As the 2024 NFL season draws near, the Houston Texans have finalized their roster but recently added another quarterback to bolster their depth. Kedon Slovis, a former quarterback for the Indianapolis Colts, has joined the Texans’ practice squad. Slovis brings a diverse college background, having played for BYU, USC, and Pittsburgh. At USC, he had an impressive freshman season, setting a record with 3,502 passing yards, 30 touchdowns, and nine interceptions.
Over his five-year college career, Slovis accumulated 1,689 passing yards and 80 touchdowns. Despite these numbers, he went undrafted in the latest offseason. The Colts picked him up as a “street free agent,” but his time with Indianapolis was short-lived. During the preseason, Slovis completed 16 of 22 passes for 149 yards. However, with Anthony Richardson set as the starting quarterback, veteran Joe Flacco as his backup, and Sam Ehlinger rounding out the quarterback room, there wasn’t room for Slovis on the Colts’ roster.
Slovis is considered a versatile and promising athlete despite not being drafted. Many analysts believe his potential makes him a worthwhile investment for the Texans. Chad Porto of the Toro Times noted, “Despite his up-and-down college career, he isn’t without upside. He has a big arm and can hit receivers downfield. He’s shown to be a gunslinger at times and isn’t afraid to take shots. He’s not just a big arm, as he’s incredibly athletic. He runs a 4.55 40-yard dash, fast enough to be a wide receiver in the NFL. He’s nimble too, having scored very well across his combine outing.”
Though the DC Defenders of the UFL expressed interest in Slovis, he opted to remain in the NFL for now, joining a Texans team that has high hopes for the upcoming season. Houston, who finished the 2023 season with a 10-7 record and first place in the AFC South, will begin their 2024 campaign on the road against the Indianapolis Colts. The Texans are seen as a dark horse contender for Super Bowl LVII. Last season, they reached the Divisional Playoffs but were defeated by the Baltimore Ravens, 34-10.
In preparation for a stronger postseason run, the Texans have made several key additions. General Manager Nick Caserio has fortified the roster by acquiring Joe Mixon, a consistent 1,000-yard rusher from the Cincinnati Bengals, and Cam Akers to strengthen the backfield. The team also landed star wide receiver Stefon Diggs from the Buffalo Bills to boost their offensive firepower. With these new weapons, the Texans aim to build on the success of their young quarterback, CJ Stroud, the reigning Rookie of the Year, in his second season leading the offense.
Head coach Demeco Ryans emphasized the team’s focus on winning, regardless of individual statistics. “It doesn’t matter who is touching the ball. Who is wide receiver one, how many touches Joe [Mixon] gets, or how many touches Dameon [Pierce] gets. It doesn’t matter,” Ryans said. “I always tell our coaches, what do we need to do that particular week to win the game. That’s what we’ll do. That’s always been my approach, right, to game planning.”
With the addition of Slovis and other key players, the Texans are gearing up for a promising season, hoping to make a deeper playoff run and contend for the Super Bowl.
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