The Texans’ secondary is really starting to thin out with injuries. Friday’s injury report confirmed that rookie sixth-round safety Jaylen Reed will miss tomorrow night’s game in Kansas City with a forearm injury. With Jimmie Ward still on the reserve/physically unable to perform list and replacement starter M.J. Stewart recently placed on season-ending injured reserve, practice squad safety Jalen Mills has been signed to the 53-man roster to bolster the group. 
In a corresponding move, Reed has been moved to injured reserve. The sixth-round rookie broke a metal plate in his forearm in Week 13, Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 reports. Surgery will be required as a result. Today’s move ensures Reed will miss at least the next four weeks.
Mills signed to the Texans’ taxi squad following an 0-2 start to the season after he had spent two weeks of the preseason with the team but failed to make the initial 53-man roster. The 31-year-old defensive back has been elevated from the practice squad for three of the last four games, so with his presence on the defense still needed, Houston has promoted him up to the active roster.
While two of his elevations have simply seen Mills play in a special teams role with minimal time on defense, three weeks ago, the veteran was asked to start against the division rival Titans next to Calen Bullock. A similar situation can be expected for Week 14 given Houston’s injury situation in the secondary. Mills is of course familiar with heavy defensive workloads as a veteran of 92 starts (many of which, in fairness, came as a cornerback).
The LSU product is a pending free agent. As a result, his play down the stretch will be key in determining his value on a new Texans pact or one sending him elsewhere. In the meantime, Mills will look to chip in on a Texans defense which leads the league in points and yards allowed as the team aims to win the AFC South.
Adam La Rose contributed to this post.