The Sports Xchange

HOUSTON — The Houston Texans decided to place third-string quarterback Tom Savage on injured reserve, ending his season.

After undergoing further magnetic resonance imaging exams to determine the extent of the damage to his severely sprained right, throwing shoulder, suffered Thursday against the Dallas Cowboys during a preseason finale, the Texans shut down Savage. The injury development leaves the Texans in need of reinforcements behind starter Brian Hoyer and backup Ryan Mallett.

The Texans found it by signing former Denver Broncos quarterback Zac Dysert to their practice squad.

Dysert is a former Broncos seventh-round draft pick who was cut by Denver this preseason. He broke most of Ben Roethlisberger’s passing records at Miami of Ohio.

A seventh-round draft pick of the Broncos from Miami of Ohio, Dysert broke most of Ben Roethlisberger’s collegiate passing records. The Ohio native passed for 12,013 career yards.

With the Broncos, he learned behind Peyton Manning and Brock Osweiler and was on the practice squad last season. He was cut this year during the preseason when he was beaten out by rookie quarterback Trevor Siemian and was briefly with the Chicago Bears before being released.

The Texans also signed seventh-round running back Kenny Hilliard, wide receiver and return specialist Chandler Worthy, inside linebacker Max Bullough, safeties Kurtis Drummond and Corey Moore, defensive end Dan Pettinato, former Philadelphia Eagles tight end Eric Tomlinson and former Cleveland Browns offensive guard Karim Barton.

— A sixth-round draft pick from Rice, defensive lineman Christian Covington was consistent throughout the preseason in displaying mobility and versatility. Covington was excellent in pursuit, recording 10 tackles in four preseason games. Although undersized for a nose tackle at 6-foot-2, 289 pounds, Covington held up fine at the point of attack against big offensive linemen and also showed he was athletic enough to play defensive end.

He made the team over nose tackle Louis Nix III.

“Dream come true, I’m taking it in right now,” Covington said. “I can’t be satisfied. I’m looking forward to the journey that lies ahead. I can’t wait to be on that field come Sunday.”

It was an extremely joyful day for Covington.

“Everything really, excitement, joy, gratitude, appreciation,” Covington said. “It’s something I’ve wanted for a long time. To finally see one of my dreams come true, it was a real feeling.”

Covington declared for the draft after missing time last season with a knee injury. The native of Vancouver, British Columbia finished with nine career sacks for the Owls.

“It was a risk coming out early, especially with the injury that I had,” Covington said. “It turned out for the best.”

— The Texans signed veteran long snapper Jon Weeks to a four-year, $3.9 million contract extension through the 2019 season.

The deal includes $330,000 guaranteed in the form of a $250,000 signing bonus and $80,000 guaranteed of his base salary for 2016.

Weeks’ base salaries are $825,000, $825,000, $900,000, $915,000 and $930,000.

Entering his sixth season, Weeks is one of the most reliable long snappers in the NFL. The former Baylor player has never missed a game, playing in 80 consecutive career games since joining the team in 2010.

Notes: Running back Arian Foster remains on track to return by late September or early October and is making steady progress after undergoing groin surgery, according to The Houston Chronicle. . . . Guard Xavier Su’a-Filo is on track to return this week from a soft-tissue injury in his foot and ankle, according to The Houston Chronicle. . . . Running back Alfred Blue is improving as a goal-line runner and scored a touchdown by diving over the top of the Saints’ defense in the third preseason game. . . . Outside linebacker Jadeveon Clowney is set to play against the Chiefs after having microfracture surgery in December, but will be on a limited basis in terms of playing time. . . . Outside linebacker John Simon is slated to start opposite OLB Whitney Mercilus against the Chiefs.