The Houston Texans announced that they have officially signed wide receivers Sterling Shepard and Zay Jones. However, the new Texans’ arrivals meant the team needed to make space on the roster, and K.C. Ossai was the unfortunate selection.
The Texans shared a post announcing the move on X on August 22.
Texans Make Roster Move With K.C. Ossai
GettyK.C. Ossai is the odd man out amid the Texans’ roster changes.
It was already posted on their official website, with the public relations department writing, “The Houston Texans have placed the following player on the Reserve/Injured list,” naming Ossai.
It appears Ossai has actually been waived, per The Houston Chronicle’s Jonathan M. Alexander.
Ossai is a second-year linebacker out of Louisiana. He has yet to appear in any regular-season contests, but he has spent time with the Miami Dolphins in between stints with the Texans. The Texans are navigating several injuries at LB.
Still, with Shepard and Jones now in the fold, Ossai is no longer counting against the roster total.
Texans Battling Slew of Injuries
GettyWade Woodaz’s night against the Raiders ended with an injury.
Ossai is part of a deep linebacking corps behind starters Azeez Al-Shaair and Henry To’oTo’o, but the Texans have taken several hits to the position, including rookie Wade Woodaz.
“#Texans linebacker Wade Woodaz (thumb), running back Noah Whittington (ankle), defensive end [Dominique] Robinson (calf) among new injuries, per league source,” KPRC 2’s Aaron Wilson reported on X on August 21. “Regarded as day to day at this point.”
The Texans are also still without E.J. Speed (quad) and Jake Hansen (strain).
Their injury woes go well beyond the linebacker position, too, with Jayden Higgins out for the season due to a torn quad and fellow wideouts Jaylin Noel and Tank Dell still ramping up.
And at running back, the Texans are without British Brooks, Jawhar Jordan, and Joshua Pitsenberger. That has left them thin behind David Montgomery and Woody Marks, with Whittington and late-free-agency pickup Owen Wright.
The Texans were expected to make another roster move with Shepard and Jones signing.
However, at least based on Wilson’s reporting, Ossai’s potential injury appears to be unexpected. He participated in practice last week, and he played in both of the Texans’ preseason games.
Texans Decision for Preseason Finale Expected After Next Joint Practice
GettyDeMeco Ryans and the Texans are navigating injuries.
Fortunately for the Texans, they have avoided such setbacks at the top of their roster, save for Higgins, with one preseason game to go. The Texans will hold a joint practice against the Carolina Panthers before their preseason finale.
That could lead to a significant decision from Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans.
The Texans will open the 2026 regular-season slate against the Buffalo Bills, and Ryans said he made sure the starters got some work this preseason against the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 2.
Texans Shake Up Roster Behind Azeez Al-Shaair Amid Announcement