Report: Former Bills DE Jerry Hughes signs with Texans

The Buffalo Bills have reportedly lost their longest tenured player. 

Defensive end Jerry Hughes had been a free agent for a few weeks with his contract expiring in March. The Bills had not re-signed him and he had remained a free agent … until now.

According to The Game Day NFL reporter Jordan Schultz, the Houston Texans are signing the 34-year-old. 

Prior to signing with the Texans, the Cleveland Browns were reportedly interested in Hughes as well.

Instead, Hughes opted to sign with his hometown team in Houston.

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In April 2013, the Bills traded for Hughes in a deal with the Indianapolis Colts. Buffalo sent Indianapolis linebacker Kelvin Sheppard in the deal and he was released by Indy in August 2014.

Not a bad trade for former Bills general manager Doug Whaley.

Hughes' best years were his first two with the Bills where he recorded back-to-back 10-sack seasons. In both of those, Hughes was playing across from Mario Williams on Buffalo's defensive front.

Since those years, Hughes had not reached those sack heights in Buffalo. However, he remained a positive pass rusher throughout his tenure with the Bills.

Hughes was a first-round pick of the Colts in 2010, but notched 53 of his 58 career sacks with the Bills.

The NFL veteran later thanked the Bills organization on Instagram. He expressed his gratitude for nine years with the team. 

"To the Pegula’s, my teammates, coaches & staff and of course BillsMafia. I am so thankful for the people I’ve met and friendships that were formed," Hughes wrote. "It’s been an amazing 9years, my family and I enjoyed it all. Forever grateful & unbelievably blessed."