Report: Texans grant linebacker Kamu Grugier-Hill's release request after loss to Raiders
The Houston Texans parted ways with linebacker Kamu Grugier-Hill, who asked for his release from the team Wednesday, according to the NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.
Veteran LB Kamu Grugier-Hill asked for and will be given his release from the #Texans, per me and @RapSheet. He has 40 tackles this season and leaves Houston ranking first (20) and second (18) in franchise history in tackles in a game.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) October 26, 2022
Grugier-Hill has 40 total tackles this season, the fourth-most on the team. He had a team-high and career-high 108 tackles and one interception last year, his first with the team.
It’s unclear why Grugier-Hill asked for a release, though his snap count was significantly reduced in the Texans' 38-20 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders last weekend. Grugier-Hill started in Las Vegas and had three tackles, but played just 18 snaps. He played in at least 79% of snaps in the previous five games.
Texans rookie linebacker Christian Harris made his debut Sunday, which took away snaps from Grugier-Hill. Harris played in 68% of snaps in Las Vegas and had one tackle while impressing head coach Lovie Smith.
"Who are our best options that we feel like we can be successful with defensively? If we think that he's one of them, we'll find ways for him to get on the field," Smith said of Harris on Monday. "I would say Christian Harris is one of those guys, and we found a way to start the process yesterday. He didn't do anything yesterday to say we should give him less. To me, he did things that say we should give him more."
Grugier-Hill signed a one-year, $4 million deal with the Texans earlier this summer, which marked his second one-year deal with the team. The former sixth-round draft pick also spent four seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles and one with the Miami Dolphins before landing in Houston.
The Texans are 1-4-1 and have lost four of their past five. They will host the Tennessee Titans on Sunday afternoon.
