The Houston Texans special teams unit will look a bit different heading into the 2025 NFL season.
Following the Texans' signing of cornerback Damon Arnette to a one-year deal, Houston has cut long snapper Tucker Addington to make room for their new free agent addition, leaving rookie Austin Brinkman as the only active long snapper on the roster for training camp, according to Aaron Wilson of KPRC2.
Addington, 27, who was last with the Jacksonville Jaguars for the 2024 season, signed to the Texans' roster earlier this offseason, but now likely won't be suiting up in Houston as their rookie addition in Brinkman has taken hold of that lone roster spot.
Brinkman was a four-year player for West Virginia, and was a standout during his senior season, earning his way to a Phil Steele All-American Third Team selection, All-Big 12 Conference First Team, and was a semifinalist for the Patrick Mannelly Award.
Now, he'll have an opportunity to be a day one contributor on the Texans' special teams unit as a rookie.
Brinkman will have some big shoes to fill in his first year in the mix, coming in as a replacement for 15-year starter at long snapper Jon Weeks, who was with the Texans from 2010 to 2024, logging 244 games with the franchise.
Texans waive long snapper to open roster spot for CB Damon Arnette
Earlier this week, the Houston Texans were rumored to sign cornerback Damon Arnette to a one-year deal. Today, that deal has come true. The team announced on Friday that they waived long snapper Tucker Addington in a corresponding roster move.
Arnette, 28, returns to the NFL after a three-year absence marked by multiple legal issues and a stint in the United Football League (UFL) with the Houston Roughnecks. The former Ohio State standout was selected 19th overall in the 2020 NFL Draft by the Las Vegas Raiders but has not played in an NFL game since 2021.
After brief practice squad stints with the Miami Dolphins and Kansas City Chiefs, Arnette’s comeback attempt was reignited this spring in the UFL, where he recorded a sack, an interception, and a touchdown for the Roughnecks. Arnette now joins a Texans secondary that already features first-rounders Derek Stingley Jr. and Kamari Lassiter. He is expected to compete for a depth role as he works to reestablish himself in the NFL.
To make room for Arnette, Houston released Addington, 27, who signed a futures contract with the team in February. Addington, a Sam Houston State product, appeared in one NFL game each for New England, Washington, and Miami since entering the league as an undrafted free agent in 2022.
His release signals that undrafted rookie Austin Brinkman, out of West Virginia, has won the Texans’ long snapper competition and will handle the duties this season.
Arnette’s signing marks a fresh start for the former first-rounder, who said last month he is “the best version of myself that I’ve ever been,” crediting his turnaround to renewed support from family and a changed outlook on life.
