HOUSTON — The Texans have signed cornerback Damon Arnette to a one-year deal because the 2020 first-round choose appears to be like to make his return to the NFL following quite a few authorized points, sources informed ESPN on Wednesday.
Arnette most just lately was within the UFL, taking part in for the Houston Roughnecks in 2025.
The signing comes shortly after, on June 10, a Colorado federal decide ordered Arnette to pay greater than $78,000 to a dancer who mentioned he assaulted her at a March 2023 home get together. Arnette was accused of placing the lady and smashing her head into the bottom.
A primary-round choose by the Las Vegas Raiders out of Ohio State, Arnette was launched within the November 2021 season after taking part in a mixed 13 video games over two seasons whereas going through a lawsuit for an alleged hit-and-run and after a video surfaced of Arnette making demise threats whereas brandishing firearms.
The Dolphins signed Arnette to their observe squad in December 2021, however he by no means appeared in any video games and wasn’t re-signed by Miami within the offseason. The Kansas Metropolis Chiefs signed him to a futures contract on Jan. 20, 2022, however he was launched Jan. 29 after he was jailed in Las Vegas on two counts of assault with a lethal weapon, carrying or concealing a gun with no allow, possession of a managed substance, and possession of marijuana or hashish.
The January 2022 case was dropped by the Clark County District Lawyer’s Workplace, however in Might 2023, a grand jury indicted Arnette on assault with a lethal weapon and firearm-related costs associated to the incident. Arnette agreed to a plea deal.
Arnette hadn’t signed with an NFL crew for the reason that Chiefs and located himself in extra authorized bother.
In July 2022, Arnette was arrested in Miami on costs of possession of a managed substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and driving with a suspended license. In January 2024, Arnette was arrested and charged with possession of lower than a gram of meth and illegal carrying of a firearm in Richardson, Texas.
Arnette reportedly entered a diversion program for the Miami costs. His legal professionals mentioned on the time that the Texas arrest was as a consequence of Arnette being unable to offer a prescription for a lawful treatment.
The Texans informed ESPN they’ve “no remark” concerning Arnette’s authorized historical past.
