Former Texans CB unretires to face former team in Week 16’s showdown

Former defensive back Steven Nelson could be taking on the Houston Texans in Week 16’s matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs

Steven Nelson wasn’t a fan of retirement life, so he’s headed back to where his career started for a playoff push.

The Kansas City Chiefs announced Monday they signed the former Houston Texans cornerback to their practice squad, thus shoring up their injury-depleted secondary just before the holidays. 

Much like Houston, Kansas City plays two games within five days against the Texans and Pittsburgh Steelers. 

Nelson, 31, announced his retirement from football after nine NFL seasons in June. Multiple teams were interested in signing him on a one-year deal, but neither side could agree to the basics of the contract. 

A third-round pick out of Oregon State, Nelson spent four seasons with the Chiefs as the team’s No. 2 cornerback. He started 38 games and was regarded as one of the better secondary defenders.

He played his last two in Houston as the team’s top defender opposite Derek Stingley Jr. In the offseason, the Texans chose to move on from Nelson despite a solid season in favor of a younger defender for DeMeco Ryans’ defense. 

With their first pick, the Texans drafted Georgia’s Kamari Lassiter. He’s been a staple for a Houston secondary that ranks seventh in pass coverage entering Week 15. 

Nelson was a standout player on the field but was consistently drawing negative attention toward himself off it. Tension began when Nelson made fun of general manager Nick Caserio on Instagram after he didn’t extend his contract in the 2023 offseason.

He posted a photo of a down vest, a staple of Caserio’s attire, and wrote, “Can’t trust a MF that wears these for every day of the week. Clown freak.”

Caserio eventually let it slide once training camp began, but Nelson wasn’t done.

After nearly a million residents lost power during a deadly storm in May, Nelson publically called out Texans coach DeMeco Ryans on Instagram to help relief efforts, writing, “Let’s go milk dud man. It’s your time to shine. Damn all that meathead persona. Time to get your hands dirty for the city.”

Most recently, Nelson was vocal on X, formerly known as Twitter,  calling out linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair for his illegal hit against Trevor Lawrence. Shortly after the hit to Lawrence in the second quarter of Week 13’s 23-20 win, Nelson called it “crash out behavior” from Al-Shaair.

Al-Shaair was suspended for three games and fined. Meanwhile, Lawrence was placed on the season-ending injured reserve, though Jaguars coach Doug Pederson said the team planned on shutting him down because of a shoulder injury.

If all goes according to plan, Nelson could be added to the Chiefs’ active roster soon. Kansas City lost multiple starters, including Jaylen Watson and Joshua Williams, for multiple games. And while Trent McDuffie is perhaps the league’s most underrated defensive back, the remaining options have ten combined career starts.

So, yes, Nelson could be making his debut against the Texans at Arrowhead with playoff implications on the line.

In the great words of Lane Kiffin, you might want to get your popcorn ready.