Texans sign McCardell, Castañeda

McCardell spent the past three seasons in San Diego.

HOUSTON - The Houston Texans have signed unrestricted free agent WR Keenan McCardell, it was announced today. The Texans also announced the addition of LB Eduardo Castañeda as an international practice squad player. * *
McCardell (6-1, 191), a native Houstonian, ranks ninth in NFL history with 861 career receptions. His 11,117 career receiving yards are the 18th-most in league history. A 12th-round pick of the Washington Redskins in 1991, McCardell is entering his 16th NFL season. He looks to play his 200th career game in the season opener against Kansas City.

McCardell has notched five seasons with at least 1,000 receiving yards and seven seasons with at least 70 receptions. He won a World Championship as a member of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2002. In Super Bowl XXXVII, McCardell caught two passes, both for touchdowns, in Tampa Bay's 48-21 win over Oakland.

Last year, McCardell helped San Diego compile a league-best 14-2 regular season record. He caught 36 passes for 437 yards and had one rushing attempt for eight yards. The former Waltrip High School star was honored in 2006 by the Touchdown Club of Houston as the Houston-area NFL Player of the Year.

Castañeda (6-2, 243) joins the Texans as an international practice squad player. The 24-year-old Castañeda will be on the Texans practice squad throughout the regular season and will not count against the eight-man practice squad limit, giving the Texans nine practice squad players. He is not eligible to be signed to the active roster this season, nor is he eligible to be signed to the active roster of any other team.

Castañeda played for the Rhein Fire in NFL Europa this spring, recording 10 tackles at linebacker and four special teams stops. The Monterrey, Mexico native played for the Mexican national team in 2005-06. He also competed in the Mexican championship game three years in a row from 2004-2006, while at the Instituto Tecnologico de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey (ITESM).

The Texans also released rookie free agent WR Onrea Jones.