HOUSTON -- The Houston Texans have signed veteran cornerback Stanford Routt after placing Brice McCain on injured reserve with a designation for return.
Routt started seven games this season for the Chiefs before he was released on Nov. 5.
McCain, Houston's nickel cornerback, had surgery to repair a broken left foot Monday. He must sit out eight weeks, which means the earliest he could play is if the Texans reach the Super Bowl.
Houston needed depth at the position because of McCain's injury and the uncertain status of Johnathan Joseph, the Texans' top cornerback who has missed the last two games with a hamstring injury.
Routt, who went to college at Houston, has 258 tackles and 12 interceptions in an eight-year career spent mostly in Oakland.
