Aug 18, 2021; Thousand Oaks, CA, USA; Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Damon Arnette (20) during a joint practice against the Los Angeles Rams. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images The Houston Texans are signing former first-round pick Damon Arnette Jr., who has not played in the NFL since legal problems derailed his career in 2022, multiple outlets reported Wednesday.
The defensive back worked out for the Texans on June 9 ahead of the team’s minicamp.
Arnette most recently played for the Houston Roughnecks of the UFL, racking up 18 tackles and an interception in the recently completed season.
Arnette, 28, was selected No. 19 overall by the Las Vegas Raiders in the 2020 draft. He played in 13 games (seven starts) before being hit with felony gun charges stemming from an incident at a Las Vegas casino in January 2022. Arnette was accused of brandishing a .45-caliber handgun during an argument with casino valets.
Arnette was sentenced to community service and fined $2,000 in August 2023 after agreeing to a plea deal.
The Raiders released Arnette in November 2021 amid two lawsuits and a troubling video posted by the player. The video showed Arnette repeatedly threatening to kill someone while brandishing what appeared to be semi-automatic weapons. The Kansas City Chiefs, who had signed Arnette to a reserve contract, released him after the arrest at the casino.
Injuries limited Arnette to 13 games (seven starts) in his one-plus seasons with the Raiders. He didn’t record any interceptions and had 29 tackles.
Arnette told Houston television station KPRC 2 earlier this spring that he initially was rejected by the UFL by Daryl Johnston, the executive vice president of football operations, because of his past.
Arnette said that led to a change, and Johnston reconsidered.
“One, I had to take a look in the mirror,” Arnette said. “I had to make some serious life changes. And the main thing that I did was I invited back my support system, my foundation, and that’s probably something I will never let go of again because I see how dangerous it is to be trying to navigate in a new world, new environment, new situations with no experience. So, I definitely learn from that end. I said to coach Johnston, I needed him to tell me no, that I couldn’t play.”
–Field Level Media