The Texans have parted ways with a midseason addition to their receiving corps in a move which helps make room for the return of one of their top defensive free agent signings.
Per a team announcement, wideout Amari Rodgers was waived while defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins was activated from the active/PUP list.
Rodgers had a disappointing spell in Green Bay to start his career, failing to carve out a significant role for himself in the team’s offense. Fumbling issues helped lead to the Packers’ decision to move on from him in November.
The Texans claimed him to begin a brief audition period, one in which the former third-rounder was used exclusively on offense after seeing time as a returner in Green Bay.
Rodgers totaled 154 yards and his first career touchdown on 12 receptions while with the Texans. The team has been busy adding at the WR position this offseason, though, by signing Robert Woods and Noah Brown while also drafting Nathaniel Dell and Xavier Hutchinson.
Those arrivals, coupled with incumbents Nico Collins and John Metchie, lessened Rodgers’ chances of making the 53-man roster. The 23-year-old and the team made a mutual decision to part ways, per Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 (Twitter link).
Rankins was one of several veterans to receive a deal from Houston this offseason, with the rebuilding outfit benefiting from signficant spending power. The former Saint and Jet inked a one-year, $9.75M deal to join a new-look Texans defense and, potentially, boost his free agent market ahead of 2024. Rankins has started 51 games and will be counted on as a pass-rushing contributor.
The former first-rounder is four years removed from his career-best eight sacks with the Saints, but he has registered double-digit pressures each season since 2020. A continuation of that form will help the Texans’ re-tooled roster take a step forward under new head coach DeMeco Ryans, especially if he can remain healthy through training camp into the fall.
The Texans also announced that cornerback Kendall Sheffield has been activated from the PUP list. The 27-year-old signed in Houston before the start of the new league year in March after a brief spell on the Cowboys’ practice squad. Sheffield has started 20 of his 38 career games, all with the Falcons.
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