Houston Texans release veteran LB Christian Kirksey

The Houston Texans have released veteran linebacker Christian Kirksey, who started all 17 games for the franchise and was a team captain in 2022. Cornerback Desmond King was also cut Monday.

Kirksey’s release will save the team over $5 million in cap space.

He originally signed a one-year deal with the team in the 2021 offseason. Kirksey re-upped with the Texans in the 2022 offseason with a two-year extension.

Over his two seasons with the team, Kirksey started 29 of 30 games with 217 tackles, three interpcetions and three forced fumbles.

Kirksey was a leader in the Texans locker room, evident by his role as team captain last year and his election as the team’s nominee for the Walter Payton Man of the Year award.

“We are proud to call Christian Kirksey a leader on our team and in the Houston community,” Texans Chair and CEO Cal McNair said in a statement announcing the decision. “He sets an example for everyone on how to do things on and off the field, and he is incredibly deserving of this honor.”

After a four-year career at Iowa, Kirksey was drafted in the third round of the 2014 NFL Draft by the Cleveland Browns. He spent six seasons with the Browns, including two seasons when he ranked in the top five in the NFL in total tackles. He had 148 tackles during the 2016 season, which was the third most in the league. Kirksey then notched 138 tackles in 2017, good for fourth in the NFL.

He then played one season with the Green Bay Packers before joining the Texans.

Despite his success the past two seasons, Kirksey will not be a part of the new era of Houston football. One of the biggest changes for Week 1 next week will be rookie quarterback CJ Stroud, who has won the starting quarterback job.

“First and foremost, I just want all glory and praise to my lord and savior, Jesus Christ. Just having that opportunity man. It’s a blessing to be able to play this game. Especially in the league man, especially at the Superdome. Definitely was a blessing to be out there,” Stroud said after winning the job. “But same thing, you’ve just got to keep working. Definitely a blessing. Something that I think I worked for, and definitely earned. But at the same time, nothing else really changes. I’m still going to work like the way I’m working, even more now.