The Houston Texans are preparing for their first preseason game next week, hoping to take a leap forward with one of the youngest rosters in the league that expects to compete for, at the very least, an AFC Championship appearance.
C.J. Stroud, Nico Collins, Will Anderson Jr., and Derek Stingley Jr. lead a fantastic core, though it's wise for the organization to continue investing in depth pieces.
One former Texan, who spent three years with the organization and appeared in 20 games, has now signed with a new team after missing the entire 2024 campaign due to injury.
#Falcons are signing former #Texans and @BUFootball defensive back Grayland Arnold after a successful workout, per a league source @KPRC2
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) August 1, 2025
Former Texans DB Grayland Arnold Signs with Falcons During Training Camp
According to NFL insider Aaron Wilson, the Atlanta Falcons are signing defensive back Grayland Arnold following a successful workout. Originally an undrafted free agent out of Baylor, Arnold primarily served as a special teams contributor, appearing in 79% of such snaps in 2022 and 60% in 2023.
After going on injured reserve, Arnold is making a comeback and apparently impressed the Falcons' team brass. It's not an overwhelmingly exciting signing as Arnold has just 33 career tackles, but at only 27 years old, he's got some theoretical upside. It remains to be seen if he'll make the final 53-man roster, though it's a strong sign that reports indicate his workout went so well.
Primarily a safety, Arnold could potentially serve a versatile role as a depth piece. Any chance he has to break camp likely relies on his special teams contributions, and he'll have the rest of the preseason to prove himself to Falcons head coach Raheem Morris and general manager Terry Fonteknot.
Houston should obviously be happy with its secondary, led by Stingley and new addition C.J. Gardner-Johnson, who has already annoyed the offense with his antics and will likely be a menace for the Texans' rivals in the AFC South.
We'll see if Arnold makes an impact, but here's hoping he can stay healthy and continue his career.