Former LSU defensive back Jalen Mills is signing with the Houston Texans, agents Drew Rosenhaus and Robert Bailey told ESPN on Sunday morning.
The Texans have a sudden need at safety this preseason with CJ Gardner-Johnson dealing with a knee injury and Jimmie Ward facing legal issues. Houston is turning to the veteran Mills, a 31-year-old who won a Super Bowl with the Philadelphia Eagles in his 2nd season in the NFL. It’ll be a homecoming of sorts for Mills, who was born in Dallas and now will have the task of providing Houston with some veteran depth at a position of need.
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After spending the first 5 seasons of his career with the Eagles, Mills played for the New England Patriots from 2021-23 before spending time last season with the New York Giants and New York Jets. So, he’s been around the NFL block, and the Texans hope that experience will help them as they navigate this preseason with a need at safety.
Mills was a 7th-round draft pick of the Eagles in 2016 after playing at LSU from 2012-15. He ended his college career with a bang in 2015 by being named a first-team All-American by CBS Sports.
The Jets got value from Mills last season. He appeared in 9 games with them, making 8 starts. Mills had 44 tackles, 5 pass breakups and 1 interception before getting injured in December, which prematurely ended his season.
Now, Mills is getting yet another chance to prove he’s still got what it takes to stick in the NFL.
Cory Nightingale, a former sportswriter and sports editor at the Miami Herald and Palm Beach Post, is a South Florida-based freelance writer who covers Alabama for SaturdayDownSouth.com.
