The Houston Texans have released veteran safety Ed Reed. Reed has seen his role diminish in recent weeks, and was supplanted by third-year pro Shiloh Keo in the starting lineup in Week 9 against the Indianapolis Colts.
Ed Reed released by Texans
Reed was one of the team’s major additions in the offseason.
Mitch Stringer-USA TODAY Sports
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Reed was brought in to provide some veteran leadership and playmaking ability to a defense that was supposed to lead the Texans back into the playoffs and finally to the Super Bowl. Not only has Reed been totally ineffective this year, but the Texans themselves have lost seven consecutive games.
That includes a 27-24 loss to the Arizona Cardinals in Week 10, in which Reed played a paltry 13 defensive snaps -- just 18 percent of the team's defensive plays. Reed said that the Texans were "outplayed and outcoached" in that game, which the team can't be pleased with.
Reed was one of the team's primary offseason additions. After winning a Super Bowl with the Baltimore Ravens in 2012, Reed signed a three-year, $15 million deal after another offseason in which many questioned whether or not he would be hanging up the cleats for good.
After 632 tackles and 61 interceptions over his career, he doesn’t have a whole lot left to prove, even if he did struggle this season. He had just 20 tackles with no picks in seven games this season. Keo, his replacement, has 28 tackles and an interception in nine games played.
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