Center Steve McKinney joined the Texans organization in 2002 and was a steady presence for the team on the field and in the locker room.
The Texans re-signed free agent punter Matt Turk and released center Steve McKinney, the team announced Tuesday.
Turk (6-5, 247) played in all 16 games last season, his first with the Texans. He averaged 41.7 yards per punt with a net average of 37.4. Also, 24 of his 55 punts (43.6 percent) were downed inside the opponents' 20-yard line, while only three resulted in touchbacks.
Turk's 41.7-yard gross average and 37.9-yard net average were both Texans team records, as were the 151 total punt return yards allowed to Texans opponents. His 44.5-yard net average in Week 16 at Indianapolis (12/23) also set the club single-game record. In 12 NFL seasons, Turk has averaged 42.4 yards per punt with a net average of 37.4 yards per attempt. Only 354 of his 917 career punts (38.6 percent) have been returned.
Turk becomes the sixth free agent from last year's roster to re-sign with the Texans. He joins wide receiver André Davis (2/29), strong safety Glenn Earl (3/7), tight end Mark Bruener (3/10), free safety Will Demps (3/20) and defensive end N.D. Kalu (3/20).
McKinney (6-4, 305) played in 83 games as a Texan, starting 73 at both guard and center. The former Texas A&M product was signed by the Texans on March 6, 2002 as the team's first unrestricted free agent.
Following are the free agents that the Texans have re-signed (6):
| Player | Height | Weight |
| TE Mark Bruener | 6-4 | 252 |
| WR André Davis | 6-1 | 194 |
| FS Will Demps | 6-0 | 208 |
| SS Glenn Earl | 6-1 | 213 |
| DE N.D. Kalu | 6-3 | 257 |
| P Matt Turk | 6-5 | 247 |
Following are free agents the Texans have signed from other teams (5):
| Player | Height | Weight | Former team | ||
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Following is the player the Texans have acquired via trade (1):
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