James Houston’s NFL journey just took another big turn. The former Jackson State standout and ex-Detroit Lions pass rusher has signed with the Dallas Cowboys, per multiple reports.
Drafted in the sixth round in 2022, Houston made waves right out of the gate. After starting on the Lions’ practice squad, he burst onto the scene with two sacks in his debut on Thanksgiving Day against the Bills. He finished his rookie year with an eye-popping eight sacks in just seven games—instantly earning a reputation as a breakout star.
But his momentum didn’t last.
In 2023, Detroit tried shifting him to a SAM linebacker role, but the experiment fell flat. Things got worse in Week 2 when Houston fractured his ankle on special teams duty, keeping him out until the NFC Championship. The 2024 season didn’t offer much relief either. Despite being given another shot at defensive end, he was mostly a healthy scratch. A brief return after an injury to Aidan Hutchinson wasn’t enough to save his roster spot, and the Lions waived him in late November.
Now, the 25-year-old gets a shot at redemption with the Cowboys—a team that could use depth behind superstar Micah Parsons. Houston’s explosiveness and edge speed still make him an intriguing piece in the right scheme.
At Jackson State, he was a defensive wrecking ball, putting up 16.5 sacks and seven forced fumbles in just one season while leading JSU to a SWAC title. If he can recapture that form in Dallas, this low-risk move could pay big dividends for the NFC contender.
Houston’s story isn’t done yet—and his next chapter starts in Big D.
