The Houston Texans on Tuesday waived Pro Bowl wide receiver Diontae Johnson, who was playing for his fourth NFL team since March.
In another move, Houston placed rookie tight end Cade Stover on injured reserve.
The team visits the Kansas City Chiefs on Saturday afternoon in the AFC divisional round.
The Texans had claimed Johnson off waivers from the Baltimore Ravens on Dec. 23.
Johnson, 28, played for Houston in one regular-season game against the Tennessee Titans and in the AFC wild-card victory over the Los Angeles Chargers on Saturday. He made a total of three receptions for 24 yards on five targets.
With the Ravens, Johnson reeled in just one catch for 6 yards and received a one-game suspension for what the team said was refusing to enter a game against the Philadelphia Eagles on Dec. 1.
An unrestricted free agent after this season, Johnson was traded from the Pittsburgh Steelers to Carolina in March and then was traded from the Panthers to the Ravens in October.
A third-round draft pick in 2019, Johnson had 30 receptions for 357 yards and three touchdowns in seven games (all starts) for the Panthers earlier this season.
In six seasons, the 2021 Pro Bowl selection has 424 career receptions for 4,738 yards and 28 TDs in 89 regular-season games (75 starts) for the Steelers (2019-23), Panthers, Ravens and Texans.
Houston selected Stover in the fourth round of the 2024 draft.
Stover, 24, had 15 receptions for 133 yards and one touchdown in 15 regular-season games (nine starts). He was a reserve in the playoff game, catching all four of his targets for 28 yards.
Four Houston players missed practice Tuesday — receiver Robert Woods (hip), offensive linemen Shaq Mason (knee) and Juice Scruggs (ankle) and linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair (knee). Limited participants included defensive end Denico Autry (knee) and tight end Dalton Schultz (shoulder).
No players sat out for the Chiefs. Among the participants were cornerback Jaylen Watson (ankle) and receiver Mecole Hardman (knee), two players who are on injured reserve.
Watson, a full participant, was injured against the San Francisco 49ers on Oct. 20 and has missed the past 11 games. The Chiefs opened his 21-day practice window on Jan. 3.
Hardman, who was limited Tuesday, was hurt against the Las Vegas Raiders on Nov. 29 and missed the final five regular-season games. His 21-day window was opened by the Chiefs on Jan. 1.
–Field Level Media
