A former Pitt wide receiver received some bad news from his NFL team Monday.
The Houston Texans waived Jared Wayne Monday morning to make room for running back Cam Akers, according to a report by Jame Layton. If Wayne isn’t claimed, he’ll be placed on the injured reserve list and likely be released with a settlement down the line.
Wayne didn’t record any stats during his time with the Texans.
Wayne signed with the Texans as an undrafted free agent on May 11 of last year, signing with the practice squad last September and he signed a reserve/future contract in January.
He was selected by the Toronto Argonauts in the 2023 CFL Draft, which could be an option if Wayne wants to head back north.
Wayne played in a couple of preseason game for the Texans last summer but hasn’t had much of an opportunity to this point. He’s a big, physical wideout, measured at the 2023 Pitt Pro Day at a lean 6-foot-2 (and 6/8ths) and 209 pounds, with 9 and 6/8th-inch hands, 33 and 1/8th-inch arms and a long 79 and 5/8th-inch wingspan.
He jumped out of the gym with his 41.5-inch vertical, complementing it with a 10-foot-7-inch broad jump, and while he didn’t hit his fastest time in the 40-yard dash, he showcased solid speed.
He racked up a career-high 60 receptions for 1,063 yards (17.7 yards per reception) and six touchdowns during his final season in Pittsburgh — often serving as Pitt’s sole threat through the air.
He knows the kind of player he is. He’s confident in the kind of player he is, regardless of whether or not that leads to being drafted.
“My body of work speaks for itself,” Wayne said last year. “I put up the numbers, 1,000-yard receiver. I’ve showed that I’m versatile, can play inside and outside. I show off good hands, yards after the catch, explosives.
“It speaks for itself, so I’m very confident in the player I am and know the player that I am, so at the end of the day, if my name’s called, that’s a huge bonus. If not, we’re still working, nothing changes.”
Jared Wayne will now move forward with the next step of his professional career, whether that’s in the NFL, the CFL or wherever.
Wish him well. Enjoyed seeing him play at Pitt.