Houston, TX (Sports Network) - Houston Texans running back James Allen, who announced his retirement two weeks ago after six seasons in the NFL, has decided he wants to play in the league again.

The Texans placed Allen on the reserved-retired list so that the team still holds his rights.

The 28-year-old Allen played in all 16 regular-season games for Houston last year, carrying the ball 155 times for 519 yards without a touchdown. Allen, who split time with Jonathan Wells in the backfield, also caught 47 balls for 302 yards.

Allen spent the first five seasons of his NFL career with Chicago before signing with Houston as a free agent in March 2002.

In 2000, Allen rushed for a career-best 1,120 yards and scored two touchdowns for the Bears.

The Oklahoma product was originally signed as a rookie free agent by Tennessee in 1997. Allen spent time with Philadelphia before being signed off the Eagles' practice squad by the Bears in 1997.