Punter Brett Hartmann, rookie tackle Nick Mondek, fullback Derrell Smith and guard Kasey Studdard were among the Texans' roster cuts on Monday.
The Texans trimmed their roster from 90 to 75 players by releasing 11, waiving two others who were injured, placing rookie kicker Randy Bullock on injured reserve and placing linebacker Darryl Sharpton on the reserve/Physically Unable to Perform list. The league deadline to reduce rosters to 75 was Monday at 3 p.m. CT.
Also released were center Thomas Austin, inside linebacker Omar Gaither, wide receivers Bryant Johnson and Mario Louis, running back Davin Meggett, defensive end Jimmy Saddler-McQueen and cornerback Torri Williams. Nose tackle Sunny Harris and rookie inside linebacker Greg Williams were waived/injured.
Hartmann set a team record with 44.4 yards per punt and 23 touchbacks on kickoffs as an undrafted rookie last season. He suffered a season-ending knee injury in Week 13 and is suspended for the first three games of the upcoming season because of a failed drug test. Veteran punter Donnie Jones has had an excellent preseason for the Texans.
Mondek was a sixth-round draft pick from Purdue. Smith, a converted middle linebacker, was competing for a roster spot with veteran Moran Norris behind starting fullback James Casey. Studdard, who started 14 games for the Texans in 2008, was working with the second-team offense at left guard after being signed just before training camp.
The Texans now must reduce their roster to 53 players by Friday at 8 p.m. CT. Their final preseason game, which will feature primarily backup players, is on Thursday against the Minnesota Vikings at 6 p.m. CT.
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