The Houston Texans have signed troubled free-agent cornerback Damon Arnette after he revived his dormant pro football career with the UFL’s Houston Roughnecks following a series of disturbing arrests.

Arnette was one of two Las Vegas Raiders first-round picks in 2020 to ultimately be released amid serious legal problems.

While receiver Henry Ruggs III remains in prison for the 2021 drunk-driving crash that killed 23-year-old Tina Tintor, Arnette has been accused of litany of crimes: Fleeing the scene of a vehicular collision, brandishing a firearm and making death threats, ᴀssault with a ᴅᴇᴀᴅly weapon, carrying a concealed weapon without a permit, stealing an OnlyFans model’s Cartier watch, several drug charges and driving on a suspended license.

Thanks to a plea deal, he was sentenced to only 50 hours of community service and a $2,000 fine for his 2022 ᴀssault arrest in Las Vegas.   

Most recently, in January of 2024, Arnette was picked up in Richardson, Texas and charged with possession of methamphetamine and unlawful carrying of a firearm. His lawyers later claimed Arnette was unable to provide a prescription for a lawful medication.

‘Our client, at the time of the stop, was unable to provide law enforcement with his prescription for a lawful medication,’ read his attorneys’ statement. ‘The arrest was predicated on Mr. Arnette being unable to prove the medication was prescribed. Had he been able to do so at the time of the stop, there would have been no arrest for either the controlled substance of the firearms.’ 

The Texans told ESPN they have ‘no comment’ on Arnette’s legal history.  

Arnette has been accused of litany of crimes: Fleeing the scene of a vehicular collision, brandishing a firearm and making death threats among other alleged violations 

Former Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Damon Arnette is pictured in this 2022 mugsH๏τ

Outside of practice-squad stints with the Miami Dolphins and Kansas City Chiefs, Arnette was out of football until signing with the Roughnecks in the upstart UFL this season.

Now 28, Arnette was initially rejected by UFL executive vice president and former Dallas Cowboys star Daryl Johnston due to his past, which led the former Buckeyes star to make some personal changes.

‘One, I had to take a look in the mirror,’ Arnette said, as quoted by Reuters. ‘I had to make some serious life changes. And the main thing that I did was I invited back my support system, my foundation, and that’s probably something I will never let go of again because I see how dangerous it is to be trying to navigate in a new world, new environment, new situations with no experience.

‘So, I definitely learn from that end. I said to coach Johnston, I needed him to tell me no, that I couldn’t play.’

Arnette now joins a Houston secondary that includes All-Pro cornerback Derek Stingley Jr., former Philadelphia Eagles safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson, and impressive second-year corner Kamari Lᴀssiter.