Quarterback Dan Orlovsky visited with the Texans on Saturday, just a day after Patrick Ramsey spent some time in Houston. Orlovsky opted to become a free agent after Daunte Culpepper was given the starting job in Detroit.

The Texans have agreed to terms with defensive end Antonio Smith on a five-year, $35 million deal. Smith, who appeared in the Super Bowl with the Cardinals earlier this month, will receive $24 million over the first three years of the contract.

The Texans released defensive end Anthony Weaver, safety Will Demps and defensive tackle Ephraim Salaam in a cost-cutting move on Wednesday.

Having traded backup Sage Rosenfels to the Vikings, the Texans are keeping their eyes on a number of quarterbacks in the event that starter Matt Schaub goes down with an injury. Free agency begins on Friday, and the team could look in the direction of Dan Orlovsky, Rex Grossman, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Jeff Garcia or Patrick Ramsey.

The Vikings are expected to officially land quarterback Sage Rosenfels in a trade with the Texans soon, and reward him with a contract extension shortly after. Rosenfels has a year remaining on his contract, but the Vikings have offered him a $9 million, three-year extension, according to SportsRadio 610 in Houston. Acquiring Rosenfels likely spells the end for Gus Frerotte in Minnesota. Click here to follow the Rosenfels discussion on RealGM's forums

The trade cannot be consummated until Friday, but the Texans will send quarterback Sage Rosenfels to the Vikings for a fourth-round draft pick. Houston will also waive defensive end Anthony Weaver, who would have made base salaries of $3.5 million this year and $4 million in 2010.

The Texans and Vikings are reportedly close to a trade that would send quarterback Sage Rosenfels to Minnesota, possibly for a fourth-round draft pick. The Vikings were also interested in Rosenfels last offseason, but the Texans weren't happy with the offer that was made.

The Texans saved themselves about $8.5 million by cutting running back Ahman Green and linebacker Morlon Greenwood on Tuesday. Green and Greenwood signed with the Texans as free agents in 2007 and 2005, respectively, but both lost their starting jobs last season. The play of rookie Steve Slaton made Green expendable in Houston. "Ahman was a different deal because of the injures," Texans coach Gary Kubiak said. "Slaton's performance helped us make this decision. "I told Ahman I appreciated what he gave us and that I was sorry it didn't work out. He wants to keep playing, and I wished him the best."

Houston wide receiver Andre Johnson believes that 2008 was his best season in the NFL, and is hoping to improve on his statistics next season. "I felt like I had a great season," Johnson said. "It's the best season I've had since I've been in the NFL. I'm going to continue to work and hopefully next year I go out and have a better season than I did this season." Johnson led the NFL with 115 receptions for 1,575 yards (13.7 avg.) and eight touchdowns in 2008.

The NFL will investigate charges that the Texans violated the league's offseason workout policy by having players participate in illegal drills. Commissioner Roger Goodell could penalize the team by taking away a week of organized team activities, with a fine, or, by taking a fourth-round draft pick. The league prohibits one-on-one drills during the OTAs and minicamp, but guard Dan Stevenson and former offensive tackle Jordan Black claim in grievances that they were two of three players who suffered season-ending injuries participating in illegal contact drills.