Houston, TX -- (Sports Network) - Houston released veteran linebacker Rosevelt Colvin on Friday along with a slew of others in slimming the roster before the Texans' regular season opener on September 7 against Pittsburgh.

A nine-year veteran, Colvin played his first four years in the league with the Chicago Bears before moving on to the New England Patriots, with whom he captured two Super Bowl rings.

Primarily known as a pass rusher, Colvin has 52 1/2 career sacks including a career-high 10 1/2 in both 2001 and 2002. Last season, the Purdue product finished with 28 tackles, four sacks and an interception in 11 games with the AFC champion Patriots.

During his nine-year career, Colvin has appeared in 117 games, starting 75, and has 414 tackles, 13 forced fumbles and nine fumble recoveries.

The Texans also released running backs Marcel Shipp, who had 2,197 career rushing yards during a five-year tenure with the Arizona Cardinals, and Darius Walker, who averaged 66.0 yards in the final four games of the 2007 campaign after going undrafted out of Notre Dame.

Among the others released were: quarterbacks Shane Boyd and Alex Brink, full back Jon Abbate, linebackers Kevis Coley and Ben Moffitt, defensive end Jesse Nading, safety Glenn Earl, center Greg Eslinger, cornerbacks Jamar Fletcher, Dexter Wynn and Derrick Roberson, wide receivers Darnell Jenkins, LeRon McCoy and Mark Simmons, tight end Ryan Krause, defensive tackles Gabe Long and Anthony Maddox and offensive tackle Torrin Tucker.