Texans place linebacker Cole on injured list

Texans inside linebacker Dylan Cole was placed on injured reserve Saturday.

Cole tore his anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee against the

Colts and will undergo surgery, according to league sources not authorized to speak publicly.

Cole is an athletic, versatile player who was the top backup to inside linebackers Benardrick McKinney and Zach Cunningham.

A former undrafted free agent from Missouri State, Cole has 16 tackles in 11 games this season. He has 61 career tackles, one sack and two interceptions.

The Texans officially re-signed defensive end Joel Heath and wide receiver Steven Mitchell. They were cut Thursday and cleared waivers Friday and signed their new contracts Saturday.

The Texans created another roster spot by cutting safety Jonathan Owens. Owens was promoted Thursday from the practice squad. If he clears waivers, he could rejoin the practice squad.

Steelers’ Rudolph fined $50,000

The NFL fined Pittsburgh quarterback Mason Rudolph $50,000 for his role in the incident that led to Browns defensive end Myles Garrett being suspended for at least the remainder of this season for hitting Rudolph in the head with the quarterback’s helmet.

The fine was confirmed by a person familiar with the situation. Rudolph can appeal the fine, if he chooses. Under the terms of the collective bargaining agreement, a player can appeal to have the amount of a fine reduced if it exceeds 25 percent of his weekly salary for a first offense or 50 percent of his weekly salary for a second offense.

This fine exceeds Rudolph’s weekly salary of $38,721.59, one-seventeenth of his 2019 salary of $658,267.

During his appeal hearing Wednesday in New York, Garrett accused Rudolph of directing a racial slur at him before the fracas in the final seconds of the Browns’ victory Nov. 14 over the Steelers in Cleveland, according to multiple people familiar with the case. Rudolph denied the allegation through his agent and the Steelers. The NFL said it found no evidence that Rudolph used a racial slur.

CB Lattimore’s status uncertain

Saints top cornerback Marshon Lattimore is listed as questionable and top returner Deonte Harris has been scratched for Sunday’s game against Carolina.

Fullback Zach Line also has been ruled out, while tight end Josh Hill, concussed at Tampa Bay last week, appears ready to play.

Lattimore and Harris both have hamstring injuries that sidelined them last week.

If Lattimore does not play, P.J. Williams is likely to start at cornerback .