The Houston Texans have signed defensive end Derek Parish to their 90-man roster, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. This move comes in response to the significant loss of defensive end Dylan Horton, who will be sidelined for the entire 2026 season due to a torn Achilles. The Texans have also placed Horton and linebacker Marte Mapu on injured reserve, which adds to their defensive challenges.
In addition to Horton, the team is dealing with injuries to Jadeveon Clowney, who has a lower-leg issue, and Dominique Robinson, who is recovering from a calf injury sustained in a preseason game against the Las Vegas Raiders. These circumstances have opened the door for Parish, who has a varied background in football.
Parish, 27, was drafted by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the seventh round of the 2023 NFL Draft. Although he spent part of the 2023 season on the Jaguars' practice squad, he did not participate in any games.
He previously played five seasons at the University of Houston, contributing as both a fullback and edge rusher, and is a graduate of Pearland High School in Pearland, Texas.
After his time in Jacksonville, Parish played for the Toronto Argonauts in the CFL and then joined the UFL's DC Defenders, where he recorded 23 total tackles and three sacks during the 2026 UFL season. With the Texans preparing for their final preseason game against the Carolina Panthers, Parish has a limited chance to demonstrate his skills before the roster is finalized.
