As he sat at his locker after the Houston Texans made their final roster cuts, defensive tackle Khalil Davis took a moment to soak it all in. He looked around at his teammates and knew what had taken place.
Although he was only added to Houston’s practice squad, it was still a place on the team with an opportunity to be activated to the regular roster throughout the season. He had envisioned this moment when the Texans offered him an invite to training camp.
“It means everything to me,” Davis said about his opportunity in September. “Coming from where I came from—I was in the USFL—I had to work my way back, really, to know if I would get another chance. To be able to put in the work in a lower league and work my way back up means everything to me, and I am doing everything to stay here and stick.”
Davis, 27, was drafted in the sixth round of the 2020 NFL Draft by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. One year later, he was waived, and that seemed to be his fate after he had brief stints with three other NFL teams before eventually leaving to play in the USFL.
The Birmingham Stallions granted him his release to pursue his NFL dreams again, and that goal was fulfilled when he joined the Texans, which is a testament to the power of perseverance and determination.
Fast forward one year later, and making the roster is something Davis should be able to do easily.
Photo Courtesy - Houston Texans
The Texans showed their appreciation by signing him to a one-year deal worth $1.6 million this past offseason after his impressive career-best 32 tackles, six tackles for loss, six quarterback hits, and two sacks in 15 games as a part of Houston’s defensive lineman rotation in 2023.
“It makes me feel honored because I always try to show my worth through how I play,” Davis said exclusively to Big Sarge Media after resigning with the Texans. I always tried to do the little things right by showing my effort. My dad would always tell me that your effort will never betray you. So. I’m honored they would want me back, and I am ready to show them what more I can do.”
Davis played an intricate part in helping the Texans return to the postseason after a three-year drought of missing the playoffs. Houston hosted the Cleveland Browns at NRG Stadium during the NFL Wild Card Weekend. In the 45-14 victory over the Browns, he recorded a season-high five tackles to help Houston advance to a Divisional round matchup against the Baltimore Ravens.
“Every year, you have a role on a team,” Davis responded when asked about the part he played during the season. “If you truly understand what your role is and you play to that role and if you can play above that role, then you can really open up the eyes of your coaches and peers. So, I really just understood what my role was. I knew what they wanted from me, and I tried to go above and beyond that.”
Houston lost some valuable defensive line pieces this past offseason with the departure of starters Maliek Collins via trade to the San Francisco 49ers and Sheldon Rankins, who signed as a free agent with the Cincinnati Bengals. If Davis can play with the same aggressive intensity he had last season, he should see more snaps.
The one thing Davis will not allow himself to do is become complacent or comfortable, especially after being given another chance to succeed in the NFL. His past failures to secure a consistent spot on a roster fuel him daily to continue to fight, but his family and faith keep him grounded and focused.
“I’m a big spiritual guy,” said Davis. “So, I always pray that whatever God puts on my plate, I am able to handle it the right way. I got a second chance in the league; I’m not going to make the same mistakes I did before.
“Sometimes luck is hard, but as long as you can keep fighting one more day, you will find those little things within those days that will keep you going. I am thankful for the opportunity to keep doing that. The Texans gave me that chance.”