The Texans have signed former Dallas Cowboys cornerback Alan Ball and former Seattle Seahawks running Justin Forsett. They released running back Javarris Williams.
Ball and Forsett both practiced with the team on Monday, the seventh day of organized team activities (OTAs) at the Methodist Training Center.
"It's interesting to watch two pros come in here," Texans coach Gary Kubiak said. "They've both been pretty successful and done some good things at other places they've been, and they both jumped right in with our team today, working extremely hard. I was just using them as an example to our younger players. Very happy to get 'em."
Ball (6-2, 197) played under Texans defensive coordinator Wade Phillips in Dallas from 2007-10. He was a seventh-round draft pick out of Illinois in 2007, Phillips' first year as Cowboys head coach. He started 16 games and had two interceptions in 2010, then started only two games in 2011.
"Alan has played for Wade," Kubiak said. "He knows the system. Boy, he's a good-looking young man. I just think his knowledge of Wade's system – it's one of those deals where Wade and (linebackers coach) Reggie (Herring) are saying, 'Hey, this is a good fit for us. He can make us better.'"
Forsett (5-8, 198) was a seventh-round pick out of California in 2008. He ran for 619 yards (5.4 per carry) in 2009, 523 (4.4 per carry) in 2010 and 145 (3.2 per carry) in 2011. He has 97 receptions for 730 yards over the last three seasons and returned punts and kickoffs early in his career.
Kubiak said Forsett will compete for the Texans' third running back spot with undrafted rookies Davin Meggett and Jonathan Grimes.
"He's done some good things in this league," Kubiak said. "He's been a good special teams player. That's important. Our third back the past few years has been Derrick (Ward), who's done a good job for us, but Derrick did not play a lot of special teams for us… There's a lot of things (Forsett) can do. He does know our offense a little bit. Being in Seattle, their verbiage is a little bit like ours, so he'll catch up quick."
Williams spent most of last season on the Texans' practice squad. A native of Richmond, Texas, he was a seventh-round pick out of Tennessee State in 2009.
The Texans now have 87 players on their roster, three under the 90-man limit.
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