(SportsRadio 610) - Texans pass rusher Whitney Mercilus is being released in his 10th season with the team, SportsRadio 610 confirmed Monday.
Mercilus is second in franchise history in career sacks (57), tackles for loss (72) and forced fumbles (13). Mercilus had 13 games with two sacks or more, trailing only J.J. Watt, who had 26.
This season, Mercilus has three sacks and 12 tackles, four of them for loss, in six games. Mercilus was benched earlier in the season in favor of Jonathan Greenard and Jacob Martin. His snap count decreased from 65 percent and 62 percent in the first two games, to just 47 percent and 44 percent in the previous two.
Mercilus' exit should allow for more snaps to Greenard, Martin, Jordan Jenkins and possibly Charles Omenihu, who's been a healthy scratch the past two games.
Omenihu, a third-year player, said on Twitter that he would be forever grateful to Mercilus for his mentorship.
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Brandon Scott manages digital content for SportsRadio 610. Follow him on Twitter @brandonkscott.
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