The Houston Texans' offseason reached the next level on Wednesday with the start of their annual training camp practices. It was Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans' first real glimpse of how his 2025 squad is shaping up, and it'll be crucial for veterans and rookies to impress Houston's coaching staff in the coming weeks if they want to secure a 53-man roster spot.
The start of training camp was also the first chance for the Texans' offseason additions to prove that they belong in H-Town. Unfortunately, one of general manager Nick Caserio's signings was absent from Thursday's session, sparking concerns across the Houston fan base.
Texans Injury News: CB Damon Arnette Jr., Misses Thursday's Practice
KPRC 2 Houston's Aaron Wilson is reporting that cornerback Damon Arnette Jr. was absent from Thursday's training camp practice. Although an absence is somewhat concerning on its own, Texans fans might be more worried about Arnette's situation given that he participated in Wednesday's workouts.
#Texans corner Damon Arnette Jr., signed to one year deal this offseason, not practicing today after practicing Wednesday @KPRC2
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) July 24, 2025
Hopefully, Arnette is dealing with something minor that won't keep him out of the action for long. The former 2020 first-round pick signed with the Texans in search of a fresh start, and it'll be hard to capitalize on this opportunity if he can't stay on the gridiron.
Arnette, 28, was one of the best CB prospects in the 2020 draft class, displaying plenty of potential throughout his time at Ohio State. Unfortunately, his affinity for off-field issues outweighed his talent once his NFL career started, as proven by his being released by the Las Vegas Raiders and Kansas City Chiefs for separate firearm-related controversies.
After being excommunicated from the NFL, Arnette continued his football career with the Houston Roughnecks during the latest UFL season. He recorded 18 solo tackles, one sack, and a 51-yard interception returned for a touchdown in eight games with the Roughnecks, which was enough to convince the Texans to keep him in town on an NFL contract.
If Arnette misses any more time, HC Ryans & Co. will look to the rest of the Texans' CBs to step up. Expectations are high surrounding Derek Stingley Jr. after signing a $90 million extension in March, while Jalen Pitre and Kamari Lassiter are also eager to build on their stellar 2024 performances. That's without mentioning how veteran defensive backs like Jimmie Ward and C.J. Gardner-Johnson will play key roles in the secondary, too.
In the meantime, Texans fans will continue to monitor Arnette's situation, leaving time to tell if he can return to practice before July is over.