NFL training camp is set to open in a few days and veteran safety James Ihedigbo is still on the open market. The 32-year-old recently told SiriusXM NFL Radio that he has garnered interest from teams and believes it is only a matter of time before he finds a landing spot.
"The thing about this part of the game and just the business aspect of it, teams are going to want to see if their young guys got it -- they want to see guys that they drafted two years ago, if they can play at a high level, if they can handle the mental aspect of the game more than special teams, of playing offense and defense. And then you have to account for the injury rate. It happens every year, the first week of training camp, guys go down or guys aren't performing up to management's expectation, and that's when guys like myself get that phone call."
I would love to play for the Houston Texans," Ihedigbo said. "I think it's a great fit. It could be a great fit for both of us. I could definitely add to an already stout defense."
Houston currently has six safeties on its roster, and ESPN projects that the Texans will keep five on their 53-man roster – Andre Hal, Quentin Demps, K.J. Dillon, Eddie Pleasant and Lonnie Ballentine. Ballentine has yet to play a full season, and Dillon was selected in the fifth round in this past draft. The Texans also have free agent signee Antonio Allen on their roster.
Ihedigbo started 21 games the past two years with the Detroit Lions, but he lost his starting spot to Isa Abdul-Quddas late last year and was told by the team early this offseason that he was not in the club's future plans. The 2014 Pro Bowler registered 63 tackles, three forced fumbles, one interception along with a sack in 15 contests last season.