The Houston Texans are adding a familiar face to the mix just days before their Week 5 meeting with the Tennessee Titans.
Houston has signed wide receiver Bryce Oliver to the 53-man roster, according to the team. It’s a notable move because Oliver spent time with the Texans only recently, after landing on their practice squad in September following his release from Tennessee on cutdown day. That stint was short-lived, though, as Houston let him go on September 30th.
Now he’s back, and this time he’s on the main roster.
Oliver, 26, stands 6-foot-1 and weighs 214 pounds. He’s in his third season as a pro and spent two years as a regular part of the Titans’ receiver group from 2024 to 2025. The undrafted Youngstown State product has appeared in 13 NFL games, all with Tennessee, and logged more than 200 combined offensive and special teams snaps during that stretch.
His production at the pro level has been modest so far: seven catches on 10 targets for 103 yards. He also handled kick return duties in 2024, finishing with three returns for 113 yards.
That profile helps explain why Houston appears to see him as more than just extra receiver depth. With five wideouts already on the active roster before the move, the Texans now have six, and Oliver looks positioned to contribute mostly on special teams unless injuries or other changes open a bigger lane on offense.
The top of the depth chart remains crowded. Nico Collins, Xavier Hutchinson, Jaylin Noel and Kayshon Boutte are ahead of him, with Jared Wayne also in the mix. Tank Dell is another name that can’t be overlooked, especially now that his 21-day return window has been activated from injured reserve, which suggests Houston’s receiver room could shift again soon.
Oliver’s arrival also marks the Texans’ second practice squad reunion of the week. On Wednesday, the team brought back quarterback Mark Gronkowski, giving Houston a third signal caller on the depth chart.
If Oliver is active on game day, his first chance to make an impression will come against the Titans, the team where he began his career, on Sunday at 12 PM MT.
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