The Houston Texans have added defensive end Chris Braswell to their practice squad. Braswell, who was released by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after two seasons, was a highly regarded five-star recruit in high school and played at Alabama.
During his time there, he achieved eight sacks and ten tackles for loss, stepping in as the Jack linebacker following Will Anderson Jr. His performance ranked second on the team, just behind Dallas Turner, who was picked 17th overall in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Although Braswell had a promising college career, he faced challenges in the NFL. Drafted in the second round by Tampa Bay, he struggled to secure a starting role, managing only two and a half sacks over his two seasons. His release came after he missed parts of the preseason and did not perform as well as his teammates.
In Houston, Braswell will reunite with former Alabama teammates Will Anderson Jr. and Logan Hall. He is expected to train as the only defensive end on the practice squad, with a chance to be elevated to the active roster due to the Texans' current injury issues at the position.
Adapting to Houston's 4-3 defensive scheme will require him to adjust his playstyle, focusing more on edge-setting and pass rushing, which could help him meet the expectations that followed him from college.
