Former Auburn defensive tackle Marcus Harris returned to the NFL on Wednesday by rejoining the practice squad of his original team, the Houston Texans.
A seventh-round selection of the Texans in the 2024 NFL Draft, Harris returned to Houston after being out of the league since the Buffalo Bills waived him on Aug. 26 in the roster reduction between the preseason the regular season.
The Texans have experienced injury issues at defensive tackle. Tim Settle went on injured reserve on Dec. 4 after a season-ending foot injury, and Mario Edwards followed on Monday after he ruptured a pectoral muscle in Sunday’s 40-20 victory over the Arizona Cardinals.
On Wednesday, Sheldon Rankins with the Texans did not practice because of a knee injury.
Houston’s other depth options at the position include Marlon Davidson, another Auburn standout who is on the Texans’ practice squad. Davidson and Harris were both Alabama prep standouts – Davidson at Greenville and Harris at Park Crossing in Montgomery.
Each NFL team can elevate two members of its practice squad to active status for each game.
Harris didn’t make Houston’s regular-season roster as a rookie, but he remained with the Texans as a member of the practice squad through the first five weeks of the season.
Two days after being released by Houston on Oct. 9 last season, Harris joined the New England Patriots’ practice squad and stayed there the remainder of the season.
Harris re-signed with the Patriots for 2025 on Jan. 6, but New England released him on April 28.
Harris signed with the Bills on June 6.