Texans activate Dylan Horton months after cancer diagnosis

HOUSTON – Texans defensive end Dylan Horton was activated from the reserve/non-football injured list Saturday, less than a year after he was diagnosed with late-stage Hodgkin lymphoma.

Horton, who returned to practice Wednesday, was diagnosed with lymph node cancer on Dec. 1. The 24-year-old announced in March that he was in remission.

Coach DeMeco Ryans said it was “great” to have him back at practice this week and raved about his attitude.

“The way he handled it and the attitude he handled it with, he still attacked it with a smile, he approached it every day with a great attitude,” Ryans said Wednesday. “With everything he's been through, I can't say Dylan had a bad day because he never showed it and that's just proof to everyone that no matter what we go through, we do it with the right attitude “Approaching it with a positive attitude really goes a long way and Dylan represents that.”

Horton was selected in the fourth round of the 2023 draft after playing college at both New Mexico and TCU.

He appeared in 10 games last season and had 13 tackles, 2 quarterback hits and a fumble recovery. Horton recorded a season-high three tackles in a 21-16 win over Arizona last season.