The Texans signed defensive back Zion Childress off the Dallas Cowboys’ practice squad one day after cutting safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson, per a league source.
Childress (5-foot-11, 200 pounds) went undrafted and signed with the Cowboys. He has played in two games this season as an elevation from the practice squad and has recorded one tackle.
The former Kentucky standout participated in the Texans’ local prospect day before the NFL draft.
A two-time team captain at Kentucky after transferring from Texas State, Childress was an all-state selection at New Caney and named the Montgomery County Player of the Year.
He finished with 283 career tackles, 148 over the past two seasons at Kentucky, with 12 tackles for losses, three sacks, three forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and 17 pass breakups.
As a senior, Childress was an All-Southeastern Conference honorable-mention selection with 55 tackles, six for losses, six quarterback hurries, one sack and one forced fumble.
As a junior, he had 59 tackles and one sack.
At Texas State, he started eight games and had 74 tackles, one interception and two forced fumbles.
At New Caney, he played quarterback and wide receiver and rushed for nearly 3,000 yards. He had 21 touchdown passes as a senior and was named first-team all-state.
Aaron Wilson is a Texans and NFL reporter for KPRC 2 and click2houston.com