Texans Add Two Former Steelers Players

The Houston Texans are elevating former Steelers cornerback Desmond King and wide receiver Steven Sims from their practices squad, the team announced on Saturday. Pittsburgh released King back in October and brought in Darius Rush. Since that move, King had not landed anywhere but he returns to Houston. Sims left in free agency and signed with the Texnas.

King only played in one defensive snap with the Steelers. He was inactive for several games, but once injuries piled up at kick returner, King took over as the starting kick returner in Week 3 after injuries to Anthony McFarland and Gunner Olszewski.

King, 28, played over 900 snaps for the Houston Texans in the last two seasons and did it relatively well, especially in 2022, when he had an 89.2 passer rating when targeted per Pro Football Focus.

Steelers DB Desmond King against the Baltimore Ravens, Oct. 8, 2023 – Ed Thompson / Steelers Now

A fifth-round pick of the Los Angeles Chargers in 2017, King was a contributor right away as a rookie and has played at least 15 games in his five NFL seasons. King became a part-time starter in his second season and continued that role until he was traded to the Tennessee Titans mid-season in 2020. 

A free agent in 2021, he signed a one-year deal with Houston, which made him the Texans’ starting slot cornerback. Before last season, he signed a two-year contract extension and played well, setting a career-high in total snaps played, adding 103 snaps of special teams to his 918 of defense. He finished fourth on the Houston defense with 89 tackles and had two interceptions and two fumble recoveries.

Back in March, Sims signed a one-year deal with Houston after a successful visit with the team in free agency. He became a prominent contributor during the Steelers’ late season 7-2 run after the bye week. Sims was one of the restricted free agents that Pittsburgh did not tender, so he hit free agency.

The Steelers signed Sims to their practice squad in 2021 after two seasons with the Washington Football Team. He played in just one game in 2021. Still, he got a much bigger opportunity in 2022, first when he leapfrogged Gunner Olszewski early in the season to become the team’s primary kick and punt returner, and then after the trade of Chase Claypool when he became the primary slot receiver.

Sims ended up playing 34% of the Steelers’ offensive snaps. He finished eighth on the team with 14 catches for 104 yards on 23 targets. He added 19 punt returns for 105 yards and 17 kick returns for 435 yards to give him 713 all-purpose yards, which was fifth on the team.

Sims, 26, reeled in 14 catches for 104 yards down the stretch for Pittsburgh. As a kick returner, he averaged 25.5 yards per return on 17 returns while adding 105 punt return yards on 19. He has one career return touchdown with Washington in his rookie season.