The Houston Texans have added defensive end Derek Parish to their 90-man roster, as reported by ESPN's Adam Schefter. This move comes in response to the season-ending injury of defensive end Dylan Horton, who has a torn Achilles. The Texans have also placed Horton and linebacker Marte Mapu on injured reserve, impacting their defensive lineup.
In addition to these injuries, Jadeveon Clowney is dealing with a lower-leg issue, while Dominique Robinson is recovering from a calf injury sustained in a preseason game against the Las Vegas Raiders. These circumstances have opened the door for Parish, who has a varied football background.
Parish, 27, was drafted by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the seventh round of the 2023 NFL Draft. He spent part of the season on the Jaguars' practice squad but did not play in any games. He previously played five seasons at the University of Houston as both a fullback and edge rusher and is a graduate of Pearland High School in Pearland, Texas.
After his time in Jacksonville, Parish played for the Toronto Argonauts in the CFL and the UFL's DC Defenders, where he recorded significant statistics in the 2026 season. With the Texans preparing to face the Carolina Panthers in their final preseason game, Parish has a limited chance to demonstrate his abilities before the roster is finalized.
