Tag: Mario Edwards

Texans DL Mario Edwards Jr. suspended by NFL for four games

While the Houston Texans are getting back Denico Autry, they’re set to lose Mario Edwards Jr. for the next four games.

Houston Texans defensive lineman Mario Edwards Jr. has been suspended four games without pay for violating the NFL’s substances of abuse policy, the league announced Monday.

Edwards, who signed a one-year deal to join the Texans this offseason, was enjoying a career-setting start to the 2024 campaign as part of a talented front seven. In Sunday’s win over the New England Patriots, the veteran defensive lineman recorded a season-high eight tackles.

https://twitter.com/AdamSchefter/status/1845918472070381583 

In six games, Edwards recorded 18 tackles, two tackles for loss, five quarterback hits and two sacks. He will be eligible for reinstatement on November 11 following Houston’s matchup on Sunday Night Football against the Detroit Lions.

The loss of Edwards stings for depth, but Houston should be able to withstand his loss with the return of Denico Autry. The multi-purpose defensive lineman was reinstated by the NFL Monday after serving a six-game suspension for violating the NFL’s policy against performance-enhancing substances.

Autry, who signed a two-year, $20 million deal in March after posting a career-high 11.5 sacks last season with the Tenessee Titans, has practiced since being suspended on July 29.

According to KPRC2 Sports’ Aaron Wilson, Autry has been working out at the Texans’ training facility and is healthy and in shape.

The Texans travel to Lambeau Field to take on the Green Bay Packers this Sunday at noon CT.

Watch: Texans DL Mario Edwards Jr. records first sack of the regular season

Houston Texans signee Mario Edwards brought down Anthony Richardson to hand the ball back to the offense.

The Houston Texans‘ pass rush that received an overhaul in the offseason showed up on 3rd down to get the team off the field.

Defensive lineman Mario Edwards Jr. was the first of three Texans to get to Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson, forcing a punt. It’s the first sack of the season and already matches the one sack from last year’s two meetings with the Colts.

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Edwards, 30, arrived in Houston after a season with the Seattle Seahawks, appearing in 15 games with 21 tackles, five tackles for loss and two sacks.

Edwards saw an increase in playing time with the six-game suspension of fellow free agent signee Denico Autry. He’s a part of the rotation with Foley Fatukasi, Tim Settle Jr. and Khalil Davis.

Texans training camp: DL Mario Edwards looking to make Houston home

After nearly 10 NFL seasons, journeyman Mario Edwards looks to make Houston Texans his home following Denico Autry’s six-game suspension.

With the news of Denico Autry’s six-game suspension for PED use, the Houston Texans will again deploy the next-man-up mentality that carried them to a playoff berth last season.

Signed a two-year, $20 million deal, Autry, 34, joined Houston after posting a career-high 11.5 sacks with AFC South rival Tennessee in 2024. He showed zero signs of slowing down as a combination of exterior run defender and interior pass rusher alongside Pro Bowler defensive end Danielle Hunter and Defensive Rookie of the Year Will Anderson Jr.

However, Autry’s absence will put the trio’s debut on hold through early October. A new face must fill the void, if not more thanks to the veteran’s position flexibility.

Right now, Mario Edwards Jr. seems to be the front-runner to take over the mantle given his resemblance to Autry. At worst, he’ll lock up a starting defensive tackle spot next to Foley Fatukasi.

“I just see myself as where coach needs me to go and make a play and make it happen, I’m willing to do and ready to go do it,” Edwards said Monday following practice.

 

The son of Dallas Cowboys and Tampa Bay Buccaneers defender Mario Edwards Sr., the latter was born and raised in Denton and became a star at Ryan High School. As the top defensive tackle recruit, he’d follow in the family’s footsteps and commit to Florida State, helping the Seminoles win a national title in 2013.

A second-round pick in 2015 by the then-Oakland Raiders, Edwards never stuck in one place for too long. Over the past nine seasons, he’s never spent more than three seasons in one place and played for six teams.

Edwards has eight starts in the past six years. That could nearly double that total after this season’s first six weeks.

“I didn’t know how that was going to play out. I kind of left that up to the coaches,” Edwards said. “I just knew that I was going to come in and give it everything I had and do the best I could and let the chips fall where they fall.”

Much like Autry, Edwards has bounced between defensive tackle to defensive end. That lack of identity has led to him never finding a permanent place to call home, though he does enjoy Houston thus far.

“I love it here and they have been making it feel real home and this would be great for me,” Edwards said. “I’m three hours away from my home, so this has been a good place to kind of just settle down and call home.”

Houston valued versatility when acquiring talent this offseason. Since DeMeco Ryans arrived, there’s been a broad search for players with a “S.W.A.R.M” mentality.

Edwards fits the bill.

“Don’t think, just attack, just go, be aggressive, penetrate, disruptive, that is my style of ball. Playing fast and physical to the echo of the whistle,” Edwards said. 

Last season with the Seattle Seahawks, Edwards totaled 21 tackles, six QB hits, five tackles for loss and two sacks in 15 games. Pro Football Focus graded Edwards highest among Seattle’s pass rushers.

For his career, Edwards has 21.5 sacks. Much like feeling as if Houston is his home, he’ll be asked to carve out a greater role than previously expected for the first time entering Year 10. 

2024 NFL free agency: Mario Edwards’ Texans contract details

The Houston Texans signed veteran Mario Edwards Jr. to a pretty inexpensive 1-year deal.

The Houston Texans added to their defensive line by signing veteran Mario Edwards Jr. this offseason. Edwards adds nine years and 21.5 sacks of NFL experience to a pretty well-stocked defensive line in Texans.

His deal is pretty inexpensive, too. Edwards signed a one-year, $2 million contract with Houston, according to KPRC 2’s Aaron Wilson. The deal includes $500,000 in guaranteed money as well.

Here’s the full breakdown:

  • Terms: one year, $2
  • Guaranteed money: $500,000
  • Signing bonus: $200,000
  • 2024 base salary: $1.21 million
  • 2024 cap hit: $1.62 million
  • Annual active roster bonus: $240,000
  • Pro Bowl incentive: $1 million

Edwards, 30, played for the Seattle Seahawks in 2023 after time with the then-Oakland Raiders, the New York Giants, the New Orleans Saints, the Chicago Bears and the Tennessee Titans. He registered two sacks, five tackles for a loss, six quarterback hits, 21 combined tackles and one forced fumble in 2023.

This is likely another depth signing for the Texans on the defensive line. Will Anderson Jr., Danielle Hunter and Denico Autry are likely locked in as starters, but the second interior defensive position remains up for grabs in 2024.

NFL Free Agency: Mario Edwards signs with Texans

NFL Free Agency: Mario Edwards signs with Texans

A little bit of free agency roundup from earlier in this week. The exodus of players from the Seattle Seahawks did continue, as former DL Mario Edwards Jr. left the Emerald City for the Houston Texans. Edwards signed a one-year deal with Houston on Tuesday.

Edwards now finds himself on his fourth team in as many seasons.

Edwards came to the Seahawks last year after the previous two seasons spent with the Chicago Bears and Tennessee Titans. He was seen primarily as a depth addition to help out one of the weakest defensive fronts in the NFL. In 2023, Edwards recorded 21 total tackles and two sacks.

His two sacks game against the New York Giants – when the Seahawks tied a franchise record with 11 team sacks – and his former team, the Titans. Both games were victories for Seattle.

Now Edwards joins a potential rising star in the AFC with the Texans, who look to build upon their resurgent 2023 with franchise quarterback CJ Stroud.

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2024 NFL free agency: Texans sign DL Mario Edwards to 1-year deal

The Houston Texans continued to add to their defensive line depth with Mario Edwards Jr., a nine-year veteran.

The Houston Texans added another piece to their defensive line Tuesday.

The team signed veteran defensive lineman Mario Edwards Jr. to a one-year deal, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. Edwards had recently visited the team. The terms of the contract were not immediately reported.

Edwards, 30, last played for the Seattle Seahawks in 2023, where he started one of 15 games. He tallied two sacks, five tackles for a loss, six quarterback hits, 21 combined tackles and one forced fumble.

Edwards has 21.5 career sacks throughout his nine-year career. He also played for the then-Oakland Raiders, New York Giants, New Orleans Saints, Chicago Beats and Tennessee Titans.

This should be another depth signing for Houston. Edwards can play all over the defensive line, but played defensive end for Seattle in 2023. He’ll join Danielle Hunter, Will Anderson Jr, Denico Autry, Khalil Davis, Tim Settle and Foley Fatukasi on the defensive line.

Behind Enemy Lines: Week 4 Q&A with Seahawks Wire

With a Week 4 matchup between the New York Giants and Seattle Seahawks on tap, we go behind enemy lines for a chat with Seahawks Wire.

The New York Giants (1-2) and Seattle Seahawks (2-1) will square off on Monday night in a Week 4 matchup at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

The Giants opened the week as 1-point home underdogs but that spread has only gotten worse. They are +1.5 as of this writing.

With this matchup on tap, Giants Wire took the opportunity to hold a Q&A with Seahawks Wire managing editor Tim Weaver.

Pete Carroll says Seahawks ‘still have work to do’ on defensive line

The top priority all offseason for the Seattle Seahawks has been upgrading their defensive line.

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The top priority all offseason for the Seattle Seahawks has been upgrading their defensive line. Their biggest free agent signing of the year was used on former Denver Broncos defensive end Dre’Mont Jones and three of their 10 draft picks were used on defensive linemen.

Seattle is not done yet, though. Over the weekend at rookie minicamp, Seahawks coach Pete Carroll commented on the team’s competition at nose tackle, featuring Cameron Young, Jonah Tavai and Robert Cooper, per Bob Condotta at the Seattle Times.

“We’re putting together kind of a real competition there… Tavai’s got a big background of playmaking. He’s done so much… Coop’s (Robert Cooper) a big kid, too, now, and you see how he does. So, the position already looks way better than it did a week ago. We’re concerned, too. We wanted to make sure we had guys in here to battle and to push Cam (Young), too, so that he’s got that fire burning under him, too.”

Carroll also hinted that there will be more new players coming in to help fill out the rest of the depth chart.

“We’re not done yet… We’ve still got work to do there.”

One extra piece we know is coming in will be veteran Mario Edwards Jr., who is expected to visit this week and officially sign his reported one-year deal.

As for the rest of the free-agent market, some of the top interior linemen who are still available include former Seahawk Shelby Harris, Linval Joseph and Ndamukong Suh.

Seahawks updated 90-man roster after rookie minicamp

Seahawks expect DE Mario Edwards Jr. to sign his contract next week

The Seattle Seahawks are expecting veteran free agent defensive end Mario Edwards Jr. to sign his contract next week.

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ESPN was the first to report that veteran defensive end Mario Edwards Jr. would be signing a one-year deal with the Seattle Seahawks. Coach Pete Carroll confirmed as much during his press conference at the rookie minicamp on Friday.

“He has not signed yet, but he’ll be in here Monday,” Carroll told reporters. “I’m really pumped about this, because I thought I saw something in Mario, a couple months ago when we started free agency, where he could help us. He’s got versatility—he’s played end, he’s stood up, he’s been hand in the ground, he’s been inside as a three-technique, he’s played everywhere along the line—that I really like. He’s really quick and he plays really hard. He’s got a real good attitude about him.”

“So he’d fit in a lot of ways,” Carroll continued. “So I see him adding to the pass rush for sure, and he’ll be competing to be in that first group, the first four guys out there. I’ve seen him play enough, he can play football. He’ll be a big factor for us.”

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Seahawks signing ex-Titans DL Mario Edwards

Former Titans DL Mario Edwards is reportedly signing with the Seahawks.

Former Tennessee Titans defensive lineman Mario Edwards has reportedly found a new home with the Seattle Seahawks.

According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler and Brady Henderson, Edwards is signing a one-year deal with Seattle. The financial terms of the contract weren’t disclosed.

Tennessee signed Edwards in late September of last year, and he went on to play well in a backup role, appearing in 13 games (seven starts) and totaling three sacks, four tackles for loss and 34 total pressures.

Edwards is the second depth piece Tennessee has lost along the defensive line in free agency, as DeMarcus Walker signed with the Chicago Bears earlier this offseason.

It won’t be long before the Titans meet their old friend, with Edwards and the Seahawks set to come to Nashville for a game in 2023.

While the Titans’ starting defense is primed to be pretty good, the team could use more depth in multiple spots, especially after how injury-plagued Tennessee has been in recent years.

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