The Houston Texans have re-signed defensive tackle Junior Tafuna to their practice squad, as confirmed on social media on September 2, 2026. This marks Tafuna's return to the Texans, where he previously played during his rookie season after going undrafted in 2025.
Tafuna was released by the Texans on August 5 and was claimed by the New York Jets the next day. However, he was among several players let go during the Jets' roster cuts. Now that he is back in Houston, Tafuna is anticipated to provide added depth to a team with Super Bowl aspirations.
Throughout his college career at Utah, Tafuna accumulated 108 combined tackles, 7.5 sacks, 15 tackles for loss, three fumble recoveries, two interceptions, and one forced fumble over four seasons. Analysts have pointed out that while he may not possess all the ideal traits for interior defenders, his athleticism could be attractive to teams.
NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein characterized him as gritty at the point of attack and capable of handling double-teams, though he mentioned that his margin for error is limited. Updates regarding Tafuna's role and performance with the Texans are expected as the season unfolds.
