HOUSTON — The Houston Texans signed safety Quintin Demps to add depth following Danieal Manning’s injury, and waived receiver/kick returner Trindon Holliday.

The 5-foot-11, 206-pound Demps was originally drafted by Philadelphia in the fourth round in 2008. He was waived in September 2010, signed with Houston two months later and then was cut at the end of training camp this year.

Manning broke his left fibula in Sunday’s 41-7 win at Tennessee. Coach Gary Kubiak says Manning will miss a minimum of four weeks.

The 5-5, 170-pound Holliday was drafted by the Texans in the sixth round of the 2010 draft. He was on the practice squad when this season began and was called up on Oct. 5, after Andre Johnson was injured.

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HOUSTON (AP) – The Houston Texans’ defense took a beating last
season, then read about how awful it was all summer.

Houston brought in Wade Phillips to not only implement a 3-4
scheme, but reverse the self-defeating mindset. Phillips’
reputation for fixing defenses preceded him, and the Texans were
ready to follow his lead before training camp even began.

The defense has shown progress in the preseason, generating 15 sacks and seven turnovers in four games. The first real test comes
Sunday in the opener against the Indianapolis Colts, their AFC
South rival who will start a season without Peyton Manning for the
first time since 1997.

Phillips has kept things simple and he’s seen plenty of mistakes
in training camp. But he’s happy with the effort everyone’s put
into learning it.

HOUSTON (AP)—When the Houston Texans hired Wade Phillips as their new
defensive coordinator in January, defensive tackle Shaun Cody(notes) wanted to know
immediately what that meant for him.

The 6-foot-4, 304-pound Cody is expected to start at nose tackle this
season, a pivotal position in Phillips’ 3-4 scheme. Cody had plenty of questions
about his new role, and Phillips reassured him that he was good enough—and big
enough—to handle it.

Phillips likes what he’s seen in training camp from Cody and backup Earl
Mitchell(notes). He’s also looking for big years from first-round pick J.J. Watt(notes) and
veteran Antonio Smith, projected as the Texans’ starting defensive ends.

The first true test for the front, and Houston’s entire rebuilt defense,
comes in Monday night’s preseason opener against the New York Jets.