Houston Texans add former Kentucky tight end Brenden Bates to active roster

by: Adam Luckett5 hours agoadamluckettksr

Roster-building in the NFL never really stops. Teams are always looking to add players to the backend of their roster as injuries and other attrition occurs. A former Kentucky tight end went from a practice squad to a 53-man roster on Tuesday.

Brenden Bates started the season on the Cleveland Browns practice squad. The Houston Texans got him out of that by adding the 25-year-old to their active roster. Bates is moving from the AFC North to the AFC South. His first game with the Texans will be against the Jacksonville Jaguars and former Kentucky offensive coordinator Liam Coen.

We have signed Brenden Bates and made other roster moves. pic.twitter.com/8Nr8LxXq0D
— Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) September 17, 2025

Brenden Bates was a class of 2018 signee who played at Cincinnati (Ohio) Moeller. The three-star recruit spent six seasons in the Kentucky football program. The big in-line tight end played over 1,200 offensive snaps during his career in Lexington. Bates finished his collegiate career with 25 career starts, 26 receptions, 272 yards, and two touchdowns. After a strong pre-draft process, Bates went undrafted in the 2024 NFL Draft but has hung around the league for the last two seasons.

Get the Daily On3 Newsletter in your inbox every morning

By clicking "Subscribe to Newsletter", I agree to On3's Privacy Notice, Terms, and use of my personal information described therein.

The tight end signed an undrafted free agent deal with the Chicago Bears and would quickly be signed by the New York Jets after he did not make the 53-man roster out of training camp. Bates would spend most of the season in New York and played 26 offensive snaps for the AFC East franchise. The Cleveland Browns would claim Bates off the Jets’s practice squad in December. Bates would play multiple games for the Browns to end the season. Now the former Kentucky tight end will play for a third NFL team this season.

Brenden Bates will be playing real snaps in the NFL again very soon.

Want more coverage of the Cats? Join KSR+.

KSR has been delivering UK Sports news in the most ridiculous manner for almost two decades. Now, you can get even more coverage of the Cats. Subscribe now for premium articles, in-depth scouting reports, inside intel, bonus recruiting coverage, and access to KSBoard, our message board featuring thousands of Kentucky fans around the globe.

JOIN HERE