Houston is bringing back a familiar face to their practice squad after losing one of their young wide receivers.
The Houston Texans are signing wide receiver TreyVhon Saunders to the practice squad after Mitchell Tinsley was signed off the Texans' practice squad by the Cincinnati Bengals and added to their 53-man roster.
Saunders is no stranger to the Texans. The rookie wide receiver spent the offseason and preseason with Houston, giving the team an opportunity to evaluate him before ultimately moving on during the initial roster decisions.
Now, he gets another chance to remain with the organization and continue developing.
Saunders went undrafted out of Colgate this spring after putting together an accomplished college career. He finished as the program's all-time leader with 230 receptions and established himself as one of the most productive receivers in school history.
His final season was impressive.
Saunders caught 88 passes, setting a single-season record at Colgate. His production earned him three All-Patriot League selections and helped establish him as one of the more accomplished pass catchers in the program's history.
While making the jump from the Patriot League to the NFL is a significant challenge, Saunders already has some familiarity with what Houston expects from him after spending the offseason and preseason in the organization's system.
That familiarity could be valuable as he returns to the practice squad.
For the Texans, the move also provides another developmental option at wide receiver after losing Tinsley to the Bengals. Practice-squad players can become important depth pieces throughout a long NFL season, particularly as injuries and roster changes create opportunities.
Saunders will now have another opportunity to prove that he can eventually become one of those players for Houston.
The undrafted rookie did not make the Texans' initial 53-man roster, but his return to the organization gives him more time to learn the offense, improve his route running and adjust to the speed and physicality of the NFL.
For Saunders, the immediate goal will be making the most of his return to Houston. He now has additional time to develop within the system and show the coaching staff what he can offer. With the season underway, opportunities can emerge quickly for practice-squad players, especially when injuries or roster moves create a need.
Saunders already has experience with the organization, which should help him get up to speed without starting completely from scratch. His production in college gives Houston a reason to continue investing in his development, and this latest opportunity could give the rookie another chance to work his way toward an NFL roster spot.
