The Houston Texans have signed free agent offensive lineman Matt Kalil, according to Mark Berman of Fox 26.
Kalil spent the 2018 campaign with the Carolina Panthers, but did not play in a single game as a result of a knee issue that landed him on the injured reserve list. The Panthers then released him earlier this month.
The 29-year-old, who played his collegiate football at the University of Southern California, was originally selected by the Minnesota Vikings with the fourth overall pick of the 2012 NFL Draft.
He immediately started all 16 contests at left tackle during his rookie season and was terrific, en route to a Pro Bowl appearance.
Kalil did not miss a start through the first four years of his career and was an integral part of the Vikings' offensive line. However, in 2016, he was limited to just two games after suffering a hip injury that knocked him out for the remainder of the season.
That ensuing offseason, he went on to sign a five-year, $55 million contract with Carolina, and the following year, he started all 16 games for the Panthers.
However, his tenure in Carolina did not last very long, as he made it just two years into his deal before being cut.
The Texans are coming off of a 2018 campaign in which they won 11 games and captured the AFC South division title, marking their third division crown in four years. Houston then went on to lose to the Indianapolis Colts in the Wild Card Round of the playoffs.
Since becoming a franchise in 2002, the Texans have not made it past the Divisional Round.
Follow Us
Subscribe