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.
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