Houston Texans cornerback Desmond King is signing to the team's active roster from the practice squad. King spent the 2021 and 2022 seasons with Houston, appearing in 33 games. He was released ahead of the 2023 season during final roster cuts and spent time with the Steelers this year, but he's now back to play in DeMeco Ryan's defense. The 28-year-old earned All-Pro honors in his second NFL season but has not been viewed as a high-end defensive back for a few years. Either way, he'll likely provide depth for the Houston secondary that is allowing the sixth-most passing yards per game (252.5 this season.
The Pittsburgh Steelers have informed veteran cornerback Desmond King that they will release him if they can't find another team willing to trade for him. King has played just one defensive snap for the Steelers this season after they signed him as a free-agent right after the Houston Texans released him for their final roster cutdowns in late August. King is likely to draw interest from a cornerback-needy team on the open market and should not be out of a job for very long.
The Pittsburgh Steelers added to their defense, signing recently released cornerback Desmond King II. The 2018 All-Pro posted 89 tackles, eight passes defended, and two interceptions in 2022 as a member of the Houston Texans. The 28-year-old was released by Houston prior to the roster cutdown deadline. The cornerback was drafted in the fifth round by the Chargers in 2017 and has spent time in Los Angeles, Tennessee, and Houston. King will likely play in the slot in Pittsburgh.
The Houston Texans re-signed defensive back Desmond King to a two-year, $7 million deal on Tuesday that includes $3.5 million fully guaranteed, according to his agents, Drew Rosenhaus and Ryan Matha. King did have a career-high 93 tackles (68 solo), three interceptions, six passes defensed and a forced fumble in 16 games (12 starts), but overall he struggled as an outside cornerback in coverage. If they have the luxury, it would be helpful for King to move to slot cornerback in 2022. The 27-year-old was a fifth-round pick by the Los Angeles Chargers back in 2017 out of Iowa, and he was named a first-team All-Pro in his second season in 2018. King will return to Houston for his second straight season.
The Houston Texans signed free-agent cornerback Desmond King to a one-year deal worth $3.5 million. The 26-year-old was acquired by the Tennessee Titans from the Los Angeles Chargers last November and made an immediate impact in Tennessee, returning a fumble 63 yards for a touchdown against the Chicago Bears. King finished last year with 31 tackles, a sack and a QB hit in nine games. The Texans also signed cornerback Terrance Mitchell and re-signed corner Vernon Hargreaves earlier this week. Bradley Roby will be suspended for the first week of the regular season. When he returns, King could be relegated to slot duties. King was named a first-team All-Pro in 2018 as a nickel cornerback with the Chargers. He has 244 tackles, 8.5 sacks, four interceptions, 19 passes defensed, 16 tackles for loss and 14 QB hits in his four-year career.
Titans Defense Adds To Secondary With Desmond King
The Tennessee Titans acquired defensive back Desmond King from the Los Angeles Chargers on Monday in exchange for a sixth-round pick. The Chargers had been shopping the former All-Pro defensive back and punt returner in recent days and pulled the trigger after another heartbreaking loss in Week 8 to the division-rival Broncos on Sunday to drop them to 2-5 and last place in the AFC West. The Titans hope that King will be able to improve their disappointing secondary and their punt-return game. Tennessee has allowed 277.6 passing yards per game through eight weeks, seventh-worst in the NFL. King has 24 tackles (19 solo) and one sack in six games so far this season.
The Los Angeles Chargers are shopping All-Pro defensive back and punt returner Desmond King with the trade deadline approaching on Nov. 3, according to sources. Multiple teams have inquired about him. King was a first-team All-Pro defensive back in 2018 and a second-team punt returner. The 25-year-old didn't play in the Week 8 loss to the Broncos, and he has 24 combined tackles (19 solo) and one sack in six games so far in 2020. Sitting at 2-5 and in last place in the AFC West through eight weeks, the Bolts appear to be sellers with the Tuesday deadline quickly approaching.
There's a chance that the Los Angeles Chargers look to trade cornerback Desmond King. King is seemingly a man without a position now that the Bolts signed Chris Harris Jr. to defend the slot in the middle of the field in 2020. Casey Hayward and Michael Davis can work on the outside, so it remains to be seen what the team will do with King if they hold onto him. The 25-year-old fifth-round pick in 2017 was a first-team All-Pro in 2018 when he had a career-high three interceptions (one returned for a touchdown). King had 51 tackles (40 solo) and two passes defensed without an interception in 15 games (eight starts) in 2019. He could be part of a draft-day trade if the Chargers indeed move him.
Los Angeles Chargers cornerback Desmond King provided one of the only bright spots for Chargers fans on Sunday afternoon. At the end of the third quarter, King hauled a Broncos punt through traffic around his own 40-yard line and broke free. He roasted a pair of Broncos in a foot race and crossed the goal line with ease, giving the Chargers their only touchdown of the game. From a defensive standpoint, King and the rest of the Chargers Defense weren't terribly impressive, surrendering 191 rushing yards to Denver. That said, they did garner a strip sack and fumble recovery as well as an interception, and the Broncos still only scored 20 points.
Los Angeles Chargers cornerback Desmond King didn't nail down an interception in Sunday's game, but he did chip in 1.5 sacks to assist in the cause. In particular, King rushed up and snagged Miami quarterback Josh Rosen as he squirmed out of the pocket on his own 1-yard line. King nailed Rosen in the open field and forced the Dolphins to remain pinned deep in their own territory right when LA needed it most. Cornerback Michael Davis also came up big in the second half as he secured his first NFL interception to help put the nail in the coffin. It was a big day for the Chargers Defense, but star Melvin Ingram went down with a hamstring injury and much more intimidating offenses than Miami's are headed their way.
