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Houston Texans News & Rumors

Texans Set 53-Man Roster

August 30th, 2022 at 8:27pm CST by Ben Levine

The Texans released a number of veterans today as they reduced their roster to 53 players:

Released:

Waived:

Waived/injured:

Placed on IR:

Placed on short-term IR;

Davis Mills and Kyle Allen sit atop Houston’s QB depth chart, making Jeff Driskel expendable, but there’s a chance the veteran sticks around as a third quarterback via the practice squad. Driskel spent the 2021 campaign in Houston, getting into a single game. He’s started nine of his 16 career games, tossing 13 touchdowns vs. eight interceptions.

Chris Conley has spent seven seasons in the NFL, and he could have provided some experience to the receivers room. There’s a chance the veteran could end up back in Houston, as the Texans decided to carry only four wideouts in Nico Collins, Brandin Cooks, Phillip Dorsett, and Chris Moore.

Antony Auclair started 13 games for Houston last season, mostly serving as a blocking tight end. Terrence Brooks started three of his 11 appearances, collecting 21 tackles.

Texans To Waive G Max Scharping

August 30th, 2022 at 2:44pm CST by Sam Robinson

Not long after trading a 2020 second-round pick to the Vikings, the Texans are moving on from a 2019 Round 2 choice. Max Scharping is being waived, ProFootballNetwork.com’s Aaron Wilson tweets.

This move comes after an effort to trade the fourth-year guard, per ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler (on Twitter). Scharping, 26, has considerable starting experience (33 games) and could be an interesting add for a team in need on the O-line interior.

[RELATED: Texans Trade DT Ross Blacklock To Vikings]

The Northern Illinois alum, however, bounced in and out of Houston’s starting lineup during his three-year tenure. He did suit up for all 17 Texans games last season but only started 11, being moved off the full-time starter tier at the midseason point. The Texans also drafted Scharping before their current Nick Caserio-headed regime arrived. Scharping graded just outside the top 50, per Pro Football Focus, among guards last season.

Houston fired GM Brian Gaine shortly after the draft that produced Scharping and first-round offensive lineman Tytus Howard. The latter, however, remains with Houston, which picked up its right tackle’s fifth-year option earlier this offseason. Houston was active at guard this offseason as well, signing ex-Jacksonville starter A.J. Cann and using a first-round pick on Kenyon Green.

Vikings To Acquire DT Ross Blacklock From Texans

August 30th, 2022 at 2:01pm CST by Sam Robinson

Former second-round pick Ross Blacklock is changing teams. The Texans are trading the third-year defensive tackle to the Vikings, Tom Pelissero of NFL.com tweets.

Acquired prior to the Nick Caserio regime taking over, Blacklock will head to Minnesota with two years left on his rookie deal. Blacklock could not carve out a starting role in Houston and will likely be better remembered for being taken with the pick acquired in the 2020 DeAndre Hopkins trade.

This is a pick-swap trade. The Texans will land a sixth-round pick for Blacklock and a seventh, Pelissero adds (on Twitter). The TCU product did not play in the Texans’ final preseason game, having suffered a leg injury. Blacklock was on Houston’s roster bubble coming into Tuesday, but the team managed to land a late-round asset instead of sending him to the waiver wire.

Blacklock, 24, started just three games with the Texans. Sixth-rounder Roy Lopez had moved ahead of him last season. Blacklock did register two sacks, a forced fumble and six quarterback hits in 2021, indicating a glimmer of potential as he heads north.

This does put a bow on the Hopkins haul for Houston. The Texans stunned the football world by dealing their perennial Pro Bowl wideout to the Cardinals for David Johnson and a second-round pick. Houston also obtained a 2021 fourth in that deal, but the primary additions from the widely panned Bill O’Brien-era deal (Johnson and Blacklock) are no longer with the team.

The Vikings are shifting to a 3-4 scheme for the first time in decades, and they now have another piece — one that played in a 3-4 base in Houston — to go along with UFA addition Harrison Phillips and 2021 signing Dalvin Tomlinson, among others. While Tomlinson and Phillips will be Vikings starters, Blacklock will seemingly fill in as a rotational presence.

Texans To Release RB Marlon Mack

August 30th, 2022 at 1:32pm CST by Adam La Rose

Another veteran running back is being let go today. The Texans are releasing Marlon Mack, reports ESPN’s Adam Schefter (on Twitter). 

Mack, 26, experienced significant highs and lows during his five-year tenure with the Colts. In 2018 and 2019, he established himself as a legitimate No. 1 back with nearly 2,000 rushing yards, but injuries have limited him to just seven games played since.

With the Colts comfortable in moving forward with Jonathan Taylor and Nyheim Hines, it came as little surprise when Mack made the intra-divisional move to sign in Houston. The Texans represented an opportunity for the former fourth-rounder to once operate as a lead back, something which seemed to be made even more possible when the team’s initial depth chart named him as the starter.

Instead, that designation will now, in all likelihood, go to rookie Dameon Pierce. The Florida product put up relatively modest yardage totals even in his final season (574 on the ground, 216 through the air), though he found the endzone 16 times in 2021. His lack of usage by the Gators – he received 206 carries across his final two seasons – likely hurt his draft stock, but his training camp and preseason performances have clearly impressed the coaching staff.

Pierce will be supported by veteran Rex Burkhead in the backfield, who led the team in rushing yards last season. The team’s effectiveness in the ground game – or lack thereof – stands to be improved upon with Pierce leading the way. Mack, meanwhile, will look to find a new roster spot as an experienced backup looking to rebuild his free agent value.

Minor NFL Transactions: 8/29/22

August 29th, 2022 at 4:30pm CST by Sam Robinson

Teams have until 3pm Tuesday to slash their rosters from 80 to 53 players. Here are the Monday moves teams are making en route to doing so. The list will be updated throughout the day.

Arizona Cardinals

Baltimore Ravens

Buffalo Bills

Chicago Bears

Cleveland Browns

Denver Broncos

Detroit Lions

Houston Texans

Indianapolis Colts

Jacksonville Jaguars

Los Angeles Chargers

Miami Dolphins

Minnesota Vikings

New York Giants

New York Jets

Philadelphia Eagles

Pittsburgh Steelers

San Francisco 49ers

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tennessee Titans

Washington Commanders

Minor NFL Transactions: 8/27/22

August 27th, 2022 at 5:55pm CST by Adam La Rose

Today’s minor moves:

Denver Broncos

Houston Texans

Kansas City Chiefs

New Orleans Saints

  • Released from IR via injury settlement: WR Kevin White

San Francisco 49ers

  • Released from IR via injury settlement: WR Austin Mack

Cowboys Unlikely To Trade For Left Tackle?

August 26th, 2022 at 3:09pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Cowboys have very limited time to find a Tyron Smith replacement, but a few avenues by which they could acquire one. Their financial situation could make a trade viable on paper, though it appears the team will look elsewhere while evaluating their options. 

Smith is expected to be sidelined until at least December due to an avulsion fracture of the knee and subsequent hamstring tear. Dallas doesn’t have a replacement on hand with anywhere near the pedigree of the eight-time Pro Bowler, of course, but promoting from within remains an immediate solution. Playing first-round rookie Tyler Smith at left tackle – his college position – is a possibility, though he was thought to be a guard candidate early in his career. Fellow rookie Matt Waletzko and 2021 fourth-rounder Josh Ball could also step in on the blindside.

Indeed, CBS Sports’ Josina Anderson reports that the Cowboys are turning to the aforementioned “in-house players” while also “working through” potential free agent additions (Twitter link). That is in line with reporting from yesterday indicating that a signing could be coming soon. A number of veterans remain on the open market, including Super Bowl champion Andrew Whitworth; Anderson adds, however, that the retired 40-year-old is not among Dallas’ considerations.

Adding further to the sense that the Cowboys will not be executing a trade for a stop-gap solution, Aaron Wilson of Pro Football Network tweets that the Texans are not expected to make Laremy Tunsil available to Dallas (or any other club). The two-time Pro Bowler has two years remaining on his contract, including a $17.7MM cap hit the Cowboys could absorb given their current financial situation. Beside his talent level, Wilson cites the dead cap charge (over 16.6MM) which would be generated by a trade as the reason such a move is unlikely on Houston’s end.

With final roster cuts just days away, more options could surface for the Cowboys to consider. A recent release, or an aging veteran still available remains the likeliest way the team augments its unproven stable of incumbents.

Minor NFL Transactions: 8/25/22

August 25th, 2022 at 4:53pm CST by Adam La Rose

Today’s minor moves around the NFL:

Baltimore Ravens

Buffalo Bills

Carolina Panthers

  • Released from IR via injury settlement: CB Duke Dawson

Chicago Bears

Denver Broncos

Houston Texans

Indianapolis Colts

Kansas City Chiefs

New York Giants

Philadelphia Eagles

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

  • Waived (injured): WR Cyril Grayson
  • Released from IR via injury settlement: T Jonathan Hubbard

Washington Commanders

NFL Workouts: Seahawks, Jets, Commanders, Texans

August 24th, 2022 at 9:50pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Seahawks may be close to bringing Kenny Young back to the NFC West. Seattle hosted the veteran linebacker on a visit over the weekend, reports ESPN’s Field Yates (on Twitter).

The 27-year-old began his career with the Ravens in 2018. By the midway point of his second season, however, he had been traded to the Rams, with whom he made 13 starts in 32 appearances. This past October, the UCLA product found himself being traded again, this time to the Broncos.

Young’s tenure in Denver – only six games in length, but one which saw him play the second-highest snap share of his career – landed him a contract with the Raiders in May. He was released last week, however, leaving him in need of a new landing spot. The Seahawks are projected to start Jordyn Brooks and Cody Barton at linebacker this season, but they could use depth at the second level after parting ways with Bobby Wagner and electing not to reunite with K.J. Wright this offseason.

Here’s a quick round-up of some other recent workouts around the NFL:

  • A pair of defensive tackles also held visits. Per Yates, the Jets hosted Sheldon Day this past weekend (Twitter link). A fourth-round pick of the Jaguars in 2016, the 28-year-old lasted less than two years in Duval County; he is best known for his time spent with the 49ers. After two-plus seasons in San Francisco, the journeyman has most recently played with the Colts and Browns.
  • The Commanders likewise met with former first-rounder Malcom Brown. A consistent contributor with the Patriots to start his career (totaling 186 tackles and 8.5 sacks), the Texas alum has since spent time with the Saints and Jaguars, starting every game he appeared in along the way. His career-high 57 tackles last season point to a continued ability against the run, though Washington boasts a deep defensive line which would likely leave Brown with a diminished role.
  • Lastly, the Texans could have a new kicker in the near future. Ka’imi Fairbairn has suffered a minor injury which will cause him to at least miss the team’s preseason finale tomorrow (Twitter link via Pro Football Network’s Aaron Wilson). In need of a short-term replacement, Houston worked out Matt Ammendola today. The 25-year-old made 11 appearances with the Jets as a rookie last year, converting 13 of 19 field goals (68.4%). He also visited the Packers earlier this week, as they remain unsure if Mason Crosby will be able to suit up for Week 1. With the Texans now in a similar situation, Ammendola could have multiple suitors.

Texans Release CB Fabian Moreau

August 24th, 2022 at 8:49pm CST by Adam La Rose

Fabian Moreau was in line to be a complimentary member of the Texans’ CB room this season, but that will not happen. The team announced on Wednesday that they have released the veteran. 

Moreau signed with Houston at the end of May, his second consecutive one-year free agent deal. The former third-rounder had registered 18 starts in his four seasons in Washington, racking up six interceptions and 14 pass breakups. That led him to the Falcons last offseason.

Starting opposite A.J. Terrell, the 28-year-old logged more than 1,000 snaps for the first time in his career, setting a new personal mark with 11 PBUs as well. However, he struggled in coverage, allowing an opposing passer rating of 115 and surrendering eight touchdowns. That hindered his free agent market, leading to just a $2MM contract with the Texans.

Houston had also signed Steven Nelson as a starting-caliber veteran to pair with No. 3 pick Derek Stingley Jr. This moves cements their status at the top of the depth chart; the Texans will also lean on Desmond King in the slot, along with Tavierre Thomas as an experienced rotational player.

Stingley comes with injury concerns dating back to his last two years in college, of course, but he has the upside to help accelerate the Texans’ rebuild if sufficiently insulated by the team’s remaining veterans. With final roster cuts just days away, meanwhile, Moreau will now look to find a new NFL home.

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