The Texans are elevating veteran defensive back Myles Bryant from the practice squad to the active roster for the second week in a row, per a league source.
Bryant helps fill the void created by cutting safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson and that decision pushing safety M.J. Stewart, a special teams mainstay, into the starting lineup on defense and off of kick coverage. Bryant is a special-teams standout who is versatile enough to play nickel, safety and outside corner.
The Texans also elevated cornerback D’Angelo Ross, a former New England Patriots player, for the second week in a row, per a league source.
The Texans later made both moves official.
The Texans need depth with All-Pro cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. questionable with an oblique injury and they are preparing Tremon Smith to start.
Bryant, 27, is a former Patriots starter and a three-time All-Pac-12 selection from the University of Washington.
After making the Patriots as an undrafted free agent, Bryant started 17 games in four seasons and recorded four interceptions, three forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, two sacks and 200 tackles.
For the Texans last season, he appeared in 11 games and had 14 tackles as he appeared in 40 percent of the special teams snaps and 10 percent of the defensive snaps for the defending AFC South champions.
In two playoff games, he started once and allowed five catches on 12 targets for 127 yards and one score.
For his career, Bryant (5-foot-9, 192 pounds) has recorded 17 passes defensed.
At Washington, he had 177 tackles, four interceptions, three forced fumbles and 3 1/2 sacks.
Aaron Wilson is a Texans and NFL reporter for KPRC 2 and click2houston.com