The Houston Texans have made roster moves, releasing slot cornerback Desmond King and veteran linebacker Christian Kirksey. These releases were confirmed by sources.
Desmond King's release comes as a surprise, considering he started all preseason games and was part of the first-team defense during training camp. He had started 25 games over the last two seasons.
Christian Kirksey, who was a team captain for the Texans in 2022, was known for his significant contributions, ranking third in tackles with 124. He was also nominated by the team for the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year award. However, he missed most of the training camp due to a hamstring strain. His release will result in a savings of $5.2 million for the Texans.
Kirksey joined the Texans in 2021 on a one-year, $4.5 million contract after a season with the Green Bay Packers. He started 29 games over two seasons with the Texans and accumulated 217 tackles and 13 tackles for loss. In 2022, he signed a two-year, $10 million extension.
KPRC initially reported the news of Desmond King's release, while NFL Network also reported these developments.