The Houston Texans have had a pretty eventful last week dealing with their safeties. First, veteran Jimmie Ward gets arrested on a felony warrant, according to the Montgomery County jail records, and got released the next day. However, this was his second arrest in two months, with the first being in June on charges of assaulting and threatening a woman. Ward has currently not participated in training camp, being on the PUP (physically unable to perform) list. Additionally, big-time trade acquisition C.J. Gardner-Johnson went down with a huge injury scare as he had to be carted off during training camp. Luckily, Gardner-Johnson did not tear his ACL as was initially thought, and the injury was far less severe because he now has a chance to suit up for Week One.
With Jalen Pitre and Calen Bullock being the only two potential starters besides Ward and Gardner-Johnson, and rookie sixth-round pick Jaylen Reed also sidelined, it would be prudent for the Texans to have another option. That’s exactly what the organization did with signing former Super Bowl LII champion safety Jalen Mills.
The former Patriots safety and corner spent three seasons in New England from 2021 to 2023 and was considered to be a solid and versatile safety to secure the back end. The former Philadelphia Eagles seventh-round draft pick made his mark in 2017 during his second season when he won Super Bowl LII with the Eagles. Mills had 64 total tackles, three interceptions, and a touchdown that season. The “Green Goblin” most recently played nine games for the New York Jets in 2024, where he had 44 total tackles along with one forced fumble and interception. It’s also quite fitting given the amount of Jalen, Jaylen, Jayden, and Jaylin on the team that Texans general manager Nick Caserio added another.
First look at Jalen Mills in Houston 🤘🏻
— Jacob (@TexansJacob) August 12, 2025
(🎥:@HoustonTexans IG) pic.twitter.com/skRg1NWrxK
Jalen Mills Solidifies the Safety Situation for the Texans
This gives Houston another trusted option to hold down the back of their defense with someone who brings experience and has seen it all. With the uncertainty that now 34-year-old Ward typically brings with his injury history, now adding on the conduct issues this offseason, the future of the former 1st round safety on the Texans could be in jeopardy.
Gardner-Johnson would be a starter considering a week one return, but with his injury still uncertain, this gives Houston the personnel needed to truly be one of the top defenses in the NFL this season. Pitre has been reliable availability-wise, but is coming off a torn pectoral muscle from last year. Bullock is coming into his second year, and while he has made some big-time plays and interceptions, the USC product also gave up some chunk plays to the opposition as well.
Currently, expect Gardner-Johnson and Pitre to be the leaders, but Mills should be right in the mix. The group that the Texans now have at safety becomes one of the most versatile and complete in the league. Seeing how Pitre plays as a slot safety, called the star position that combines safety and linebacker instincts, followed by the big name in Gardner-Johnson as well as Bullock who can grab interceptions and absolutely crush players with their big-time hitting, the 31-year-old Mills can bring his versatility in years of playing the position.
The Texans will certainly be having multiple duos of high-flying safeties, including two Super Bowl champions in the back of their defense that will make opposing offenses think even more before testing them.