Texans Held Tryouts for Daniel Ekuale and Benito Jones
The Houston Texans evaluated defensive players Daniel Ekuale and Benito Jones during a formal tryout session.
Updated on Sept. 22, 2026 in Football
The Houston Texans hosted veteran NFL defensive lineman Daniel Ekuale for a formal tryout. Benito Jones also participated in the evaluation session with the team.
Why it matters
NFL teams frequently conduct workouts for experienced players to address roster depth or replace injured personnel throughout the season.
Daniel Ekuale recorded 52 combined tackles during his 2024 season in New England, where he also tallied 3 quarterback hits and 1 sack. These figures follow his 2018 league entry as an undrafted free agent with the Cleveland Browns.
The players
Daniel Ekuale
He is an NFL defensive lineman who entered the league in 2018 and has played for several teams including the Patriots and Steelers.
Benito Jones
He is an NFL defensive player who participated in a formal tryout session with the Houston Texans alongside Daniel Ekuale.
Houston Texans
This is a professional American football team based in Houston that competes in the AFC South division of the NFL.
The details
The transaction wire confirmed that Ekuale and Jones took part in the Houston workout on Saturday. Ekuale previously played for the Cleveland Browns, Jacksonville Jaguars, and New England Patriots before his 2025 campaign in Pittsburgh.
Timeline
Daniel Ekuale joined the Cleveland Browns as an undrafted free agent in 2018.
Ekuale played for the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2020.
Ekuale spent the years 2021 through 2024 with the New England Patriots.
During the 2024 season, Ekuale started 16 games for the Patriots.
The tryout session for the Texans took place on September 21, 2026.
Season Trajectory
This roster move follows the pattern of NFL teams utilizing the league's transaction wire to evaluate experienced veterans during the regular season. Such tryouts typically serve as a way to bolster depth charts and manage injury impacts as the playoff push develops.
The potential signing of either player could provide the Texans with additional rotational depth along the defensive line. Any subsequent contract agreement will be formally logged on the NFL transaction wire.
The takeaway
NFL teams regularly cycle veteran players through workouts to maintain a list of ready-to-sign options. Staying updated on team transaction wires provides the most accurate view of roster shifts as injuries and performance needs dictate changes.
Further reading
For more on roster updates, visit Football.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Heavy.
