Texans claimed DT Teair Tart before the Browns could

After Mo Hurst went down for the season, another capable defensive tackle nearly fell in the lap of the Cleveland Browns. Cleveland put in a waiver claim for DT Teair Tart after he was released by the Tennessee Titans. Due to how the waiver order works, Tart was awarded to the Houston Texans. Since the […]

Brandon Little — Ohio State Buckeyes & Cleveland Browns News Writer

Dec 19, 2023 9:47 AM EST

After Mo Hurst went down for the season, another capable defensive tackle nearly fell in the lap of the Cleveland Browns.

Cleveland put in a waiver claim for DT Teair Tart after he was released by the Tennessee Titans. Due to how the waiver order works, Tart was awarded to the Houston Texans.

The Texans joined the Patriots in putting in a claim on QB Nathan Rourke yesterday, but New England had higher priority.

Both the Bengals and Browns put in a claim on new Texans DT Teair Tart, with Houston having top priority.
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) December 19, 2023

Since the waiver order goes off of team record, Tart wouldn’t have made it to the Browns even if Houston did not claim. The Bengals were another team that was interested in the services of Tart.

Hurst is out for the season with a pectoral injury, so the Browns are currently down a player in the middle. Not just any player either because Hurst was playing at a very high level this season.

In 11 games with nine starts, Tart has recorded 21 tackles (8 TFL) and a sack. Tart is in his fourth year and has started 36 of the 45 games he has played in.

At 6-foot-2 and 304 pounds, Tart brings you that prototypical size that you want in the middle of the defensive line.

Cleveland will have to rely on Shelby Harris more, which isn’t a bad thing. Siaki Ika is also seeing his first bit of NFL action. Sometimes things just don’t work out in the NFL and this was one.