Ten-year veteran linebacker Robert Jones is ready to add another travel sticker to his luggage and, while he probably feels like a ping-pong ball given the events of the past month, at least he's got a job and an opportunity to be a starter again.

Abruptly released last week by the Houston Texans, after only a three-week stint with the expansion team, Jones has signed a one-year contract with the Green Bay Packers. While financial details were not immediately available, the deal is believed to be for $750,000, the minimum base salary for a player of Jones' tenure.

Jones, 32, will have a chance to compete for the starting middle linebacker job. He had visited with Green Bay officials earlier this spring but opted to sign with Houston instead. When he was released, the Packers quickly contacted agent Jordan Woy.

"It's another opportunity and, in this league, sometimes that's all you can ask," Jones said. "The Packers are a great organization and I hope I can be a part of it."

The Packers earlier this spring released incumbent middle linebacker Bernardo Harris in a cap-related move. The current starter there is second-year veteran Torrance Marshall, but there are some doubts about his ability to remain atop the depth chart. The Packers might also be interested in Jacksonville linebacker Hardy Nickerson, who is expected to be released next month.

For now, Jones provides a solid insurance policy and depth, since he has been a starter at all three linebacker positions in his career. Jones became expendable in Houston when the Texans signed Allen Aldridge, an equally versatile but younger linebacker who can also handle the deep-snapping chores.

Jones began his career as the first-round choice of the Dallas Cowboys in the 1992 draft. He played four seasons with the Cowboys, was a fixture on their stellar defense, and was a part of three Super Bowl championship teams. Since his departure from the team in 1996, though, Jones has never played longer than three seasons in one city.

The former East Carolina star has been with the St. Louis Rams (1996-97), Miami Dolphins (1998-2000) and the Redskins (2001). Jones played in 15 games for Washington last season and started nine of them, recording 40 tackles.

Len Pasquarelli is a senior writer for ESPN.com.