Houston Texans restricted free agent running back Ryan Moats has signed his one-year tender.

A third-round pick (77th overall) by the Philadelphia Eagles in 2005, Moats was tendered at the "Original Round" level, which for a player with five accrued seasons carries a base salary in 2010 of $1.226 million dollars.

The 5-8, 210-pound running back from Louisiana Tech carried the ball 77 times for 347 yards and three touchdowns during his first two seasons with the Eagles. An ankle injury forced him to miss the 2007 season, and the Eagles waived him before the start of the 2008 season.

After a short stint on the Arizona Cardinals' practice squad, Moats was signed to the Houston Texans' practice squad, and was added to the active roster two weeks later.

In 23 games for the Texans, including a pair of starts last season, Moats has carried the ball 127 times for 484 yards and 5 touchdowns, while adding 16 receptions for 120 yards and a touchdown out of the backfield.

Moats' had a career game last November, when he ran for 126 yards and 3 scores in a 31-10 win over the Buffalo Bills. His performance that week earned him a starting assignment the following week against the Indianapolis Colts, who limited Moats to 38 yards on 16 carries, and forced a critical goal-line fumble late in the first half of a game the Texans would eventually lose, 20-17.

Moats is the fourth Texans restricted free agent to either sign a tender or contract extension this off-season, joining Tim Bulman, Bernard Pollard, and DeMeco Ryans. Still unsigned are Rashad Butler, Owen Daniels, and Chris White.