Texans Sign Veteran Safety Mills After Gardner-Johnson Injury, Ward Arrest

The Houston Texans have signed veteran safety Jalen Mills to a one-year contract to bolster their depleted secondary amid injuries and legal issues affecting key players. Mills, a nine-year NFL veteran and Super Bowl LII champion with the Philadelphia Eagles, adds valuable experience and depth, especially with C.J. Gardner-Johnson recovering from a lower-leg injury and Jimmie Ward facing legal troubles. Mills has played for the Eagles, New England Patriots, and New York Jets, and his familiarity with defensive systems similar to Houston's should aid his integration. Despite Gardner-Johnson's potential to return by Week 1, the Texans need insurance behind rookie Jaylen Reed and others, as their secondary currently has limited healthy safeties. The addition of Mills continues a trend of players with similar first names on the Texans roster, joining Jalen Pitre, Jaylen Reed, and others. This move aims to stabilize the Texans' defense as they prepare for the upcoming season.