Texans Ex Christian Kirksey Signs with Bills Practice Squad

Christian Kirksey was unexpectedly cut by the Houston Texans before Tuesday's roster deadline despite coming off a 2022 season where he finished with 124 total tackles, three sacks and two interceptions.

It didn't take long for former Houston Texans linebacker Christian Kirksey to find a new NFL home.

Per reports from NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, the Buffalo Bills are signing the former Texans linebacker to their practice squad. Kirksey was unexpectedly cut by the Texans before Tuesday's roster deadline despite coming off a 2022 season where he finished with 124 total tackles, three sacks and two interceptions.

"Former Texans captain and starting LB Christian Kirksey, a surprise cut on Tuesday, is planning to sign with the Bills practice squad now that he has landed there, source said. He prioritized winning," Rapoport tweeted Wednesday.

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Kirksey, 30, was a third-round pick by the Cleveland Browns out of Iowa in the 2014 NFL Draft. He's played nine years in the league, spending six seasons in Cleveland, one with the Green Bay Packers and two with the Texans. His best year came in the 2016 season with the Browns, which saw him finish third in the NFL with 148 total tackles.

Kirksey has played in 114 career games. Along the way, he's posted 779 total tackles (486 solo), 16.5 sacks, four forced fumbles, six fumble recoveries, seven interceptions and 34 passes defended.

In three career games against the Bills, Kirksey has tallied 25 total tackles.

Though he'll start the season on the practice squad, Kirksey's veteran presence could come up big for the Bills late in the year if there are injuries on the defense. The Bills will open up the season at MetLife Stadium against the New York Jets on Monday, Sept. 11.