The Texans sign veteran offensive tackle Breno Giacomini.
The Texans signed veteran offensive tackle Breno Giacomini on Tuesday.
Giacomini, 31, is a former Jets starter who played for Texans offensive line coach Mike Devlin in New York.
Giacomini could wind up competing for the starting job at right tackle, with former starter Derek Newton out for the entire season after tearing both patellar tendons last season. Chris Clark struggled in a starting role last season when Newton got hurt.
A former Green Bay Packers fifth-round draft pick from Louisville, Giacomini was cut by the Jets in February.
He started every game in 2014 and 2015, but a back injury last season forced him to be placed on the physically unable to perform list. He was placed on the active roster in October but hurt his back again in December and was placed on injured reserve after starting five games.
The 6-7, 318-pounder has started 70 of 78 career games played in nine NFL seasons. Giacomini started for the Seahawks before joining the Jets as a free agent and started for Seattle in its Super Bowl XLVIII victory over the Denver Broncos.
Meanwhile, the Texans signed three rookie free agents following their rookie minicamp: former Wisconsin running back Dare Ogunbowale, former Akron cornerback Bryce Jones and former Florida wide receiver Chris Thompson.
They released former LSU running back and seventh-round running back Kenny Hilliard, former Central Florida safety T.J. Mutcherson, former Indiana offensive tackle Dimitric Camiel (Westfield) and former Memphis wide receiver Tevin Jones (Clear Creek).