The Houston Texans released tight end Darren Fells and punter Bryan Anger, the team announced Thursday.
The Texans also acquired tight end Ryan Izzo from New England, the Patriots announced. Terms of the trade were not disclosed by New England, but multiple media outlets reported that the swap saw New England acquire a 2022 seventh-round pick.
Fells caught 11 touchdown passes in two seasons with Houston, but was due to earn $2.5 million in 2021, according to the Houston Chronicle.
Fells, who turns 35 next month, caught 21 passes for 312 yards and four scores in 16 games (14 starts) in 2020.
He has 123 receptions for 1,483 yards and 21 touchdowns in 102 games (76 starts) with the Arizona Cardinals (2014-16), Detroit Lions (2017), Cleveland Browns (2018) and Houston.
Anger, 32, averaged 46.4 yards per punt with six touchbacks in 16 games last season. He spent the past two seasons with the Texans after stints with the Jacksonville Jaguars (2012-15) and Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2016-18).
Izzo, 25, played in 12 games (all starts) for the Patriots last season but became expendable after the team signed Hunter Henry and Jonnu Smith in free agency. Izzo had 13 catches for 199 yards in 2020.