Brooks Reed is carted off the field in the second quarter of the Thanksgiving day game against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field. Photo by Andrew Weber-US PRESSWIRE

Texans D takes a hit — Brooks Reed expected to miss 3-4 weeks with a groin injury. No surgery, but tough loss as home-field race heats up.

— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) November 23, 2012

Former Arizona Wildcats defensive end Brooks Reed will be out at least three-to-four weeks because of groin injury suffered while playing for the Houston Texans on Thanksgiving, according to a report from the NFL Network.

Reed was injured in a 34-31 victory over the Detroit Lions.

The second-year pro could be out for as much as six weeks, wrote Tania Ganguli of the Houston Chronicle, which would take the timetable for his return into the playoffs. Houston is 10-1, leading the race to home-field advantage through the AFC playoffs.

Reed has 23 tackles, including 2.5 for loss, and a forced fumble. He had six sacks as a rookie.

Meanwhile, Philadelphia rookie quarterback Nick Foles will make his second consecutive start in place of Michael Vick (concussion). Foles struggled in a 31-6 loss to Washington last week, but ESPN analyst Ron Jaworski saw some positives and says Foles will be a ‘good one’ in the NFL.

Foles will be in the spotlight, as the Eagles play Carolina on Monday night.

Rob Gronkowski had a good time on the ESPYs red carpet with tennis player Daniela Hantuchova. Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images

NFL camps have started … do you know where your former Arizona Wildcats are?

Offseason news has been dominated by ex-UA tight end Rob Gronkowski, who followed up his record-setting second season with the New England Patriots with what is widely referred to as the “Summer of Gronk.”

Let the Boston Globe describe it:

“Gronkowski, in no particular order, won a celebrity home run derby at the Triple-A All-Star Game (reportedly hitting one 325 feet), appeared on The Choice, a dating show, co-hosted Access Hollywood Live, judged a celebrity bikini contest in Las Vegas and walked the ESPY’s red carpet. He also attended the premier of the movie “Ted,” hung out with Kim Kardashian, was one of the naked cover boys for ESPN The Magazine, and ran a viral video campaign trying to land on the cover of the Madden video game.

Oh, and he also signed a six-year contract extension worth $54 million – the richest deal ever given to a tight end. It includes $18.17 million in guaranteed money.”

Oh, to be Gronk.

Gronk is the headliner among the former Arizona Wildcats in the NFL, with 22 players on camp rosters.

Here is a look at who is where:

Colin Baxter, C, San Diego
Baxter, who started an Arizona Wildcats record 48 consecutive games, bounced between the Chargers and the New York Jets as a rookie. The former undrafted free agent is battling for a backup spot in camp with San Diego.

Recent story: Baxter, Molk at center of Chargers competition (San Diego Union-Tribune)

Lance Briggs, LB, Chicago
Briggs is the most-decorated of the former Wildcats in the NFL, a stalwart on the Bears’ defense for the past nine seasons, recording 969 tackles. Being selected to seven consecutive Pro Bowls puts him in unbelievable company in franchise history; Bill George, Dick Butkus and Mike Singletary are the only other Bears to accomplish that. He is still going strong at 31, and he signed a contract extension in the spring to take him through the 2014 season.

Eben Britton, OT, Jacksonville
Britton started 15 games at right tackle as a rookie in 2009, but injuries have limited him to 11 games over the past two seasons. The Jags hope he can lock down the right tackle position, again, in camp.

Antoine Cason, CB, San Diego
Cason, the 2007 Jim Thorpe Award winner and the brightest defensive star of the Mike Stoops era, has started the past two seasons for the Chargers, breaking up 17 passes each year. The former first-round pick has 10 career interceptions in four NFL seasons.

Juron Criner could be quite a catch for the Raiders. Photo by Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-US PRESSWIRE

Juron Criner, WR, Oakland
One of the most prolific receivers in school history (209 catches for 2,859 yards and a UA-record 32 touchdowns), Criner drew rave reviews in Raiders’ OTAs and minicamps after being selected in the fifth round. Could be a steal.

Recent story: Raiders’ Criner signs contract on eve of first practice (CBSSports.com)

Gino Crump, WR, Arizona Cardinals
The undrafted free agent had a good senior season (65 catches, 610 yards, two TDs) and was signed by the Cardinals on May 30. Before that, he attended the Buffalo Bills mini-camp, but was retained. Said Cardinals star WR Larry Fitzgerald in the Arizona Republic in June: “He’s explosive; he has really good hands, a good feel.”

David Douglas, WR, New York Giants
Douglas faces long odds as an undrafted free agent, but he showed great hands and route running at Arizona, and his athleticism was often underrated. He made 117 receptions in his final two seasons with the Cats.

Ricky Elmore, OLB, San Diego
He was a sixth-round pick of the Green Bay Packers in 2011, but didn’t make it through camp while trying to transition from a prolific college defensive end to NFL outside linebacker. Elmore, who had 21.5 sacks in his final two seasons at Arizona, is getting another chance with the Chargers.

Nick Foles, QB, Philadelphia
An Arizona quarterback in the NFL? Foles, who rewrote the Wildcats passing records, will try to become the first former UA quarterback to throw a pass in an NFL game since Bill Demory in 1973. Foles, a third-round pick, could battle Mike Kafka for the No. 2 spot on the depth chart behind Michael Vick, according to some reports.

Recent story: Foles has strategy to attack Birds’ playbook (CSNPhilly.com)

Nick Folk, PK, New York Jets
Folk, who made the Pro Bowl as a rookie with the Dallas Cowboys in 2007, has connected on 49 of 64 field goals in his two seasons with the Jets and has hit from beyond 50 yards in each of his five NFL seasons. He and veteran kicker Josh Brown will compete in camp for a roster spot.

Robert Golden, DB, Pittsburgh
Golden, an undrafted free agent, started at cornerback and safety with Arizona. He’ll be trying to latch on with the Steelers at safety.

Adam Grant, OT, Denver
Undrafted after the 2010 season, Grant stuck with the Broncos’ practice squad all of last season and was invited back to camp.

Chris Gronkowski, FB, Denver
His favorable rookie season in Dallas in 2010 took a bad turn when he missed a block that got quarterback Tony Romo injured. Gronkowski played seven games for the Colts last season before being shut down because of a torn pectoral muscle. Perhaps he will get a chance to do this season what he didn’t last year with the Colts — protect Peyton Manning.

Rob Gronkowski, TE, New England
The NFL party boy is coming back from post-Super Bowl ankle surgery (he says it’s 100 percent) and he will try to continue his march toward being one of the great tight ends in NFL history. He caught 90 passes for 1,327 yards and 17 touchdowns last season (a record for tight ends).

Recent story: Bill Simmons tells three crazy Rob Gronkowski stories from the ESPYs (BusinessInsider.com)

Spencer Larsen, FB, New England
The former All-Pac-10 linebacker was a two-way player for his first two seasons in Denver, famously starting at fullback and at linebacker in the same game as a rookie. After four seasons with the Broncos, Larsen moved on to the Patriots in the offseason. He signed a two-year contract but will have to earn a roster spot in camp; his special teams ability will help.

Earl Mitchell, DT, Houston
Mitchell is a third-year pro who has been a solid contributor to the Texans, making 55 career tackles, and he’s back to battle Shaun Cody again for playing time at nose tackle. He might not be the traditional plugger in the middle of the 3-4 front, but he puts his athleticism to good use and should have a long NFL career.

Fendi Onobun, TE, Buffalo
The former Arizona basketball power forward, who played one season of football at the University of Houston, is on his fifth NFL team after being a sixth-round pick of the St. Louis Rams in 2010. He has played in four NFL games, making two catches.

Brooks Reed, OLB, Houston
Reed was excellent as a rookie last season, stepping into a starting role and making 45 tackles, including six sacks in the regular season. The former UA defensive end — a second-round pick — is quick with his pass-rushing first step, and Wildcats fans know all about his relentless motor.

Recent story: Texans LB coach: Sky’s the limit for Brooks Reed (Houston Chronicle)

D’Aundre Reed, DE, Minnesota
Reed, despite being a backup at Arizona, was intriguing enough as an athlete to be a seventh-round pick in 2011. He was not active for any game last season.

Mike Thomas, WR, Jacksonville
Thomas, a fourth-round pick in 2009, set a franchise rookie record with 48 catches for 453 yards. He followed up with team-highs in catches in each of the past two seasons, although the Jags’ aerial attack was rather anemic last year with rookie QB Blaine Gabbert. Thomas, who caught 44 passes for 415 yards last season, will have a new running mate this season to spark the passing game — two-time Biletnikoff winner Justin Blackmon from Oklahoma State.

Paul Vassallo, LB, Arizona
Vassallo, signed as an undrafted rookie free agent, made 172 tackles, including 13 for loss, in his two seasons with the Wildcats after transferring from junior college.

Trevin Wade, CB, Cleveland
The seventh-round rookie had a solid senior season, bouncing back from junior struggles, and looked good in various offseason activities. “I think he’s got a feel for playing the game at corner,” Browns coach Pat Shurmer recently told the Cleveland Plain Dealer.

Waived
–DE Lionel Dotson (Buffalo)

NOTE: Former UA returner/receiver Travis Cobb, an undrafted free agent after the 2010 season, worked out for the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday.

Brooks Reed will be looking to build off a productive rookie season. Photo by Brett Davis-US PRESSWIRE

Rob Gronkowski running after the catch was one of the best parts of the Mike Stoops era. Tucson Citizen photo

Mike Stoops was the football coach of the Arizona Wildcats for 7 1/2 seasons, during which time he brought in some of the program’s all-time brightest stars.

Cornerback Antoine Cason won the 2007 Jim Thorpe Award as the nation’s top defensive back and was a late first-round pick in 2008.

Wide receiver Mike Thomas is the Pac-12 career leader in receptions.

Tight end Rob Gronkowski was a beast — albeit, all too briefly at Arizona — before quickly becoming a star with the New England Patriots.

Senior quarterback Nick Foles is on pace to rewrite several school season and career passing records in the next six week.

There definitely were some high notes, but in putting together an All-Stoops team, a couple of issues emerge — the dearth of standouts on the offensive line and a lack of explosive playmakers at linebacker.

Here is a look at the best who played for Stoops — the All-Stoops team:

QB — Nick Foles
For now, Willie Tuitama has Arizona’s career passing record with 9,211 yards, and his early commitment for Stoops’ 2005 recruiting class was perhaps the first big sign that the program was moving again in the right direction.

But Foles is closing in on Tuitama’s record with 7,931 career yards. If he continues at his pace in the first half of the season (375.8 yards per game), he’ll finish the season with 10,186 yards.

RB — Mike Bell, Nic Grigsby
Stoops inherited Bell, who rushed for a combined 1,896 yards and 10 touchdowns in the coach’s first two seasons at Arizona. Grigsby battled injuries in his final two seasons and wasn’t able to replicate his sophomore season (1,153 yards and 13 touchdowns), but he did finish with 2,957 career rushing yards and 28 rushing touchdowns.

This is Mike Thomas scoring on a punt return vs. Washington in 2008. Photo by Gregory Shamus, Getty Images Sport

WR — Mike Thomas, Juron Criner
Thomas was a contributor from his very first game — seven catches for 92 yards and a touchdown at Utah in 2005 — and never stopped putting up good numbers. By the time his career ended with a catch on the final play of the 2008 Las Vegas Bowl, he had a Pac-12 record 260 catches.

Criner makes the list on the strength of his brilliant junior season (82 catches, 1,233 yards, 11 touchdowns). His 24 receiving touchdowns are tied for second in school history.

TE — Rob Gronkowski
He played in only 22 games at Arizona, sitting out 2009 because of back problems and then leaving for the NFL with two seasons of eligibility remaining, but he holds school season and career records for receptions, yards and touchdowns by a tight end.

Gronkowski, a third-team All-American in 2008, had 75 catches for 1,197 yards and 16 touchdowns in those 22 games. And UA fans will forever wonder if his presence in 2009 could have lifted Arizona past Oregon in a mid-November game. The Ducks won in double overtime, robbing the Cats of the chance to be in the driver’s seat for the Pac-12 title.

OL — Colin Baxter, Eben Britton, Adam Grant, Joe Longacre, Mike Diaz
Baxter, with a school-record 48 consecutive starts, is the clear pick at center. Britton was the only Arizona offensive lineman to earn first-team all-conference honors during the Stoops years.

Grant persevered through injuries and became a second-team all-league choice in 2009 and 2010. Longacre, a guard, provided stability with 40 career starts. Diaz started 20 games after transferring from junior college, the bulk of them at left tackle during 2009.

DL — Brooks Reed, Ricky Elmore, Earl Mitchell, Lionel Dotson
Reed and Elmore were high-energy ends for Stoops’ most recent teams. Elmore had 21.5 sacks in the past two seasons. Reed earned first-team all-conference honors last season and had 17 career sacks.

Mitchell and Dotson are the All-Stoops tackles. Mitchell was an anchor after moving from fullback for his final two seasons and developing into an NFL talent. Dotson’s senior season in 2007 — 50 tackles, including nine for loss and 6.5 sacks — was the best for an Arizona interior defensive lineman in several years.

Spencer Larsen takes on USC's Joe McKnight in a 2007 game. Photo by Photo by Donald Miralle/Getty Images

LB — Spencer Larsen, Ronnie Palmer, Xavier Kelley
Larsen returned from a two-year church mission after playing as a freshman in 2002 and joined Stoops’ squad for the 2005 season. He made 131 tackles as a senior in an All-Pac-10 season, and his 312 career tackles were the most for a UA player in the decade.

Palmer, who started 41 games, led the Cats in tackles (85) and tackles for loss (11) in 2008.

The third spot is up for debate. Sterling Lewis? Vuna Tuihalamaka? Paul Vassallo? All were junior college transfers. Kelley — undersized but speedy — was a four-year player who was second-team all-league in 2009.

CB — Antoine Cason, Trevin Wade
Cason had 15 career interceptions, with highlight-making returns for touchdowns in a 2006 upset of No. 8 Cal and a 2006 upset of No. 2 Oregon a year later. Wade gets the nod over Wilrey Fontenot and others. Wade, a senior, has 11 career interceptions and 27 pass break-ups.

S — Darrell Brooks, Michael Johnson
Brooks was a leader on Stoops’ early teams and the coach’s first all-conference player, winning first-team honors in 2005. Johnson was a key junior college transfer, with 107 tackles and five interceptions in two seasons. Plenty of other solid candidates to consider: Cam Nelson, Nate Ness, Robert Golden.

P — Danny Baugher
A leftover from the John Mackovic era, Baugher punter for Stoops for two season and was leading the nation in punting in 2005 when his season ended in the seventh game because of an ACL injury. His average of 47.5 yards that season qualifies as the school season record.

PK — Nick Folk
Jason Bondzio was more accurate on field goals, but Folk had a big leg and went on to make a name for himself in the NFL. Folk, in 2006, also was the Pac-10′s first-team all-conference punter, averaging 44 yards per attempt.

AP — Syndric Steptoe
Steptoe was a versatile performer for the Wildcats, including two punt returns for touchdowns. He played briefly pre-Stoops in 2003, finishing his career with 1,584 receiving yards, 590 punt return yards and 1,757 kick return yards.

Rob Gronkowski celebrates his 10th touchdown of his rookie season, which came against Miami on Jan. 2. Photo by Stew Milne-US PRESSWIRE

Updates with the Vikings waiving OL Conan Amituanai, and the Lions waiving RB Mike Bell and S Michael Johnson on Monday. The Bengals, according to a report, reached an injury settlement with DT Lolomana Mikele before releasing him.

As of Monday night there were 19 former Arizona Wildcats football players on NFL rosters; teams have to cut to 80 by Tuesday and then to 53 by Sept. 3.

Several ex-Cats won’t survive those cuts but could end up on practice squads or hook on with other teams.

Since camps began, seven former Arizona players have been waived — rookie free agent OL Conan Amituanai (Minnesota), rookie free agent receiver Travis Cobb (Chicago), rookie free agent DT Lolomana Mikaele (Cincinnati), running back Chris Henry (Seattle), running back Mike Bell (Lions), defensive back Michael Johnson (Lions) and veteran tight end Brandon Manumaleuna, who failed his physical in Chicago.

Here is a breakdown of who is still standing, for now:

Colin Baxter, C, San Diego
Baxter, who started an Arizona Wildcats record 48 consecutive games, probably won’t crack the final roster as an undrafted free agent, but he does seem a good bet for the practice squad. He also has played guard in preseason games.

Lance Briggs, LB, Chicago
The six-time Pro Bowl player is the most-decorated of the former Wildcats in the NFL, and he has been a stalwart on the Bears’ defense for the past eight seasons, recording 864 tackles. But there could be trouble brewing.

The 30-year-old Briggs is unhappy about his contract, according to the Chicago Tribune, and will demand a trade if he doesn’t get a new one before the end of this season. He will make $3.9 million this season (with bonuses), $4 million next season and $6.5 million in 2013, according to the Tribune.

Eben Britton, OT, Jacksonville
Britton started 15 games at right tackle as a rookie in 2009 and appears to have a long career ahead of him. He missed the final nine games of last season with a shoulder injury, and is suffering from a back injury right now, but he hopes to be ready for the season-opener.

Antoine Cason, DB, San Diego
Cason flourished last season as a starting cornerback in his third year in the NFL, making four interceptions and breaking up 17 passes. He also averaged 16.5 yards on 14 punt returns.

Lionel Dotson, DT, Buffalo
Dotson has been on and off the Miami Dolphins active roster for the past three seasons, appearing in seven games. He seems to be on the bubble with the Bills.

Ricky Elmore, OLB, Green Bay
The rookie sixth-round pick has struggled in camp, according to various reports, as he adjusts to outside linebacker after being a standout defensive end for the Wildcats. He has to work to do to make the final cut.

Nick Folk, PK, New York Jets
Folk, who made the Pro Bowl as a rookie with the Dallas Cowboys in 2007, connected on 30 of 39 field goals last season, his first with the Jets. He re-signed with New York on a one-year deal and is battling Nick Novak for a Jets’ roster spot in the preseason. Folk has made 94 of 120 field goals in four NFL seasons (94 of 120) and all 168 of his extra-point attempts.

Adam Grant, OT, Denver
Overcame injury problems at Arizona to land as a rookie free agent with the Broncos.

Nic Grigsby tries to get away from Atlanta linebacker Robert James in a preseason game. Photo by Dale Zanine-US PRESSWIRE

Nic Grigsby, RB, Miami
Grigsby, probably the most intriguing of the rookie free agents from Arizona, wowed the scouts at UA’s Pro Day in the spring. The Dolphins’ recent signing of veteran Larry Johnson adds to the competition, as Miami already has Reggie Bush and rookie second-rounder Daniel Thomas ahead of Grigsby on the depth chart.

Chris Gronkowski, FB, Dallas
Gronkowski became the Cowboys’ starting fullback last season after joining the team as an undrafted free agent. He’s fighting for a roster spot now with Shaun Chapas and Jason Pociask.

Rob Gronkowski, TE, New England
Had an excellent 2011 season, making 42 catches for 546 yards and 10 touchdowns, which was a franchise record for a rookie. He finished the regular season with his first 100-yard day — with six receptions for 102 yards against Miami. No former Arizona Wildcat had ever made more than seven TD receptions in an NFL season.

Chris Jennings, RB, New York Jets
Jennings, who walked-on to Arizona as a junior college transfer, was playing in the Canadian Football League in 2009 when the Cleveland Browns called. He ended up rushing 63 times for 220 yards that season. He didn’t play in the NFL in 2010, but signed with the Jets in January. Jennings, trying to make the team behind Shonn Greene, LaDainian Tomlinson and Joe McKnight, had a 69-yard run against the Bengals in a preseason game.

Spencer Larsen, FB, Denver
The former All-Pac-10 linebacker was a two-way player for his first two seasons in Denver, famously starting at fullback and at linebacker as a rookie. Now, he is exclusively an offensive player, and he appears headed for a more prominent blocking role as the Broncos will feature more of a power running game this season.

Earl Mitchell, DT, Houston
Second-year pro is battling with former USC Trojan Shaun Cody for a starting spot at nose tackle in the Texans’ new 3-4 scheme. Mitchell made 28 tackles last season as a rookie.

Nate Ness, DB, Miami
Has spent time with four teams after originally signing with the Cleveland Browns as an undrafted free agent in the summer of 2009. Hooked up with the Dolphins during the 2010 season after being released by Seattle. He played in three games with Miami.

Brooks Reed, LB, Houston
The second-round pick is making a successful transition from defensive end to outside linebacker, and had two sacks in a preseason game against New Orleans. From the Houston Chronicle: Texans rookie Reed a real stand-up guy.

D’Aundre Reed, DE, Minnesota
Reed, despite being a backup at Arizona, was intriguing enough as an athlete to be a seventh-round pick in 2011. Reports indicated he looked good early in camp before suffering a camp injury. He’s a solid bet to survive the final cut.

Mike Thomas, WR, Jacksonville
Thomas, a fourth-round pick in 2009, set a franchise rookie record with 48 catches for 453 yards. He followed up in 2010 with team-highs in catches (66) and receiving yards (820), highlighted by one of the plays of the year in the NFL, catching a deflected Hail Mary pass from David Garrard for a last-play touchdown for a 31-24 win over Houston (see video below).

Vuna Tuihalamaka, LB, Indianapolis
He signed in early August after spending the 2010 camp with the Colts as an undrafted free agent. He spent brief time on the Seattle Seahawks practice squad late last season.

Brooks Reed sacks New Orleans quarterback Chase Daniel and forces a fumble on Saturday. Photo by Troy Taormina-US PRESSWIRE

Former Arizona Wildcats defensive end Brooks Reed, coming off an impressive preseason game, is solidifying his spot in the Houston Texans’ rotation as a rookie.

Reed, a second-round pick, had two sacks and forced two fumbles Saturday against the New Orleans Saints.

“He’s probably the one player right now showing the most vast improvement from day-to-day, practice-to-practice and game-to-game,” said Texans coach Gary Kubiak.

Reed is making the transition to outside linebacker, although he plays as a rush end in passing situations.

Kubiak said Reed, a Sabino High graduate, also will be a big help on special teams.

Said Reed in the Houston Chronicle about his Saturday performance: “Besides those two plays, I feel like I could have done better. That’s what the preseason’s for. So far, it’s been a huge learning experience for me.”

Reed is listed second-string at strong-side linebacker. His former University of Arizona teammate, Earl Mitchell, is competing with Shaun Cody for the starting nose tackle position for the Texans.

Brooks Reed takes on a tackling dummy on the first day of camp, Aug. 1. Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images

Arizona sent three defensive ends into the NFL Draft — second-rounder Brooks Reed (Houston), sixth-rounder Ricky Elmore (Green Bay) and seventh-round selection D’Aundre Reed (Minnesota).

Brooks Reed is drawing positive reviews as he makes the conversion to outside linebacker. Texans coach Gary Kubiak said this after evaluating the team’s first preseason game:

“Brooks Reed didn’t have the sacks, so to speak, but when you went back and watched the game, I was very encouraged by him. I thought he did a nice job.”

Meanwhile, Elmore appears to be struggling while trying to make the same position switch to outside linebacker.

Wrote Rob Demovsky of the Green Bay Press-Gazette (one of our Gannett partners):

Time may be running out for Ricky Elmore.

The rookie sixth-round pick just hasn’t shown enough in his conversion from collegiate defensive end to NFL outside linebacker. That’s not to say he won’t but at this point, he looks like a candidate for the practice squad unless another team claims him off waivers.

The Packers had hoped Elmore could become a pass-rushing threat like he was at the University of Arizona, where he had 21 1/2 sacks over his final two seasons while playing with his hand on the ground. But Elmore hasn’t shown the strength or quickness to beat NFL offensive tackles. That was evident again in the one-on-one drill on Wednesday, when he couldn’t beat undrafted rookie Ray Dominguez, who easily has the worst record among all offensive linemen in the drill.

The one-on-one pass rushing/pass blocking drill isn’t the end-all definition of a player, but it can be telling. Elmore has lost eight straight one-on-ones, has a 1-10 record in the drill, hasn’t won a rep since Aug. 4 and his only victory came against Dominguez.

As for D’Aundre Reed, he was impressive early in camp, according to reports, but he has been sidelined lately because of a calf injury.

Brooks Reed's hustle is one reason why he was a second-round pick. Photo by Mark Evans, TucsonCitizen.com

Former Arizona Wildcat defensive end Brooks Reed has some financial security.

Reed, a Sabino High graduate and a second-round pick of the Houston Texas, signed a four-year contract Sunday worth $4.701 million — $2.779 of which is guaranteed. Reed, 24, earned All-Pac-10 honors last season, when he had 6.5 sacks and 10 tackles for loss.

Scouts liked his hustle, variety of pass-rush moves and his versatility, as he will move to strongside linebacker with the Texans.

Reed can still go back to end and contribute there in passing situations.

Ex-Cat Ricky Elmore, a sixth-round pick, has signed and is camp with the Super Bowl champion Green Bay Packers. He, too, is being converted to linebacker.

D’Aundre Reed, the third of Arizona’s defensive ends to be drafted this year, signed the Minnesota as a seventh-round pick.

Ricky Elmore (57) is all smiles as he pushes Ethan Olson, from Coal City, Ill., on his tiny bike on the way to training camp practice at Ray Nitschke Field on Saturday. Photo by Evan Siegle/Green Bay Press-Gazette

Brooks Reed can't show the Texans his on-field moves until the lockout is over. Photo by Mark Evans, TucsonCitizen.com

Former Arizona Wildcats defensive end Brooks Reed says he “kind of feels like a hamster.”

We assume that has to do with the whole thing of running in a wheel and never getting anywhere.

Reed, a second-round pick of the Houston Texans as an outside linebacker, is still in Tucson. He’s not getting anywhere. The NFL lockout prevents him from having contact with the coaches, prevents him from getting the playbook, prevents him from working out at the team’s facilities.

So, he’s working out in Tucson, doing the best he can to get ready, until the NFL labor situation is resolved.

Getting ready means working extra on his conditioning to deal with Houston’s strength-sapping humidity and leaning on the knowledge of former Arizona defensive tackle Earl Mitchell, who was a rookie with the Texans last season.

“I have a few DVDs of games that Earl gave me,” Reed said after a Monday workout. “And Wade Phillips is there; he ran the Cowboys defense. We have some of their film, so I will be watching some of that.”

Phillips is Houston’s new defensive coordinator, switching the Texans from a 4-3 front to a 3-4, which created a need for an outside linebacker. That’s why Reed said he had a hunch Houston would take him when he was available with the 42nd overall pick of the draft.

“It was pretty overwhelming,” Reed said.

“I was up at Frog & Firkin, and every local news station was there, and ESPN cameras. As soon as it happened, they all wanted an interview at the same time, and it like, dang, I can’t even sit down and think about what happened.”

Houston is moving defensive end Mario Williams to the weak-side linebacker spot as a pass rusher. Reed will be competing for playing time on the strong side.

“I’m just working out trying to get in the best possible shape for camp,” Reed said. “It will be a learning curve for me because I will have less time to learn the playbook, and they’re expecting me to compete for that starting job.”

C.J. Parish celebrates with linebacker Jake Fischer (left) after a defensive stop in Saturday's scrimmage.
Photo by David Kadlubowski/The Arizona Republic

Arizona Wildcats senior C.J. Parish figured his career was over. He suffered a concussion last year against Iowa in the third game of the season. Symptoms lingered.

It wasn’t as if he was playing a lot anyway as a hybrid linebacker/defensive end/fullback.

“I was like, ‘This is all over,’” he said.

The bad news was the head injury kept him out of action for the rest of the season.

The good news is that the head injury kept him out of action for the rest of the season.

Because of that, Parish, who had never redshirted, qualified for a medical hardship. The NCAA approved the application, and Parish regained his season of eligibility.

Now, he is one of the big stories of Arizona’s spring ball.

The guy who seemingly had nowhere to play on last season’s team is penciled in as a starting defensive end after the loss of Brooks Reed, Ricky Elmore and D’Aundre Reed.

That’s all great for Parish and the Wildcats.

“Oh, I’m definitely happy,” said Parish, who transferred to Arizona from Blinn College in Brenham, Texas.

“Defensive end is my position. I played it in high school, I played it in junior college. I’ve played a lot of positions, but d-end is something I really favor. I like it a lot.”

There is something else he would like.

“Brooks’ spin move. I really want that,” Parish said with a smile.

“I’ve talked to him about that several times. He has tried to help me with that. That spin move he has is vicious. I tell him, ‘I want to get better, can you help me with that?’ He’s always willing to help me.’”

Parish (6-2, 245 pounds) still has a lot to learn about footwork and reading the placement of the offensive tackle and understanding momentum — some of the tricks of the trade with the spin move — but he does have some raw skills that should help Arizona replace its lost pass rush.

He was a sprinter at A&M Consolidated High School in College Station, Texas.

“We knew he had some speed,” said defensive ends coach Jeff Hammerschmidt.

“I tell you, he’s been a nice surprise. He’s a tough guy. A leader. I think he is going to be good for us. He’ll definitely help us against the passing game.”

Parish is part of an inexperienced group of ends that includes Mohammed Usman, redshirt freshman Dan Pettinato and senior Dominique Austin (who is trying to make the move from tackle). Usman played in only the final three games last season because of an academic suspension after transferring from junior college.

Help could arrive in the fall with junior college transfer Lamar De Rego and freshman Dame Ndiaye.

“Yeah, a lot of people are going to say, ‘You need experience, you need this, you need that,’” Parish said.

“But if you have a group that is willing to work, that is willing to put in the time, the blood, the sweat, the tears … then you can do anything. I don’t ever think anything about us being young. I just feel we’re all go-getters.”

Brooks Reed's speed will fill a team's need at outside linebacker.
Photo by Mark Evans, TucsonCitizen.com

ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper, on a conference call with reporters Wednesday, affirmed what he wrote for the network’s website:

He sees former Arizona defensive end Brooks Reed as a potential late first-round pick.

He has Reed going 32nd — the last pick in the first round — to the Super Bowl champion Green Bay Packers.

“For D-linemen in the second-round mix, a lot of these guys are going in the first,” Kiper was quoted as saying in the Buffalo News. “For second round, I have Brooks Reed of Arizona going in the late first. You would have thought second. But I’ll say late first or second for Brooks Reed.”

As we discussed here, Reed’s burst in the 40-yard dash at the recent NFL Combine sent his pro stock soaring.

That initial speed is what scouts want to see from a pass-rushing outside linebacker, which is where Reed projects at the NFL level.