Free agent defensive end N.D. Kalu has agreed to a one-year deal to return to the Texans for the 2008 season, Fox 26 in Houston is reporting.

Kalu, who has spent the last two years with the Texans, played 15 games and started one in 2007. He plays mostly as a situational pass rusher, and he had three sacks last season. He has previously played for the Eagles and Redskins.

Although Kalu is far from a household name, one thing he is known for is his criticism of the NFL and NFL Players Association for failing to take care of retired players who are suffering from long-term health consequences of injuries they sustained during their playing careers. During the 2007 off-season, he said he thought every active player would be willing to give up some money to make sure retired players had health care.

“I couldn’t imagine guys on my teams that I played with, played for who wouldn’t. If every player just put $10,000 into a fund I’m sure that would help immensely, and I don’t think guys would shy away from doing that . . . . It’s a shame that [then-NFLPA president] Troy Vincent or [NFLPA executive director] Gene Upshaw didn’t come to the table and suggest such a thing.”

No financial terms of his new contract with the Texans have been reported.