Texans released WR/KR Trindon Holliday from their practice squad.

Holliday was a fan favorite coming out of LSU thanks to his world-class speed, but he goes just 5'6/169. With the NFL's new kickoff rules, any value he had is circling the toilet.

Texans signed WR/KR Trindon Holliday, WR Jeff Maehl, RB Chris Ogbannaya, S Shiloh Keo, LB Mister Alexander, C Howard Barbieri, and OG Andrew Gardner to their practice squad.

Holliday is going to have a tougher time carving out a lengthy NFL career under the league's new kickoff rules. Maehl is getting the practice squad nod over Dorin Dickerson and Terrence Toliver, who were also released Saturday. Ogbannaya lost out to Steve Slaton for the final backfield roster spot.

Texans KR Trindon Holliday returned to practice Monday after missing all of the preseason with a hamstring injury.

Extremely brittle and undersized, Holliday entered camp as a long shot and confirmed he won't make the team by missing so much action. The Texans' punt returner this year will be Jacoby Jones. Danieal Manning will return kickoffs.

Special teams coordinator Joe Marciano concedes that KR Trindon Holliday could get caught in the roster crunch again this year.

"If I lived in a perfect world, hopefully he'd be our kickoff returner and Jacoby Jones would be our punt returner," said Marciano. "But ... we may not have that luxury." Holliday isn't a strong enough receiver to make the offensive depth chart, and his return skills are mitigated by the new kickoff rules.

The Texans are not expected to keep KR Trindon Holliday on the 2011 roster.

It's players like Holliday who will be most affected by the NFL's kickoff-rule changes -- he has no offensive value. "I don't see him having the hands to be a receiver," writes beat reporter John McClain. "I don't see (the Texans) keeping him to be a kickoff returner, either." If Holliday is cut before the season, he'll finish his Texans "career" with zero games played.

Texans placed KR Trindon Holliday on injured reserve with ligament damage in his thumb, ending his season.

The most over-hyped rookie of the 2010 class, Holliday wasn't more than a track star at LSU, and was never cutout for a full-time NFL special teams role, let alone to contribute at receiver. The Texans will bring him back for a retry in 2011 training camp, but Holliday's long-term outlook is bleak.

Texans WR/KR Trindon Holliday will undergo surgery to repair ligament damage in his thumb on Wednesday.

Coach Gary Kubiak suggested that he will be placed on injured reserve, ending his season. Holliday was a ballyhooed draft pick in Houston, but he never came close to earning a roster spot this summer. Jacoby Jones will remain on punt returns, and Andre' Davis' kickoff return job looks safe as well.

Texans WR/KR Trindon Holliday will visit a doctor to have a ligament injury in his thumb checked out.

The injury has presumably affected Holliday's ability to hang onto the ball, but it hasn't kept him from practicing. He's now considered an extreme longshot to make the Texans' final roster.

Trindon Holliday has given way to Jacoby Jones on punt returns after fumbling in Saturday's preseason game.

He's not going to make the team. Holliday appears "psyched out" right now, according to beat writer John McClain. The coaching staff had been killing all week, and he needed a sterling performance to earn a roster spot. Jones will regain punt return duties this year.

Coach Gary Kubiak called Saturday's game against the Saints a "very big" one for rookie WR/KR Trindon Holliday.

"For him to make this football team, it's got be a big push for him to be a special returner, and that's what he was drafted to do," explained Kubiak. How's that for plain talk? Holliday has to show game-breaking ability this week as a returner, or the Texans will turn back to Jacoby Jones and Andre' Davis.

Texans coach Gary Kubiak admitted Tuesday that rookie WR/KR Trindon Holliday "has really struggled offensively."

Beat writers try to paint a pretty picture of Holliday, but he's no lock to make the roster as a sixth-round pick without receiving value. He's missed some practice due to injury, and needs a strong preseason to oust Andre' Davis.

John McClain of the Houston Chronicle reports via Twitter that WR Trindon Holliday might be "the most popular player at Texans training camp."

Holliday ran one of the fastest 40-yard dash times (officially 4.34) at the NFL Combine in February, but his diminutive size makes him a questionable NFL wideout prospect. Regardless, his extra gear makes him an intriguing option as a kick returner, but we'd be surprised to see the LSU product make consistent contributions as a Texan receiver.

Coach Gary Kubiak has said he wants to groom sixth-round KR/WR Trindon Holliday to play the slot.

Holliday did catch 69 passes in his final two seasons at LSU, but he won't be able to do that at the NFL level. It's hard to see Holliday being effective as a receiver at 5'5/164. The college track star will be limited to trick plays and the return game if he ends up making the final roster.

Coach Gary Kubiak hasn't been satisfied with sixth-round KR Trindon Holliday's work at wide receiver this spring.

"He is what we thought he was as far as his talent and all that," Kubiak said. "But in this league, he's going to have to play wide receiver, so he's got a long, long way to go. He's way behind." The Texans have alternatives on returns with Jacoby Jones and Andre' Davis, so Holliday may not be a lock for the final roster.

Texans agreed to terms with sixth-round KR Trindon Holliday on a multi-year contract.

He's the first rookie to sign. The Texans typically do four-year deals with late-rounders, so that's probably what Holliday got. The 5'5/164-pound college track star has been touted by coach Gary Kubiak as a potential "field changing" return ace. Holliday, who ran a 4.34 forty at the Combine, is expected to take over for Jacoby Jones on punts and Andre' Davis on kickoffs.

Coach Gary Kubiak suggested that sixth-rounder Trindon Holliday will take over on returns for the Texans.

"I think we got a returner that can change the field for us," said Kubiak. "We think he can do wonders for our football team." Jacoby Jones is an excellent punt returner, but the Texans are planning to give him more responsibility at receiver. Kickoff returner Andre' Davis, due $7.25M over the next two years, could be packing his bags.

Texans selected LSU KR Trindon Holliday with the No. 197 overall pick in the 2010 draft.

At a tiny 5'5/166, Holliday is smaller even than 1980s Chargers sensation Lionel "Little Train" James (5'6/171). The 2009 NCAA 100 meter dash champion is an explosive athlete with difference-making speed. Although he could see spot duty on trick plays, Holliday's meal ticket is the return game. With Jacoby Jones already in Houston, Holliday is a longshot to make the final roster unless the Texans cut Andre' Davis.