The Texans have signed free agent wide receiver Bryant Johnson and guard Andrew Gardner, the team announced today. They also placed four players on injured reserve and waived eight others in order to reach the 80-man roster limit by Tuesday's 3 p.m. CT deadline.
Johnson (6-3, 215), 30, was a first-round draft pick of the Arizona Cardinals in 2003. He spent five seasons in Arizona before playing in San Francisco in 2008 and Detroit from 2009-10.
Gardner (6-6, 305), 25, was a sixth-round pick of the Miami Dolphins in 2009. He has appeared in one career game and finished last season on the Cincinnati Bengals' practice squad.
The four players placed on injured reserve by the Texans were guards Kasey Studdard (ankle) and Shelley Smith (ankle) and wide receivers Lestar Jean (shoulder) and Devard Darling (knee). Jean, an undrafted rookie from Florida Atlantic, was a bright spot in the early parts of training camp.
Cornerback Antwaun Molden, a Texans third-round pick in 2008, was among the players waived on Tuesday. Joining him were safety Antonio Baker and three undrafted rookies, punter Brett Hartmann (Central Michigan), safety Maurice Rolle (Lousiana-Lafayette) and cornerback Jason Teague (TCU).
The Texans waived/injured wide receiver Paul Williams and two undrafted rookies, linebacker Matt Marcorelle (Delaware) and guard Darius Morris (Temple). If those players clear waivers, they will revert to the Texans' injured reserve list.
Up next, the Texans have to cut their roster from 80 players to 53 by 5 p.m. CT on Saturday.
