2021 NFL Free Agency: Texans Sign Linebacker Hardy Nickerson, Jr.

Linebackers Kamu Gruiger-Hill, Joe Thomas, Christian Kirksey, and Kevin Pierre-Louis weren’t enough. Nick Caserio wasn’t satiated by four linebackers with questionable talent. He needed more. He needed another one. So the Houston Texans signed linebacker Hardy Nickerson, Jr.

If you haven’t followed Cincinnati Bengals football much these last four seasons (which you shouldn’t have), you wouldn’t know the Bengals have had terrible linebacker play for years now. Nick Vigil, Kevin Minter, Preston Brown, Josh Bynes, Mackensie Alexander...the list goes on and on. Nickerson was a member of this prestigious group. The son of former All-Pro linebacker Hardy Nickerson was an undrafted free agent who caught on with the Bengals and managed to start nine games with them from 2017 to 2019. Last year, he played for the Vikings and started a single game for them.

As we’ve stated before, multiple times now, this is another bottom of the roster churning signing. Another player who offers competition and is given an opportunity to compete this summer. Maybe you’ll see him in a preseason game. Maybe he’ll catch onto the practice squad. Maybe he’ll sign with the team again later in the year after injuries.

Don’t expect to watch much Hardy Nickerson, Jr. this September.