The Houston Texans have signed defensive end Derek Parish to their 90-man roster, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. This move comes after defensive end Dylan Horton was ruled out for the entire 2026 season with a torn Achilles. The Texans have also placed Horton and linebacker Marte Mapu on injured reserve, impacting their defensive lineup.
In addition to these losses, the team is managing injuries to Jadeveon Clowney, who is facing a lower-leg issue, and Dominique Robinson, who is recovering from a calf injury that occurred during a preseason matchup with the Las Vegas Raiders. These circumstances have opened the door for Parish, who has a varied background.
Parish, 27, was selected by the Jacksonville Jaguars as the 240th overall pick in the seventh round of the 2023 NFL Draft. He spent part of the 2023 season on the Jaguars' practice squad but did not see any game time in the NFL.
Before turning professional, he played five seasons at the University of Houston, where he was utilized as both a fullback and edge rusher. A graduate of Pearland High School in Pearland, Texas, this signing marks a return to his home state.
After his stint in Jacksonville, Parish played for the Toronto Argonauts in the CFL and later joined the UFL's DC Defenders. In the 2026 UFL season, he participated in ten games, achieving 23 total tackles, four tackles for loss, and three sacks, along with a forced fumble. He also recorded three tackles in two postseason games.
