The Houston Texans are finding salary cap savings where they can.
According to Aaron Wilson of the Pro Football Network, the Texans have released tackle Marcus Cannon, saving the team $5,202,941 against the salary cap per Over The Cap figures.
Cannon was one of a handful of former New England Patriots players who found new life following Nick Caserio to his general manager role in Houston. The former 2011 fifth-round pick from TCU played in just four games for the Texans in 2021, starting in all four of them. The theory was that if Cannon manned right tackle, the Texans could kick Tytus Howard inside at guard while Laremy Tunsil played left tackle. Injuries to both Tunsil and Cannon forced Houston to move Howard to left tackle.
The 6-6, 335-pound tackle was a COVID opt out in 2020, and relished the chance to play ball again with the Texans.
“Coming back, it was kind of emotional and I was excited to come and play,” Cannon told reporters on Sept. 17, 2021. “I’m very thankful. I thank God every day that I’m back and I’m here this year to play, and I’m thankful and I’m going to make the best out of it.”
Although Cannon played barely a quarter of a season’s games for the Texans, he made an impact on tackle Charlie Heck during his second season in the pros.
“Something that he always does, because he’s had such a long career, he sees some things that he would do early on in his career that I would be doing,” Heck told reporters on Oct. 11, 2021. “So, he says, ‘These are things I wish I had somebody kind of helping me with when I was younger.’
“So, he’s been able to do that for me, seeing little things in pass protection or the run game that I think will go a long way.”
