Former Colorado Buffaloes wide receiver Juwann Winfree has been released by the Houston Texans, ending his brief second stint with the team just weeks after signing.

The Texans cut the 29-year-old over the weekend to clear a roster spot for linebacker Caleb Johnson. Winfree had rejoined Houston on August 10 after a workout, marking his return following a short stay last year that ended with a September 2025 release after a hand injury.

For Colorado fans, the news lands with familiar disappointment. Winfree starred for the Buffaloes from 2016 to 2018 after transferring from Maryland via junior college.

He overcame a torn ACL that cost him the 2016 season, then delivered solid production in Boulder. In 2017 he caught 21 passes for 325 yards and two touchdowns, including a pair of long scores against USC.

As a senior in 2018, he added 28 receptions for 324 yards and two more scores despite missing time with injuries, finishing his CU career with 49 catches for 649 yards.

The Denver Broncos selected him in the sixth round of the 2019 NFL Draft, giving Colorado another local pipeline success story after the likes of Phillip Lindsay.

Winfree’s pro path has been journeyman-like: short stops with the Broncos, Green Bay Packers, Indianapolis Colts, and two tours with the Texans, plus a brief CFL stop with the Saskatchewan Roughriders earlier this year.

Across 23 NFL games, he has nine receptions for 75 yards, contributing more often on special teams than as a primary receiver.

Houston’s receiver room remains deep despite injuries, including a season-ending ACL tear for Jayden Higgins. The recent additions of veterans Sterling Shepard and Zay Jones further crowded the depth chart, making Winfree expendable as the team prioritizes linebacker help ahead of final cuts.

From a Colorado perspective, Winfree’s resilience stands out. He battled injuries in college and has kept finding NFL opportunities through sheer persistence.

At 6-foot-1 and around 210 pounds, the Englewood, New Jersey, native still possesses the size and athleticism that made him a Buff favorite.

Whether another team claims him off waivers or he lands on a practice squad remains to be seen, but Buffs supporters will keep watching the next chapter for one of their own.

Winfree’s release is another reminder of the NFL’s harsh roster math, even for players who once lit up Folsom Field.