HOUSTON -- The Houston Texans cut return specialist Trindon Holliday and signed linebacker Barrett Rudd on Wednesday in the wake of Brian Cushing's season-ending injury.
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Cushing tore his left anterior cruciate ligament in Monday night's 23-17 win over the New York Jets. The 6-foot-2, 242-pound Ruud was a second-round draft pick by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2005. He was cut by the New Orleans Saints on Monday.
The Texans play the Green Bay Packers on Sunday night.
The 5-foot-5 Holliday won a roster spot after returning three kicks (two punts and a kickoff) for touchdowns in the preseason. That didn't translate to the regular season: Houston ranks last in kickoff return average (17.6 yards) and 16th in punt return average (9.2 yards.
Coach Gary Kubiak didn't blame Holliday for the return issues. The Texans were also penalized on three kick returns on Monday night.
"By no means is it a statement or anything about what we thought of Trindon," Kubiak said. "We have not been playing up to par on special teams, giving returners the opportunity. That had nothing to do with it. You never know, our paths may cross again. But we wish him the best. He did a good job, he earned his way onto this team, but we had to make a tough decision."
Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press