The Houston Texans have waived tight end Brenden Bates, the club announced Saturday. The move was made to clear a spot on the 53-man active roster as the team activates rookie cornerback Jaylin Smith from the Reserve/Injured list ahead of their Week 8 matchup against the San Francisco 49ers.

Bates, 26, was a relatively recent addition to the Texans' roster, having been signed from the Cleveland Browns' practice squad back in September to provide much-needed depth at the tight end position. When the Texans signed Bates, it came at a time when Houston was dealing with a rash of injuries in their tight end lineup.  Those injuries included season-ending tap-outs to both Brevin Jordan and Irv Smith Jr., and the list held an injury to rookie Cade Stover.

The former Kentucky Wildcat, who entered the league in 2024 as an undrafted free agent, saw the field in three games for Houston. During his time with Houston, Bates was primarily utilized as a blocking and special teams contributor, while getting a handful of snaps on offense. His most notable plays came during the Texans' Week 5 victory, where he secured and pulled in both of his targets for 23 yards.

With this move, the Texans’ active tight end depth chart now features just two players, veteran Dalton Schultz and Harrison Bryant. Schultz has been the primary target in the passing game, while Bryant has also seen some significant snaps. The decision to waive Bates suggests that the Texans feel comfortable with their current tight end rotation and want to prioritize their secondary with the return of Jaylin Smith.

Bates will now be subject to the NFL's waiver wire. When he clears waivers, he will be free to sign with any team's practice squad. He could potentially re-sign and return to the Texans, who may look to keep him as a reserve option given the position's injury history this season.

The activation of Jaylin Smith, a promising third-round pick from this year's draft, is a positive development for the Texans' defense. Smith has been sidelined for several weeks with a hamstring injury, and his return is expected to add another layer of talent and depth to the cornerback group

In the world of the NFL, Bates' release is less a reflection of his performance and more a symptom of a healthy player being sacrificed for a critical positional upgrade, highlighting the constant calculus that defines roster decisions throughout the season, especially with the trade deadline nearing.

What are your thoughts on the release? Was Bates a worthy sacrifice to clear a roster spot? Let us know in the comments below.