Texans sign former Iowa QB Mark Gronowski to practice squad

After a whirlwind month of August for former Iowa football quarterback Mark Gronowski , where he was cut and re-signed multiple times by the Miami Dolphins , the 6-foot-2, 227-pounder has found a new home in the NFL.

In Houston , he figures to serve as the emergency third quarterback behind starter C.J. Stroud and backup Davis Mills . An emergency third quarterback must be on the 53-man roster or as one of two standard practice squad elevations per week. An elevated quarterback would have to be active for the game rather than in the emergency role. A player can be activated three times per season.

During his two preseason appearances with the Dolphins, Gronkowski was 6 for 13 passing for 98 yards and added 37 yards on the ground in 41 offensive snaps.

In his lone season at Iowa , Gronowski passed for 1,741 yards and 10 touchdowns and ran for an additional 545 yards and 16 scores. The Hawkeyes posted a 9-4 (6-3 Big Ten) record last season with Gronowski under center.

After second-year and former Wisconsin Badger quarterback Graham Mertz suffered a torn ACL in the preseason opener against the Los Angeles Chargers , the Texans needed to find depth options under center. Following initial roster cutdowns, Houston was the league's only team not to carry a third option on its initial practice squad.

Here's a refresher on Gronowski's NFL transactions to this point:

Mark Gronowski NFL transactions timeline

Aug. 16, 2026: Re-signs with Miami Dolphins on a one-year, $885,000 (nonguaranteed) contract

Aug. 31, 2026: Re-signs with Miami Dolphins' practice squad after clearing waivers

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