PITTSBURGH – The Texans are activating rookie safety Jaylen Reed for a Monday night AFC wild-card round playoff game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, per league sources.
They are releasing veteran defensive end Darrell Taylor Jr. to create a roster spot. Reed was designated for return from injured reserve last week after making a full recovery from surgery to repair a metal plate in his forearm that got dislodged from a college procedure.
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“Excited to have Jaylen back,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said when Reed returned to practice.
The Texans later made both moves official and elevated defensive tackle Leki Fotu from the practice squad following two solid regular-season performances.
Reed was named a starter after recording 11 tackles and a fumble recovery against the Buffalo Bills. He got hurt in a road game against the Indianapolis Colts, aggravating an injury he sustained at Penn State, while tackling running back Jonathan Taylor.
Reed is a former second-team All-Big Ten Conference selection who has a hard-hitting presence. He had eight solo tackles with one more on special teams against the Bills.
Safety has been a revolving door opposite Pro Bowl alternate Calen Bullock, going from C.J. Gardner-Johnson, cut after a series of behind the scenes issues and not fitting into the defensive scheme, M.J. Stewart, out for season with a torn quadriceps tendon, Reed, then Myles Bryant, benched for missing tackles against the Las Vegas Raiders and K’Von Wallace, who was released and is now back on the practice squad.
Taylor was activated last week from injured reserve-designated for return after recovering from an ankle injury. He has been limited to four games this season with three tackles and zero sacks.
In the offseason, Taylor was signed to a one-year, $5.25 million deal.
The deal included a $2 million signing bonus, a base value of $4.75 million, a $2.25 million base salary, $250,000 in incentives, up to $500,000 in per game active roster bonuses at a rate of $29,411.
Taylor is a former Seattle Seahawks second-round draft pick.
He joined the Chicago Bears via a trade last season in exchange for a 2025 sixth-round draft pick.
Taylor (6-foot-4, 267 pounds), has recorded 126 tackles, 24 1/2 acks, 25 tackles for losses, 43 quarterback hits and seven forced fumbles.
Aaron Wilson is a Texans and NFL reporter for KPRC 2 and click2houston.com