With the Philadelphia Eagles' first preseason game right around the corner, this is a critically important week of practice for a team hoping to successfully defend its Super Bowl championship and go back-to-back.
Most attention has been focused on another exciting rookie class, though training camp cuts have already started to roll in as well. Injuries and roster moves are always a part of this time of year, which does open up space for signings as well.
One player who had two brief stints with the Eagles just signed with a rising AFC organization after successfully recovering from a torn ACL.
Dalton Keene worked out for #Texans last week, now joins them after making full recovery from torn ACL last year @KPRC2 https://t.co/jGrsnwNPs6
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) August 5, 2025
Former Eagles TE Dalton Keene Signs with Texans After Torn ACL
As reported by NFL insider Aaron Wilson, the Texans signed tight end/fullback Dalton Keene after a strong workout last week. He was ironically with Houston last summer but tore his ACL in August and was placed on injured reserve before his contract expired. Now that the Texans are comfortable with his recovery, they're giving him another chance.
Originally a third-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft by the New England Patriots out of Virginia Tech, Keene was waived two years into his career and signed with Philadelphia's practice squad in September of 2022. Keene lasted just a month, getting released in October and briefly spending a few days with the Denver Broncos.
After that, the Eagles brought Keene back on a reserve/futures contract after the 2023 Super Bowl but elected to cut him later that summer.
Despite his relatively high draft pedigree, injuries have limited Keene to just 7 total games in his career, compiling three catches for 16 yards in the process. At 6-foot-4 and 251 pounds, Keene has good size but always profiled as more of a blocking tight end, having never posted a season with over 345 receiving yards in college.
This move likely doesn't mean much. Keene projects as a practice squad guy at best with the Texans having Dalton Shultz, Brevin Jordan, Cade Stover, and Luke Lachey at the position already. The Eagles are set as well after re-signing Dallas Goedert to an extension, so they're not missing out on much potential with Keene.
Either way, it's good to see the 26-year-old get another chance to extend his NFL career. This could be his final opportunity, so here's hoping he stays healthy and doesn't suffer another setback.