The Houston Texans elevated veteran safety George Odum from the practice squad Saturday to add depth for Sunday’s season opener against the Buffalo Bills.
Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 first reported the transaction. Houston Chronicle writer Jonathan M. Alexander soon confirmed the news.
“The #Texans are elevating S George Odum from the practice squad for Sunday’s opener vs. the Bills,” Alexander posted.
Odum, 32, is Houston’s lone practice-squad elevation for the week.
The 6-foot-1, 200-pound defensive back went undrafted out of Central Arkansas in 2018 and launched his career with the Indianapolis Colts.
He earned first-team All-Pro honors in 2020 as a special teamer after leading the NFL with 20 special-teams tackles.
Odum later joined the San Francisco 49ers and collected second-team All-Pro recognition in 2022. In 108 regular-season games he has recorded 204 tackles, three interceptions, four forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.
The Texans signed him during training camp. He appeared in one preseason game and posted 11 tackles plus an interception against the Carolina Panthers.
Head coach DeMeco Ryans highlighted that performance.
“What I’m extremely proud of is the effort. A lot of guys are flying around making plays. George was one guy,” Ryans told reporters in August after their preseason game against the Carolina Panthers.
“He had elite energy the entire game. He was talking the entire game, and he made the play on an interception, made some good tackles. A lot of guys can help themselves from the work that they put out there tonight.”
Houston’s starting safeties are Pro Bowler Calen Bullock and Reed Blankenship, a Super Bowl champion signed in free agency this offseason.
The club traded last year’s co-starter Jaylen Reed to the New England Patriots for wide receiver Kayshon Boutte, reducing safety depth.
Injuries have also hit the special-teams unit. Defensive end Dylan Horton, who played 251 special-teams snaps last season, is among several contributors now on injured reserve.
Odum’s track record as a core special-teams player made the elevation a straightforward decision as the Texans host Buffalo at 1 p.m. ET Sunday.
