The Houston Texans have added defensive end Derek Parish to their 90-man roster, as reported by ESPN's Adam Schefter. This move comes after defensive end Dylan Horton was placed on injured reserve for the entire 2026 season due to a torn Achilles. Linebacker Marte Mapu has also been placed on injured reserve, further impacting the team's defensive lineup.
In addition to these injuries, the Texans are dealing with Jadeveon Clowney's lower leg issue and Dominique Robinson's recovery from a calf injury sustained during a preseason matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders. These circumstances have opened the door for Parish, who has a varied background in football.
Parish, 27, was selected in the seventh round of the 2023 NFL Draft by the Jacksonville Jaguars as the 240th overall pick. Although he was on the Jaguars' practice squad for part of the 2023 season, he did not participate in any games. Prior to his professional career, he played five seasons at the University of Houston as both a fullback and edge rusher.
A graduate of Pearland High School in Texas, this signing marks a return to his roots.
After his time with Jacksonville, Parish played for the Toronto Argonauts in the Canadian Football League and then joined the UFL's DC Defenders. In the 2026 UFL season, he appeared in 10 games, recording 23 tackles, four tackles for loss, and three sacks, along with a forced fumble. He also made three tackles in two postseason games.
