The Houston Texans added interior defensive line depth Friday, signing defensive tackle Jaden Crumedy off the Green Bay Packers’ practice squad and placing rookie tackle Kayden McDonald on injured reserve, via the NFL transaction log.
Houston made the moves two days before the start of the regular season.
McDonald, the Texans’ second-round pick at No. 36 overall, is dealing with an ankle sprain and must miss at least four games. Crumedy fills that 53-man roster spot.
Because he was signed from another team’s practice squad, NFL rules require him to remain on Houston’s active roster for at least three weeks.
Crumedy, 26, is a 6-foot-4, 301-pound lineman from Hattiesburg, Mississippi. Carolina selected him in the sixth round (200th overall) of the 2024 draft out of Mississippi State, where he played 53 games with 47 starts and recorded 119 tackles, 16 tackles for loss and 8.5 sacks.
He appeared in eight games over two seasons with the Panthers, totaling 15 tackles and a half-sack, and spent much of 2025 on Carolina’s practice squad.
Green Bay signed him to a reserve/futures contract in January. He had a strong preseason — 98 defensive snaps, an 81.3 PFF grade, three pressures and four stops — including a pressure and quarterback hit that helped force an interception in the finale. The Packers still released him at final cuts.
Their interior line was crowded, with seven defensive tackles making the initial 53-man roster: Devonte Wyatt, Javon Hargrave, Karl Brooks, Warren Brinson, rookie Chris McClellan, Jonathan Ford and Anthony Campbell. Crumedy cleared waivers and returned to Green Bay’s practice squad on Aug. 31.
The loss opens a practice-squad spot in Green Bay. Reports indicated the Packers could use it to bring back receiver Bo Melton, who was released from the 53-man roster Friday, ahead of Sunday’s opener against Minnesota.
For Houston, the signing is a low-cost insurance policy behind an already talented front. Crumedy is a veteran of the practice-squad grind who showed he can win snaps in camp.
Whether he becomes a rotational piece or a short-term placeholder depends on McDonald’s recovery and how quickly Crumedy earns trust in the Texans’ scheme.
For now, he has a three-week window on a playoff-caliber roster — the kind of opportunity practice-squad players chase all summer.
