The Texans are moving on from Brett Rypien, with Houston set to release the quarterback on Saturday ahead of the upcoming deadline, according to Matt Zenitz.
Rypien, 30, has spent the past several years bouncing through the league after going undrafted out of Boise State in 2019. His first NFL deal came with Denver, where he signed a three-year, $1.755 million contract with the Broncos.
That start led into a long stretch of roster shuffling: the Broncos waived him after the preseason, brought him back on the practice squad, promoted him to the active roster, then waived him again and re-signed him to their taxi squad. He was cut again coming out of training camp, returned to the practice squad, and later moved on and off the active roster during the season.
Denver passed on giving Rypien a restricted free-agent tender in 2023, and he landed with the Rams in May. That stay was brief. He was cut after the preseason, returned to the practice squad, and later joined the Seahawks before the Jets signed him off Seattle’s practice squad in November.
From there, the carousel kept spinning. Rypien signed a one-year contract with the Bears, but he was one of the final cuts after training camp.
He then joined the Vikings in January of 2025, only to be released near the end of camp before signing with Cincinnati’s practice squad. The Bengals later promoted him to the active roster, then cut him in October.
He also spent time with the Colts, first on the practice squad and then on the active roster, before being waived in December. Houston signed him to a contract this summer, but that run is now ending as well.
In 2025, Rypien appeared in one game for the Bengals.
In Other News...
Broncos Just Got An Unexpected Chance To Fix A Roster Weakness
The Dolphins decision to move on from Tyrel Dodson created a surprise opening on the linebacker market, and it comes at a time when the Broncos could use exactly that kind of help. Denver has been carrying some obvious questions at inside linebacker, so a veteran who just started 16 games and handled a major role in Miami is the sort of name that naturally jumps into the conversation.
Dodson is available because Miamis younger pieces have pushed their way into bigger roles, and his release gives teams a chance to add a proven defender without waiting for the offseason. For the Broncos, the appeal is straightforward: a chance to shore up a thin spot in the middle of the defense, if they decide his experience and recent production fit what they need. [Read more 🡒]
Broncos Just Created More Roster Flexibility At A Tense Time
The Broncos picked up a little extra roster breathing room at a tricky point in the calendar by bringing outside linebacker David Agoha onto the practice squad through the NFLs International Pathway Player program. Because that designation does not count against the usual practice squad limit, Denver can add another developmental piece without using one of its standard spots, a small but useful advantage as the team keeps working through the end-of-roster churn.
It comes at a time when the Broncos are sorting out cuts ahead of the deadline and trying to stay ahead of potential losses elsewhere on the depth chart. Jonathon Cooper could be headed for a suspension, which only adds to the pressure on Denvers edge group, and the path for other players on the roster to settle into bigger roles or land on the practice squad is getting clearer by the day. [Read more 🡒]
Broncos Surprise Cuts Expose A Bigger Problem At Two Weak Spots
Roster reductions always leave a few surprises, but the Broncos decision to move on from rookies Justin Joly and Red Murdock stood out because both had arrived with some real expectation attached. Joly was brought in as a fifth-round draft pick via trade, while Murdock had been viewed as a meaningful offseason addition at linebacker, the sort of player teams usually hope can help stabilize a depth chart rather than get caught in the numbers game.
Taken together, the cuts point to something bigger than two missed evaluations. Tight end and linebacker have been areas where Denver has been trying to find the right fit, and these moves only add to the sense that the Broncos have not yet gotten those spots settled. The club is still sorting through what it wants there, and decisions like these suggest the search may be harder than expected. [Read more 🡒]