The Houston Texans found value in an unexpected opening, moving quickly to add safety Kaevon Merriweather after the Tampa Bay Buccaneers made a surprising roster decision.

With their secondary stretched thin by turnover and injuries, Houston viewed Merriweather as a timely depth piece rather than a last-minute flier.

The Texans’ defensive backfield has been in near-constant motion this season.

After parting ways with offseason trade acquisition C.J. Gardner-Johnson in Week 3, Houston lost M.J. Stewart and later Jaylen Reed to injuries, forcing the team to reshuffle responsibilities on the back end.

Merriweather arrives as a steady presence who can help stabilize that rotation while providing immediate special teams support.

Merriweather appeared in 12 games this season, finishing with eight tackles while playing primarily on special teams, where he logged 192 of his 207 snaps. 

As Houston prepares to host the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 16, Merriweather gives the Texans experienced depth at a position that has demanded constant adjustment.