Texans sign ex-Panthers offensive tackle Matt Kalil
Saturday 23 March 2019 08:07, UK
The Houston Texans have signed offensive tackle Matt Kalil on a one-year contract, according to NFL Network.
Kalil, 29, was released by the Carolina Panthers last week in a salary-cutting move after he missed all of 2018 with a knee injury.
A first-round pick of the Minnesota Vikings in 2012, Kalil also missed 14 games to injury in 2016, but in his other five NFL seasons he has started all 80 possible games at left tackle.
Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson was sacked 62 times last season, the most in the NFL and equalling the fifth-highest total in NFL history.
The Texans re-signed right tackle Seantrel Henderson - who missed all but one game in 2018 with a broken ankle - earlier this offseason.
Incumbent left tackle Julien Davenport allowed 8.75 sacks and committed 12 penalties last season. Martinas Rankin, a 2018 third-round pick, allowed 5.5 sacks in four starts at tackle before being benched.
Kendall Lamm, who started 13 games at right tackle, signed with the Cleveland Browns in free agency last week.
Kalil allowed 7.5 sacks and committed seven penalties in 2017 with the Panthers. He has allowed 39.25 sacks while committing 32 penalties in 82 career games.
