Jalen

Mills

Mills was released by Houston earlier this week. He appeared in four games for the Texans this year, logging four tackles while playing a mix of special teams and defense. With the Lions seemingly losing a new defensive back to injury every week, Mills will give the team some extra depth on defense.

The 2021 UDFA was waived Monday to make room on the game day roster for the return of Omarion Hampton. Jones will be a rotational piece for the Texans after they lost Tim Settle for the remainder of the season. They waived Jalen Mills to create space for Jones.

Mills logged two tackles and one interception through two preseason games with the Texans. He spent 2024 with the Jets. The veteran safety has decent odds of finding a spot on a final roster at some point this year, though a practice squad spot is possible.

C.J. Gardner-Johnson is set to miss time with a knee injury he suffered in camp, and Jimmie Ward is battling a foot injury while also working through offseason legal issues. With the Texans thin at safety, Mills, 31, brings an added veteran presence and plenty of starting experience. The former seventh-round pick has started 91 of the 115 games he has appeared in during his career, and started eight games for the Jets last season. He totaled 44 tackles, six pass breakups, and one interception in nine games and should have plenty to offer a secondary that’s in need of help with less than a month to go before the start of the season.

Mills, 30, has spent the last three seasons with the Patriots and was with the Giants in training camp earlier this year. The veteran safety is long removed from his 2017 season when he totaled 64 tackles and three interceptions for the Eagles while helping them to their first Super Bowl, but Mills can still provide valuable experience to a stout Jets secondary. Even if he is promoted from the practice squad in the coming weeks, Mills won’t be anything more than added depth on this roster.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter was the first to report that the Giants have parted ways with Mills, who was on the NFI list earlier with a calf strain. Now healthy, the veteran defensive back is expected to draw interest from teams in need of secondary help. Mills totaled 45 tackles in 17 games with the Patriots last season and made eight starts. Mills has ample experience as a starter and can provide valuable experience as an eight-year vet of the league.

Mills will head to New York to help a Giants’ defense that ranked 27th in the NFL last season. He spent his last three seasons as a Patriot where he collected 45 tackles in 2023. The team hopes Mills can bring some veteran leadership to a young Giants’ secondary.

The Patriots had released Mills two years into his four-year contract with the team. The move saved New England $5 million against the salary cap. Mills will return to New England for 2023 with what is likely an incentive-laden contract. He had two interceptions in 10 games last season. Mills has seven picks in seven NFL seasons.

The release comes two years into a four-year deal signed in 2021. Mills missed seven games to injury last year, but was productive when healthy, recording two interceptions in 10 games. There was talk that Mills could be an option to replace retired FS Devin McCourty but the Patriots are taking the cap savings and moving on. Releasing Mills clears $4.9 million for the Patriots while leaving $1.3 million in dead money.

New England will be without key defenders Mills and Jones in their matchup against Teddy Bridgewater and Miami’s terrifying wideout duo of Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle. Parker (concussion) will miss another game. His absence should lead to more snaps and pass routes for Kendrick Bourne, who in Week 16 caught six passes for 100 yards and a score. Bourne is a reasonable WR3/4 option for Week 17.