Former Texans captain Christian Kirksey inks practice squad deal with Bills
One day after being cut by the Houston Texans, former linebacker and team captain Christian Kirksey has found a new home with the Buffalo Bills, according to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network. The nine-year NFL veteran was signed to the Bills practice squad as he continues to heal from a hamstring injury that kept him out of most of training camp and preseason action.
On Tuesday, the Texans cut Kirksey in a surprise move, especially with the lack of experience at the position. He finished the 2022 season with three sacks with 124 total tackles. Kirksey was nominated for the Texans Walter Payton Man of the Year Award last season.
Former #Texans captain and starting LB Christian Kirksey, a surprise cut on Tuesday, is planning to sign with the #Bills practice squad now that he has landed there, source said. He prioritized winning.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 30, 2023
“‘Kirko’ [Christian Kirksey], is a really great leader, a great man,” said Texans general manager Nick Caserio during his press conference on Wednesday.
Drafted by the Cleveland Browns in the third round of the 2014 NFL Draft, Kirksey has recorded 16.5 sacks and 778 total tackles in 114 games with the Browns, Green Bay Packers, and the Houston Texans.
“He [Kirksey] taught me a lot during my rookie year on how to become a good linebacker and NFL player,” said second-year linebacker Christian Harris on Wednesday after practice. “He will be missed in this locker room.”
