Former first-rounder signs with Texans after three years in the wilderness

After more than three years away from the NFL, Damon Arnette has reportedly signed a one-year deal with the Houston Texans.

Arnette has not made a single NFL appearance since his stint with the Las Vegas Raiders in 2021. The 28-year-old was the 19th overall pick at the 2020 NFL Draft but he was released after a video emerged showing him brandishing a firearm and making death threats.

He spent a brief spell on the practice squad for both the Miami Dolphins and the Kansas City Chiefs, before the later released him. In January 2022 Arnette was arrested and charged with assault with a deadly weapon, carrying a concealed weapon without a permit, and two counts of possession of controlled substances.

As recently as last year, during a three-year NFL absence, Arnette was arrested again and charged with possession of methamphetamine and unlawfully carrying a firearm. However he has managed to turn his career around during an impressive spell with UFL team Houston Roughnecks this year.

During his time with the Roughnecks Arnette started eight games and contributed 19 tackles and one sack. He made one interception, returning it for a 51-yard touchdown.

Speaking recently, Arnette admitted that he had been force to rethink his lifestyle and insisted that he is now ready for a return to the NFL.

“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 feel like I’ve proved a complete turnaround,” he continued. “All the coaches that have been with me right now, I feel like their words would be more valuable because I’ve said a lot of things in the past. What I would say is what they see on film, that’s me being out of commission for three years."

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