The Texans opened up a pair of roster spots this week when they released safety Ed Reed and placed running back Arian Foster on injured reserve and they filled them on Wednesday.
The team announced that they have signed linebacker D.J. Smith and safety Jawanza Starling to the active roster. Smith was last a member of the San Diego Chargers, but he didn’t make the team coming out of the preseason and has been unemployed for the last couple of months. Smith was picked in the sixth round by the Packers in 2011, but got cut after failing a physical last offseason thanks to a torn ACL suffered during the 2012 season.
The Texans have lost Brian Cushing for the season and three other linebackers -- Joe Mays, Darryl Sharpton and Mike Mohamed -- missed practice on Wednesday because of injuries.
Starling was with the Texans in camp and was on the Giants’ practice squad before heading back to Houston.