The Houston Texans have signed defensive end Derek Parish to their 90-man roster, as reported by ESPN's Adam Schefter. This decision follows the team's loss of defensive end Dylan Horton for the entire 2026 season due to a torn Achilles.
Additionally, the Texans placed Horton and linebacker Marte Mapu on injured reserve, compounding their defensive challenges as Jadeveon Clowney and Dominique Robinson are also sidelined with injuries.
Derek Parish, 27, was originally drafted by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the seventh round of the 2023 NFL Draft, being selected 240th overall. Although he was part of the Jaguars' practice squad, he did not see any game action during his time there, where he was listed as a tight end.
Parish's football journey began at the University of Houston, where he played from 2017 to 2022, contributing as both a fullback and edge rusher. He is a Pearland High School alumnus, making his return to Houston significant.
After his stint with Jacksonville, Parish played in the Canadian Football League with the Toronto Argonauts before moving to the United Football League (UFL) with the DC Defenders. In the 2026 UFL season, he participated in 10 games, recording 23 tackles, four tackles for loss, three sacks, and a forced fumble. He also made three tackles in two postseason games.
