NFL teams
Tania Ganguli, ESPN Staff Writer 10y

Danieal Manning, Texans reunite

NFL, Cincinnati Bengals, Houston Texans

Safety Danieal Manning never wanted to leave the Houston Texans, and after an offseason away, he's getting another opportunity with the team, his agent Russel Hicks said. Manning is flying to Houston on Sunday and is expected to sign with the team on Monday pending a physical.

"It was just a situation where some things happened and I think both he and the team were looking at some things from a [different] view point," Hicks said. "I think they both realize the best place for him was here."

Manning originally joined the Texans before the 2011 season on a contract worth $20 million over four years. He was one of two free agents signed to the secondary that offseason, joining cornerback Johnathan Joseph. With the help of their additions, along with that of defensive coordinator Wade Phillips, the Texans' pass defense went from one of the worst in the league to one of the best.

Houston offered Manning a pay cut after the 2013 season and released him when he declined it. Manning spent this past offseason with the Cincinnati Bengals, but was released as rosters were trimmed down to 53. Because Manning is a vested veteran, he became a free agent immediately.

Manning, a 32-year-old Texas native, is coming off a season that ended with him being placed on injured reserve after suffering a severely hyperextended knee.

"Health wise he's perfect," Hicks said. "He may be in better shape than when he left. His leg was fine. He was cleared to play. He played all four [preseason games]. It just wasn't good fit for him in [Cincinnati]. It was a numbers game. It happens like that. The right fit for you is the right fit for you."

The Texans initially kept five safeties on their roster -- Kendrick Lewis, D.J. Swearinger, Chris Clemons, Eddie Pleasant and Shiloh Keo, but Clemons, who signed as a free agent this spring, was released to make room for Manning.

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