recorded 137 career tackles, eight interceptions and 26 pass breakups. Phillips' cousin is Arizona Cardinals outside linebacker Markus Golden.
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The Texans signed defensive end Derek Rivers to the practice squad, according to a league source not authorized to speak publicly.
Rivers sought familiarity and scheme fit during free agency, and his connections drew him to the Texans.
The veteran defensive end was drafted in the third round in 2017 by the Patriots when Texans general manager Nick Caserio was working in New England as Bill Belichick’s right-hand man.
Signed to a one-year contract worth up to $1.35 million that includes a $100,000 signing bonus, Rivers recorded a school-record 41 career sacks as an All-American at Youngstown State along with 55 ½ tackles for losses, 47 quarterback hurries and 119 solo tackles.
Healthy now after finishing last season with the Los Angeles Rams, Rivers has played in 19 career games and has 2½ sacks, six quarterback hits and three tackles for losses.
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The Texans have signed former Alabama defensive back Shyheim Carter to their practice squad, according to a league source.Carter intercepted a pass during the preseason.
Carter (6-0, 191 pounds) had 43 tackles as a senior with one forced fumble and one interception.
Carter went undrafted last year and wasn't signed by an NFL team. He was hired as a graduate assistant by the Crimson Tide.
Carter played in 50 games at Alabama with 23 starts.
As a junior, he had 44 tackles and two interceptions and returned both of them for touchdowns.
A former blue-chip recruit from Kentwood, La., Carter played in the Under Armour All-American game. He chose Alabama over scholarship offers from Georgia, LSU, Mississippi and Miami.
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The Texans are signing former Las Vegas Raiders and University of Houston standout cornerback Isaiah Johnson to their practice squad, according to a league source not authorized to speak publicly.
Johnson is a former fourth-round draft pick and is a tall, athletic defensive back.
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The Texans are signing quarterback Jeff Driskel to the practice squad, according to a league source not authorized to speak publicly.
A former San Francisco 49ers sixth-round draft pick from Louisiana Tech who began his career at Florida, Driskel has also played for the Cincinnati Bengals, Detroit Lions and Denver Broncos.
Driskel, 28, has passed for 2,120 career yards, 13 touchdowns and eight interceptions. He has rushed for 309 yards and three scores.
In his only season at Louisiana Tech, he passed for 4,026 yards and 27 touchdowns.
Driskel (6-foot-4, 234 pounds) has run the 40-yard dash in 4.56 seconds.
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The Texans' practice squad will include veteran blocking tight end Antony Auclair, according to league sources not authorized to speak publicly.
Auclair earned a Super Bowl ring with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last season.
The native of Canada provides a physical presence in reserve for a team that kept just three tight ends on the active roster: Jordan Akins, Pharaoh Brown and rookie Brevin Jordan.
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The Texans are also signing wide receiver Chris Moore, a special-teams standout, according to a league source. Moore, who played for Texans coach David Culley with the Baltimore Ravens when Culley was receivers coach, assistant head coach and passing game coordinator.
Moore provides special-teams value and can fill in capably at wide receiver if needed.
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The Texans are bringing back safety Jonathan Owens for the practice squad, according to a league source.
Owens played for the Texans the past two seasons and has 4.36 speed in the 40-yard dash.
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The Texans are signing wide receiver Jordan Veasy to their practice squad, according to his agent, Corey Williams.
Veasy is an athletic, big downfield target at 6-foot-3, 221 pounds.
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The Texans are signing former Texas A&M offensive lineman Ryan McCollum to their practice squad, according to a league source.
The Texans are also expected to sign former Texas A&M offensive lineman Carson Green to their practice squad, according to a league source.
Aaron Wilson has covered the NFL for 20 seasons, including the Texans, Baltimore Ravens, Tennessee Titans and Jacksonville Jaguars. He has previously written for The Houston Chronicle and The Baltimore Sun. He’s on Twitter: @AaronWilson_NFL and Instagram: @aaronwilson7128.
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