Whitney

Mercilus

“That’s something where I’d be struggling ... each guy that retires, they get that itch, you know what I’m saying?” Mercilus continued. Turning 32 in July, Mercilus sounds like someone who could be swayed back on to the field for a short stint, ala Eric Weddle last year. He’ll likely remain on the emergency list for some teams.

Selected No. 26 overall out of Illinois by the Texans in 2012, Mercilus spent the first 9.5 seasons of his career in Houston before being released partway through 2021 to seek out of playoff team. He signed with the Packers, registering one sack in four games. Playing alongside J.J. Watt for a large portion of his career, Mercilus accrued 58 sacks in 138 games. He turns 32 this summer.

Green Bay also got back fellow OLB Za’Darius Smith from injured reserve on Friday. Released by the Texans early in the season, Mercilus played four games for the Packers before going down with a torn biceps. He should serve as a rotational pass rusher in the playoffs.

A torn biceps in Week 10 ended Mercilus’ season, and it’s quite a surprise to see him possible to play in the playoffs given how serious that tends to be, just 60 days later. He practiced today and Green Bay will have a few weeks to evaluate him ahead of their Divisional Round game. He would help Green Bay’s playoff pass rush as a rotational edge player if he’s fully activated.

It contains $10.8 million guaranteed, including a $5.25 million signing bonus. The 26th overall pick in the 2012 draft, the Texans declined Mercilus’ fifth-year team option and instead locked him up through his age-29 season. Mercilus has been a bit of a disappointment in the sack department, registering 18 sacks through 47 games, but he’s coming off a great year against the run.

Mercilus was released by the Texans after Week 6 and quickly latched on with Green Bay in hopes of winning a Super Bowl following 9.5 years in Houston. He produced one sack for the Packers in four games. Mercilus will be a free agent in the offseason.

Mercilus was just released by the Texans earlier in the week after recording three sacks in six games with the team to begin the year. Houston cut a pair of veterans in Mercilus and KR Andre Roberts, giving them opportunities to escape the rebuild. In Green Bay, Mercilus is a veteran presence opposite Preston Smith while Za’Darius Smith (back, I.R.) tries to work his way back to health.

Mercilus, 31, was granted his release out of Houston Monday and figures to land on his feet pretty quickly with a contender. Kansas City needs all the help it can get on the defensive side of the ball. Mercilus has three sacks this season and 57 in his 10-year career.

Mercilus, 31, was in his 10th season with the Texans, the only team he’s ever known after being drafted 26th overall out of Illinois in 2012. He appeared in 134 games for the team, starting 102, and registered 57 career sacks, including three through the first six weeks of this season. We’d expected him to land on his feet with a contender as a sub-package edge rusher.

Mercilus is out at least this week in COVID protocols and may be shut down. The Texans will likely go with a committee of Jacob Martin and Jonathan Greenyard to replace Mercilus.