HOUSTON – The Texans are signing punter Ty Zentner and defensive end Derek Rivers to the 53-man roster, promoting them from the practice squad, per league sources.
Zentner, an undrafted player and former second-team All-Big 12 selection from Kansas State who was previously with the Philadelphia Eagles, was elevated from the practice squad and punted against the Baltimore Ravens. He averaged 44 yards per punt with one touchback.
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A former New England Patriots draft pick from Youngstown State, Rivers is a veteran defensive end who spent last season on injured reserve with a torn biceps.
The Texans worked out veteran punters Matt Haack and Pat O’Donnell along with long snappers Jake McQuaide and Matt Overton on Monday morning with none of them signed, according to league sources.
Regular punter Cameron Johnston is on injured reserve with a calf injury that is not regarded as a long-term issue.
Haack, previously with the Miami Dolphins, Buffalo Bills, Arizona Cardinals and Indianapolis Colts, averaged 44.8 yards per punt last year for the Colts. He had 28 punts downed inside the 20-yard line.
O’Donnell is a former Chicago Bears sixth-round draft pick who has also punted for the Green Bay Packers. He averaged 44.5 yards per punt last season with 24 downed inside the 20-yard line.
The Texans are signing running back Gerrid Doaks, wide receiver Jared Wayne and defensive back DeAndre Houston-Carson to the practice squad and releasing former Los Angeles Chargers running back Larry Rountree II according to league sources.
Wayne was released after the preseason after being sidelined with a Grade 2 strained hamstring in camp.
A former Pitt standout, Wayne is an Ontario, Canada native who was previously drafted in the second round by the Toronto Argonauts. Wayne is 6-foot-3, 210 lbs, has posted a 42-inch vertical leap and has run the 40-yard dash in 4.53 seconds.
Signed by the Texans to an undrafted deal that includes $210,000 guaranteed with a $10,000 signing bonus and $200,000 of his base salary guaranteed, Wayne caught 60 passes for 1,062 yards and five touchdowns last season as a second-team All-Atlantic Coast Conference selection.
He caught 11 passes for 205 yards and three touchdowns against Miami last season, finishing his career with 146 career receptions for 2,308 yards.
Doaks was with the Texans last season on the practice squad and during training camp before being released during the final roster cutdown to 53 players. He’s a 5-foot-11, 228-pound former Miami Dolphins seventh-round draft pick from Cincinnati. He rushed for 1,712 yards and seven touchdowns in college.
Aaron Wilson is a Texans and NFL reporter for KPRC 2 and click2houston.com