Texans To Sign LB Sione Takitaki

Takitaki spent his first five seasons with the Browns, totaling 36 starts over that span. He took a one-year Cleveland deal in 2023 after the expiration of his rookie contract before moving on to the Patriots in free agency. That decision allowed Takitaki to play on an Eliot Wolf-led team once again, after they overlapped with the Browns.

The Patriots inked Takitaki to a two-year, $6.65MM pact in 2024. After only one season in New England, however, the BYU product was released. Takitaki remained on the open market through training camp and the preseason, taking part in a Washington workout which did not produce a deal. Shortly after the start of the regular season, he joined the Vikings’ practice squad.

Takitaki found himself on and off Minnesota’s active roster and taxi squad over the course of last season. In total, the 31-year-old made three appearances and played exclusively on special teams. Takitaki topped 400 defensive snaps on three occasions with the Browns, so he is has experience logging a regular role if needed. Like any unsigned veterans at this time of year, though, a backup gig is the likely outcome in this case.

Special teams ace Jake Hansen suffered a recent ankle injury in training camp, Wilson notes. That prompted a workout in Takitaki’s case, and it has resulted in an agreement. This signing will no doubt represent a one-year accord at or near the league minimum and allow the former third-rounder to compete for a depth spot during the remainder of the summer. Houston entered Saturday with over $27MM in cap space, so this news will still leave plenty of room for other roster tweaks.