Texans Release DTs Mario Edwards Jr. and Kurt Hinish

The team made a series of roster moves, including cutting two veteran defensive tackles.

Mar. 13, 2026 at 9:27pm

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The Houston Texans announced a number of roster moves on Friday, including the release of defensive tackles Mario Edwards Jr. and Kurt Hinish. Edwards, 32, spent the past two seasons with the Texans, playing in 27 games with 12 starts and recording 44 tackles, 4.5 sacks, and 12 quarterback hits. Hinish, 27, appeared in 42 games with four starts from 2022-2024 but missed the 2025 season due to an undisclosed injury. In his career, Hinish has totaled 57 tackles, 1.5 sacks, and four quarterback hits.

Why it matters

The Texans' defensive line has been an area of focus this offseason, with the team re-signing defensive tackles Naquan Jones and Sheldon Rankins. The releases of Edwards and Hinish suggest the team is looking to reshape its interior defensive line ahead of the 2026 season.

The details

The Texans announced a series of roster moves on Friday, including the releases of defensive tackles Mario Edwards Jr. and Kurt Hinish. Edwards, a second-round pick by the Raiders in 2015, spent the past two seasons in Houston, playing in 27 games with 12 starts. Hinish, who turns 27 in April, appeared in 42 games with four starts from 2022-2024 but missed the 2025 season due to an undisclosed injury.

  • The Texans announced the roster moves on Friday, March 13, 2026.
  • Edwards, 32, spent the past two seasons with the Texans.
  • Hinish, 27, appeared in 42 games with four starts from 2022-2024.

The players

Mario Edwards Jr.

A 32-year-old defensive tackle who spent the past two seasons with the Texans, playing in 27 games with 12 starts and recording 44 tackles, 4.5 sacks, and 12 quarterback hits.

Kurt Hinish

A 27-year-old defensive tackle who appeared in 42 games with four starts from 2022-2024 but missed the 2025 season due to an undisclosed injury. In his career, Hinish has totaled 57 tackles, 1.5 sacks, and four quarterback hits.

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The takeaway

The Texans' roster moves suggest the team is looking to reshape its interior defensive line ahead of the 2026 season, with the releases of Edwards and Hinish coming as the team re-signed defensive tackles Naquan Jones and Sheldon Rankins.