The Houston Texans are tapping into another familiar face to help shore up some of their more injury-riddled position groups, adding Marcus Harris.
Harris is a second-year defensive tackle out of Auburn. He should help rebuild the depth at the position. The Texans lost two from their 53-man roster–Tim Settle and Mario Edwards–in recent weeks.
It should help that he is familiar with what the Texans want to do.
Texans Announce Reunion With Marcus Harris
GettyMarcus Harris #DL10 of Auburn participates in a drill during the NFL Combine.
“The Houston Texans have signed the following player to the practice squad,” the team announced via their official website on December 17.
Harris has yet to see the field in a regular-season contest. He logged 103 snaps on defense for the Texans during the 2024 preseason, though, per Pro Football Focus. Harris tallied 6 total tackles and 3 pressures, with 2 QB hits and 1 hurry for Houston.
Harris is still a ways down the Texans’ pecking order at DT.
“#Texans have several in-house options for depth after Mario Edwards’ season-ending injury besides Naquan Jones as top backup to starters Sheldon Rankins, Tommy Togiai, including practice squad defensive tackles Marlon Davidson, Haggai Ndubuisi (6-8, 340), elevated for #Chiefs game, Junior Tafuna and, now, Marcus Harris,” KPRC 2’s Aaron Wilson posted on X on December 17. “Would expect couple elevations Saturday.”
Harris could very well be among the Texans’ call-ups ahead of their Week 16 showdown against the Las Vegas Raiders.
Pre-Draft Profile on Marcus Harris Telling
GettyMarcus Harris #50 of the Auburn Tigers celebrates a tackle for a loss during the game against the LSU Tigers.
Bleacher Report’s NFL Scouting Department projected Harris was “worthy of a late-round pick,” despite questions. He is undersized and tested “slightly above-average” athletically. They believe that could be a “tough combination” for a player who is also not much of a pass rusher.
B/R also provided a clear glimpse into why a player like Harris would interest the Texans.
“Marcus Harris is a gap-shooting defensive tackle who can get penetration as a run defender with his get-off and a couple of moves to catch offensive linemen leaning. He also shows some quickness and change-of-direction skills to beat guards across their faces when slanting, and he’s shown some strength to occasionally reset the line of scrimmage,” Bleacher Report’s staff wrote in April 2024.
“He’d be best playing for a team that needs a penetrating 3-technique who can come off the bench or start in a pinch and make a few disruptive plays.”
Pre-draft evaluations of Harris were fairly consistent in that regard.
“Harris has the explosive first step and gap penetration that NFL teams covet in a 3-technique defensive tackle,” NFL Draft Buzz’s Bill Miller wrote. “Overall, Marcus Harris’s draft stock should be evaluated on his potential as a situational pass rusher and rotational interior lineman. His penetration skills and relentless energy make him a potential late-round steal for teams that can paper over his negatives and utilize his strengths in specific defensive packages.”
Miller also noted Harris has less-than-ideal measurables. Still, if he gets an opportunity, Harris could be a nice fit along the Texans’ defensive line. It boasts a strong exterior pass rush, much to the benefit of players like him on the inside.
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