The Houston Texans have signed defensive end Derek Parish to their 90-man roster, as reported by ESPN's Adam Schefter. This addition comes in response to the loss of defensive end Dylan Horton, who will miss the entire 2026 season due to a torn Achilles. Alongside Horton, linebacker Marte Mapu has also been placed on injured reserve, adding to the team's injury woes.
Parish, 27, has an unconventional journey to the Texans. He was drafted by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the seventh round of the 2023 NFL Draft but spent his time on their practice squad without making an appearance in an NFL game. Initially listed as a tight end by the Jaguars, he transitioned to defensive end during his career.
Before his professional career, Parish played five seasons at the University of Houston, where he took on roles as both a fullback and an edge rusher. He hails from Pearland, Texas, making his return to Houston particularly significant.
After his stint with Jacksonville, Parish played in the Canadian Football League for the Toronto Argonauts before joining the UFL's DC Defenders. In the 2026 UFL season, he participated in 10 games, recording 23 total tackles, four tackles for loss, and three sacks, along with a forced fumble. He also contributed three tackles in two postseason games.
