Houston Texans make couple moves at cornerback before Week 8

The Houston Texans signed Cornell Armstrong to the active roster and released Xavier Crawford before their matchup against the Oakland Raiders in Week 8.

With Johnathan Joseph, Bradley Roby, Tashaun Gipson injured in the secondary, the Houston Texans decided to promote cornerback Cornell Armstrong from the practice squad. Armstrong was on the Texans 53 man roster to begin the season after being waived from the Miami Dolphins but released him to make room for quarterback Alex McGough.

Texans had flirted with the possibility of adding another cornerback after working out free agents E.J. Gaines, Trevor Williams, and Picasso Nelson through the week before opting to sign Armstrong.

Texans liked Armstrong enough to sign him to the practice squad with the possibility of having back on the active roster down the road, and the injuries in the secondary have open up the opportunity for him to return.

Armstrong is coming in for Xavier Crawford’s spot on the roster after the latter was released for the Texans to add Armstrong. Crawford was selected in the sixth round of the 2019 NFL Draft and saw limited playing time as he spent most of his time on special teams.

Crawford becomes the first player drafted by Brian Gaine that is released while he was the Texans general manager from 2018 before the start of the 2019 season. Texans group of cornerbacks now comprise of Lonnie Johnson Jr., Gareon Conley, Keion Crossen, Armstrong, and Joseph.

Armstrong could see playing time with Joseph listed as questionable against the Raiders after being limited in practice with neck and hamstring injuries.