The Houston Texans are adjusting the composition of their interior defensive line as they cut down to a 53-man roster by Tuesday at 3:00 p.m. Central Time.
According to Aaron Wilson from KPRC-TV, the Texans are releasing defensive tackle Roy Lopez with the designation of “waived-injured.” The Texans are expected to negotiate an injury settle with the former 2021 sixth-rounder, which will then allow him to join another team.
Lopez played 38 defensive snaps and four special teams snaps through the first two preseason games. Lopez missed the final game with a hamstring strain, although he should be ready to play in two to three weeks.
One team that should consider Lopez ought to be the Seattle Seahawks.
The NFC West club has two of their three nose tackles on the physically unable to perform list in Bryan Mone and Austin Faoliu. Cameron Young, a fourth-rounder, and Matt Gotel, an undrafted free agent, remain as the only healthy interior linemen on the roster.
Lopez is 6-2, 318 pounds, which is comparable to Young at 6-3, 315 pounds. The Seahawks would be able to utilize Lopez to take up space the same way they ask of their other nose tackles.
The former Arizona product also has considerable time on the job despite entering his third season. Lopez has started 29 games across 33 activations since entering the league, and has collected 67 combined tackles, 11 tackles for loss, five quarterback hits, 2.0 sacks, a fumble recovery, a pass breakup, and a safety.
If the Seahawks are willing to allow Lopez to get healthy, it could be a mutually beneficial situation.
