The Texans have signed veteran defensive back Jalen Mills, as ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports. Houston brought Mills in for a workout last week, and with some uncertainty surrounding several members of the team’s safety depth chart, Mills will provide an experienced reinforcement.
Mills, 31, entered the NFL as a seventh-round pick of the Eagles in 2016, and he spent most of his first few seasons in the league at cornerback. In 2020, however, Philadelphia moved him all over the secondary, and he turned in one of the best seasons of his career (74 tackles, 1.5 sacks, one interception, 68.9 Pro Football Focus grade). That performance earned him a four-year, $24MM deal from the Patriots in 2021.
New England deployed him primarily as a cornerback over his first two years in Foxborough, but after the team cut and re-signed him in 2023, he was utilized more as a safety. As of last offseason, he was no longer in the club’s plans, and when a Giants contract failed to produce a roster spot in 2024, he caught on with the Jets’ taxi squad. He ultimately appeared in nine games (eight starts) for Gang Green, spending most of his time at safety and recording 44 tackles and a pick.
Veteran C.J. Gardner-Johnson, who was acquired via trade with the Eagles in March, recently suffered a knee injury in practice. He did not tear his ACL, as was initially feared, but it is unclear when he will return to the field. Dianna Russini of The Athletic (subscription required) said the injury was not a season-ender, and both ESPN’s Adam Schefter (via ESPN colleague DJ Bien-Aime) and Aaron Wilson of KPRC2.com indicated CJGJ could be available for Week 1 (with Wilson adding rest and rehab, or perhaps a PRP injection, could do the trick).
Fellow safety Jimmie Ward – who remains on the PUP list due to offseason foot surgery – is facing a felony domestic violence charge. His next court appearance is scheduled for Wednesday. And as Wilson observes in a separate piece, rookie safety Jaylen Reed is dealing with an ankle injury and is expected to miss about three weeks.
The Texans were clearly in need of some cover at the safety position, and Mills, a Super Bowl champion and veteran of 115 NFL appearances (including 91 starts), will at least help the club get through the rest of camp and the preseason schedule. The Dallas native’s spot on the roster is hardly assured, but it would not be surprising to see him stick around as tested and versatile depth.