Houston Texans release longtime defensive standout Whitney Mercilus
HOUSTON — The Texans released defensive conclusion Whitney Mercilus on Tuesday.
The Texans drafted Mercilus in the 1st round in 2012, but this was his 1st yr in Lovie Smith’s protection, which saw him shift from exterior linebacker to defensive conclusion.
In March, the 31-yr-outdated restructured his four-yr, $54 million deal, producing him a cost-free agent following this time.
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Previous month, Mercilus stated the changeover in the Texans’ new protection has “been a small diverse.”
“Now it’s like my keys are shortened down to just looking at tackles and limited ends and pre-snap reads, so I won’t be able to see nearly anything which is submit-snap or when motions transpire, things like that, to get a defeat on what could transpire, issues like that,” Mercilus stated. “It can be just looking at my keys far more so and locking in on that, and just allowing instinct just take more than.”
In 6 online games for Houston this time, Mercilus has 3 sacks, 4 tackles for a decline, 3 quarterback hits and twelve tackles.
His 57 sacks in ten seasons for the Texans ranks next in franchise historical past powering J.J. Watt, who experienced one zero one sacks with Houston.
“There aren’t several players in franchise historical past who have impacted our group and local community the way Whitney Mercilus has,” Texans chairman and CEO Cal McNair stated in a assertion. “I can remember a quantity of periods more than the past ten seasons the place he stepped up for us on the field with a sack or significant enjoy in a vital instant, but it was his special relationship with the Houston local community that created him 1 of the most well-known players in franchise historical past. Our supporter base gravitated to Whitney from working day 1 and he always identified strategies to give again and provide as a result of his basis and culinary function. My family members and the whole group will always look at Whitney a Texan.”
The Texans also released return specialist Andre Roberts, who signed a two-yr, $five.five million deal in March, a resource explained to ESPN, confirming a report by SportsTalk 790. In 6 online games, Roberts, in his twelfth NFL time, averaged 4.1 yards on punt returns and 21.4 yards on kickoff returns.
Roberts is anticipated to be changed by cornerback Tremon Smith on kick returns and cornerback Desmond King on punt returns.
