Inside The Panthers

Former Pitt WR Signs Futures Deal With Texans

Former Pitt Panthers wideout Jared Wayne will be back with the Houston Texans next season.

Stephen Thompson

Former Pitt WR Signs Futures Deal With Texans
Former Pitt WR Signs Futures Deal With Texans /
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PITTSBURGH -- Former Pitt Panthers wide receiver Jared Wayne will be back in the Lone Star State next season after spending all year on an NFL practice squad. 

Wayne, a star on two of Pitt's best teams in recent history, has signed a reserve/futures contract with the Houston Texans, according to a report from Aaron Wilson, who covers the team and NFL for KPRC2 in Houston. 

Wayne improved steadily with each passing year at Pitt. He made four starts in 2019 and three in 2020 while hauling in a combined 39 passes for 587 yards and two touchdowns. He became a regular part of the receiver rotation in 2021, when he finished second in receptions (47), yards (658) and touchdowns (six) for that team's record-setting, ACC Championship-winning offense. His final season was his best, when he caught 60 passes, for 1,062 yards and five touchdowns before declaring for the NFL Draft.

He flew under the radar during the draft process but turned some heads with impressive numbers in the 40-yard dash and vertical leap at his Pro Day. Scouts with the Texans clearly took notice and had seen enough between his film and in-person scouting to feel comfortable taking a flier on Pitt's leading receiver from a year ago. 

And after turning down an offer to play in the Canadian Football League, Wayne stuck with the Texans on their practice squad for most of the season and battled through injuries. Now the organization is sticking by Wayne and keeping him around for training camp next season. 

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Stephen Thompson
STEPHEN THOMPSON

Stephen Thompson graduated with a bachelor's degree in communications and political science from Pitt in April 2022 after spending four years as a sports writer and editor at The Pitt News, the University of Pittsburgh's independent, student-run newspaper.  He primarily worked the Pitt men's basketball beat, and filled in on coverage of football, volleyball, softball, gymnastics and lacrosse, in addition to other sports as needed. His work at The Pitt News has won awards from the Pennsylvania News Media Association and Associated College Press.  During the spring and summer of 2021, Stephen interned for Pittsburgh Sports Now, covering baseball in western Pennsylvania. Hailing from Washington D.C., family ties have cultivated a love of Boston's professional teams and Pitt athletics, and a fascination with sports in general.  You can reach Stephen by email at stephenethompson00@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter. Read his latest work:

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