The Houston Texans have added defensive end Derek Parish to their 90-man roster, as reported by ESPN's Adam Schefter. This move comes in light of defensive end Dylan Horton being sidelined for the entire 2026 season due to a torn Achilles. The Texans have also placed Horton and linebacker Marte Mapu on injured reserve, impacting their defensive depth.
In addition to Horton’s injury, the team is managing issues with Jadeveon Clowney, who is facing a lower-leg problem, and Dominique Robinson, who is recovering from a calf injury sustained in a preseason matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders. These circumstances have opened the door for Parish, who has a varied background.
At 27 years old, Parish was selected in the seventh round of the 2023 NFL Draft by the Jacksonville Jaguars as the 240th overall pick. While he was on the Jaguars' practice squad during part of the 2023 season, he did not participate in any NFL games. Previously, he played five seasons at the University of Houston, contributing as both a fullback and edge rusher.
A graduate of Pearland High School in Pearland, Texas, this signing represents a return to his roots.
Parish also had a stint with the Toronto Argonauts in the Canadian Football League and later joined the UFL's DC Defenders, where he recorded 23 total tackles, four tackles for loss, and three sacks in the 2026 UFL season.
