Following a critical blow to their offensive unit on Sunday with the loss of second-year tight end Cade Stover, who suffered a broken foot in the 14-9 loss to the Los Angeles Rams, the Houston Texans promoted veteran tight end Harrison Bryant from the practice squad to the active roster.
To make room for Bryant, Houston placed Stover on the Reserve/Injured List, meaning the former Ohio State Buckeye will miss at least four games. The Texans also signed offensive lineman Jaylon Thomas to the practice squad.
First-year offensive coordinator Nick Caley, a former tight ends coach with the Rams last season, had big plans early on for Stover and created offensive packages specifically designed for him.
“I really hate that,” said Houston Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans on Tuesday about losing Stover indefinitely. “He’s playing tough, physical, exactly how he wants it done. So, he’ll miss some time. We’ll have to upgrade our tight end room from that perspective.”
Bryant, who was part of the trade that sent former Texans wide receiver John Metchie to the Philadelphia Eagles before the start of the regular season, was drafted by the Cleveland Browns in the fourth round (115th overall) of the 2020 NFL Draft.
After four seasons with the Browns, he entered free agency in March 2024 and signed a one-year deal with the Las Vegas Raiders. The following March, he signed the same contract with the Eagles, and five months later, he was traded to the Texans.
Houston originally cut Bryant after training camp, but resigned him and rookie Luke Lachey to the practice squad after only keeping Stover and veteran Dalton Shultz on the active roster at the tight end position.
“Harrison’s smart,” said offensive coordinator Nick Caley after the Texans acquired Bryant via trade. “He’s a savvy player. I’ve known about Harrison for a while and appreciated his game. Everybody you talk to talks about the work ethic, the intangibles, and he’s had production in the league. So, he’s got some experience, and he’s versatile.”
Throughout his NFL career, Bryant has caught 98 passes for 877 yards and 10 touchdowns.
One of his most productive seasons was his rookie year with the Browns, when he played in 15 games and started nine. He finished that year with 24 catches for 238 yards and three touchdowns, averaging 9.9 yards per catch.