The Texans are signing veteran quarterback Brett Rypien after Graham Mertz tore his ACL in the team’s first preseason game, per KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson.
Rypien, 30, will become Houston’s third-string quarterback behind starter C.J. Stroud and backup Davis Mills. He previously spent time with Texans offensive coordinator Nick Caley in 2023 when both were with the Rams, giving him some knowledge of his new scheme.
Rypien originally signed with the Broncos as an undrafted rookie in 2019 but did not see any playing time until the following year. From 2020 to 2022, he appeared in eight games (three starts) and nine interceptions on just 130 passing attempts. In Los Angeles, Rypien appeared in two games (one start) before being waived in November and spending the next 18 months bouncing between teams. He eventually landed in Cincinnati last year and appeared in one game as Jake Browning‘s backup following Joe Burrow‘s injury. He was released after the Bengals’ trade for Joe Flacco.
Rypien then spent time with the Colts and the Vikings to close out the 2025 season, but neither was interested in bringing him back in 2026. He will likely occupy the Texans’ QB3 role from the practice squad barring a standout preseason that could garner interest from other teams.
Mertz, 25, went down in Thursday night’s loss to the Chargers. An MRI confirmed a torn ACL in his right knee. The 2025 sixth-round pick also tore his left ACL during his final year at the University of Florida. As a rookie, he was active as the Texans’ emergency third quarterback, but did not appear in a single game. Mertz will now undergo season-ending surgery and look to reclaim Houston’s third-string quarterback job next year.
