Houston Texans activate cancer-free safety Hal; inspirational return to football soon

The Houston Texans activated safety Andre Hal on Saturday, the next step in his inspirational return to football after a successful battle with Hodgkin lymphoma.

Hal, 26, had been on the non-football illness since his diagnosis in early June. He announced last month that his cancer was in remission and he returned to practice on Wednesday.

He is on the active roster for Sunday's game at Jacksonville.

Hal was selected by the Texans in the seventh round of the 2014 NFL Draft out of Vanderbilt. He has appeared in 61 games with the Texans (38 starts) and has nine career interceptions.

To make room for Hal, Houston waived second-year linebacker Daeshon Hall.