The Texans placed inside linebacker Darryl Sharpton on injured reserve on Wednesday and signed rookie inside linebacker Mister Alexander from their practice squad.
Sharpton, a second-year pro out of Miami (Fla.), suffered a season-ending quadriceps injury on Sunday against the Jaguars. Veteran Tim Dobbins will take on a more active role as a backup inside linebacker in his place.
Alexander (6-3, 242), who played at Aldine Eisenhower High School in Houston, was undrafted out of Florida State. Texans coach Gary Kubiak expects him to contribute immediately on special teams.
"We've liked Mister since we've had him, so it's time for him to go out there and do some stuff," Kubiak said on Wednesday. "I think it's also going to make (special teams coordinator) Joe (Marciano) a little better right away. That's sometimes how that works. Joe gets a good young player that's been working for him the past eight weeks anyway, so we're going to put him to work on special teams right away."
The Texans signed linebacker Derrell Smith to replace Alexander on the practice squad. An undrafted rookie from Syracuse, Smith (6-2, 232) was released from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' practice squad on Oct. 17.
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