Former Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Damon Arnette struggled to live up to expectations in his first stint in the NFL after being selected in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft. But on Wednesday, the Houston Texans shocked everyone by giving Arnette a second chance.
In addition to Arnette’s lack of consistency on the field, he has also had a litany of legal issues that have largely made him a red flag for NFL teams.
In 2022, Arnette faced a lawsuit for an alleged hit-and-run after a video surfaced of Arnette making death threats while brandishing firearms, in addition to a case in July of 2022 when Arnette was arrested in Miami on charges of possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, and driving with a suspended license.
Then, in January 2024, Arnette was arrested and charged with possession of less than a gram of meth and unlawful carrying of a firearm in Richardson, Texas.
Despite not seeing the field in the NFL in over three years, Arnette has continued on in his football career, playing in the UFL throughout the league’s 2025 season. And it seems as if his play in the UFL was good enough to get the attention of the Texans.
According to Texans beat reporter Aaron Wilson, the Texans have signed Arnette Jr. to a one-year deal.
Sources: #Texans signing @XFLRoughnecks corner #Raiders first-round draft pick Damon Arnette Jr. @KPRC2 https://t.co/GV1O1HtFNw
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) June 18, 2025
It will certainly be interesting to see whether Arnette gets an opportunity to get onto the field for the Texans and potentially revive his career.
But obviously, Arnette will have to stay away from the off-field controversy to have any chance of that happening, which obviously seems to be easier said than done for him throughout his career to date.