Khalil Davis Finds Redemption With Houston Texans: 'I Just Believe I Could Do It'

Defensive lineman Khalil Davis credits his son and time spent in the USFL for guiding his path of redemption with the Houston Texans.

HOUSTON — From the moment the Houston Texans elevated him from the practice squad on Sept. 23, defensive tackle Khalil Davis was never nervous. He was just anxious to make a play. 

He had been a part of the defensive line's positive production over the previous two weeks. But during the Texans' Week 5 defeat to the Atlanta Falcons, Davis forced rookie running back Bijan Robinson into his first career fumble.

The play on Robinson was an affirmation of the redemption tour Davis has been on since joining the Texans as a late addition to training camp.

"You have to trust the process and trust yourself," Davis exclusively told Texans Daily. "The biggest thing is confidence in yourself. If you don't have confidence in yourself, how are you going to be able to show that? I just believe I could do it." 

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers made Davis a sixth-round pick during the 2020 NFL Draft. Three years later, he was out of the league. 

Given how late the Buccaneers drafted the former Nebraska prospect, Davis had a slight chance of succeeding on an NFL level. But the failures of his first stint in the NFL were not due to the lack of opportunities. 

Davis said he was young, and his most significant downfall was not operating as a professional. 

A brief time with the Los Angeles Rams led to Davis trusting his faith at the end of the 2022 season. The outcome resulted in him joining the Birmingham Stallions of the USFL.

It was a decision Davis did not want to make. He even questioned whether or not he wanted to continue his career. 

However, two things motivated Davis to sign with the USFL. He promised himself to work his way back into the league. But more importantly, setting an example for his son. Davis said his mindset as a father and teammates kept him inspired with the Stallions.  

"I just wanted to tell my son that his dad made it back, and he did everything he could," Davis said. "I wanted to tell my son a positive story and not a negative one. 

"Being with those guys and hearing their stories put a fire back into me. I give a lot of credit to them because they did not complain about their situation. They were just there to have fun and work hard. I treated my time there to work hard to get back to the NFL."

Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence launches a pass to while being pressured by Houston Texans defensive tackle Khalil Davis :: Bob Self/Florida Times-Union / USA TODAY NETWORK

Davis appeared in nine games and recorded 29 tackles and one sack for the Stallions. His play helped Birmingham win the USFL championship while catching the attention of Texans coach DeMeco Ryans.

Ryans said Davis embodied his SWARM defensive mentality. During the Texans' 2-1 preseason outing, he showcased his potential by registering nine tackles, five solo hits, six quarterback hits, two tackles for loss, and a sack. 

His best performance came during Houston's 17-13 preseason victory over the New Orleans Saints. Davis finished the game with three tackles, two quarterback hits and a sack.

He did not make the Texans' initial 53-man roster but signed with the practice squad following cutdown day.

"He is another athletic, twitchy guy to add to the room," veteran defensive lineman Sheldon Rankins said. "He was someone who made a lot of plays during camp and preseason games. When we knew he was going to be called up to have his shot, we expected nothing less."

Davis isn't taking his second chance in the NFL for granted. After an impressive debut against the Jacksonville Jaguars, the Texans promoted Davis to the active roster.

Applying the lessons learned from his early career mistakes has established Davis as a staple of the Texans' defensive front. His forced fumble on Robinson is a small part of Davis' journey for redemption.

"I believe everything is about timing," Davis said. "I was able to get a second chance in this league. DeMeco got hired to give new life to this organization, and I am just grateful to be a part of it."