Texans to Waive Quarterback Brett Rypien
The Houston Texans are expected to release quarterback Brett Rypien ahead of the roster cutdown deadline. The team also plans to cut cornerback Stephen Hall and linebacker Caleb Johnson. Rypien, who joined the Texans after Graham Mertz suffered a season-ending injury, did not stand out in preseason action.
Rypien joined Houston in mid-August after Graham Mertz tore his ACL during the preseason, giving the team a veteran arm to handle backup reps behind C.J. Stroud and Davis Mills. Across two exhibition appearances, he completed 19 of 33 attempts for 145 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions—production that evidently failed to convince coaches he warranted a third quarterback spot on the 53-man roster.
The Texans now plan to enter Week 1 with just two signal-callers, freeing a roster slot for competition at offensive line, linebacker, or wide receiver. Rypien, a five-year NFL veteran with four career starts since 2020, will return to free agency. Houston could revisit the position later if depth becomes a concern, but with both Stroud and Mills healthy, no immediate addition appears likely.
This roster decision primarily affects Rypien's immediate career prospects, as he now enters a thin free-agent quarterback market just days before the season opener. For Texans fans, the move signals confidence in Stroud and Mills' health and durability, though carrying only two quarterbacks carries inherent risk if either suffers an injury. Teams across the league making similar cuts will shape waiver-wire activity this weekend, potentially giving Rypien a quick opportunity elsewhere.