HOUSTON — The Houston Texans have signed free agent defensive tackle Shaun Cody.

Cody has spent his entire four-year career with the Detroit Lions, who drafted him in the second round in 2005. A career backup, he appeared in each game for the Lions last season with four starts and finished with a career-high 36 tackles.

The 26-year-old Cody has 91 tackles and 1› sacks in his career.

He'll join a group of defensive linemen that includes first-round draft picks Mario Williams — the top overall pick in 2006 — Amobi Okoye and Travis Johnson, as well as recently added defensive end Antonio Smith.