Texans To Start Davis Mills
Davis Mills will start the rest of the way for the Texans, head coach David Culley announced on Friday (Twitter link via Adam Schefter of ESPN.com). That means Tyrod Taylor will serve as the backup quarterback starting this week, when the Texans host the Seahawks. 
It’s been a trying week for Taylor, who hyperextended his left wrist last Sunday against the Colts. Even though that’s his non-throwing arm, handoffs and snaps proved to be challenging. Taylor exited in the third quarter after going 5-of-13 for 45 yards and one interception. Mills, meanwhile, completed 6-of-14 of his throws for 49 yards. None of those passes achieved much in the end — the Texans lost 31-0, dropping them to 2-10 on the year.
Mills has made six starts for the Texans this year, filling in for Taylor when he was on IR. To date, he’s got a 65.5% completion percentage with seven touchdowns and eight interceptions. Unless he really shines in the coming weeks, he’s unlikely to return as the Texans’ starter in 2022. If the season ended today, the Texans would own the No. 3 overall pick in the draft, behind the No. 1 Lions and No. 2 Jaguars — ample ammo to select, or trade down for, one of this year’s top QBs.
Taylor, meanwhile, will be a free agent when his one-year deal expires in March. His pact could have been worth up to $12.5MM via incentives, but the final tally will wind up closer to his base of $5.5MM.
Former NFL WR Demaryius Thomas Passes Away
Former Pro Bowl wideout Demaryius Thomas has passed away, according to Miles Garrett of Fox 5 Sports in Atlanta (on Twitter). Mike Klis of 9News in Denver has confirmed the sad news. Thomas would have turned 34 later this month.
Thomas was a first-round pick by the Broncos back in 2010, and he proceeded to spend eight-plus seasons with the Broncos. The wideout really broke out in 2012 when Peyton Manning took over under center, and Thomas finished with at least 1,000 receiving yards for five-straight seasons. The wideout earned five consecutive Pro Bowl nods between 2012 and 2016, and he was a second-team All-Pro in 2013 and 2014.
The receiver was also a major part of the Broncos’ Super Bowl run in 2015. The wideout finished the regular season with 105 receptions for 1,304 yards and six touchdowns, and he added another seven receptions in three postseason games.
Thomas ranks second in Broncos history in receiving yards (9,055) and receiving touchdowns (60), and he ranks third in receptions (665). He also owns the franchise records in playoff receptions (53).
Following his stint with the Broncos, Thomas spent time with the Texans, Patriots, and Jets. The receiver added another 59 receptions, 708 yards, and three touchdowns to his impressive resume during this time. He announced his retirement from the NFL back in June.
We here at PFR would like to extend our condolences to Thomas’s family, friends, and colleagues.
Texans Signed Derek Rivers, Jonathan Owens To Multiyear Deals
The Texans recently signed a pair of practice squad players to their active roster, and according to Aaron Wilson, the two players both received multiyear deals. Both defensive end Derek Rivers and safety Jonathan Owens were signed to deals through the 2022 campaign.
Rivers was a third-round pick by the Patriots back in 2017, and he collected 12 tackles and 2.5 sacks in his three-plus seasons with the team (including a 2019 campaign that was lost due to injury). The defensive lineman was waived during the 2020 campaign, and after finishing that season with the Rams, he caught on with Texans in March. He’s spent most of the season on the practice squad, but he has collected five tackles in three games.
Per Wilson, Rivers’ deal includes a $1MM base salary for 2022, plus a $100K signing bonus, up to $100K in per-game roster bonuses, and a $50K workout bonus. The pseudo-two-year deal is ultimately worth $1.58MM.
Owens caught on with the Cardinals after going undrafted in the 2018 draft, but he’s otherwise spent his professional career with the Texans. The 26-year-old has spent time on and off Houston’s roster since 2019, but he’s gotten into one game with the organization. Per Wilson, Owens’ new deal is worth $1.175MM, including a $10K signing bonus, a $10K workout bonus, and a 2022 base salary of $895K.
Titans Claim Zach Cunningham Off Waivers
Zach Cunningham has a new home in the NFL. After being waived by the Texans on Wednesday, the linebacker has been claimed by the Titans, per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero (on Twitter). 
[Related: Texans To Waive Zach Cunningham]
The 27-year old was let go by Houston after having been a healthy scratch in Week 13. His playing time fluctuated throughout the season, his fifth in the NFL, all with Houston. He joins Phillip Lindsay as a post-trade deadline departure, and, more importantly, fellow off-ball linebacker Benardrick McKinney as former key pieces that will need replacing by the rebuilding Texans.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 12/8/21
Here are Wednesday’s practice squad moves:
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: TE Parker Hesse
Dallas Cowboys
- Signed: RB Ito Smith
Houston Texans
- Signed: DB Cre’von LeBlanc
- Released: WR Damon Hazelton
Los Angeles Rams
- Released: WR JJ Koski
Las Vegas Raiders
- Signed: LB Will Compton
- Released: S Ha Ha Clinton-Dix
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: OL James Carpenter, OL Jerald Hawkins
New York Giants
- Signed: WR Travis Toivonen
New York Jets
- Signed: S Elijah Benton
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: P Drue Chrisman, LS Rex Sunahara
- Released: DB Linden Stephens, WR Tyler Vaughns
San Francisco 49ers
- Released: S Tony Jefferson
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: NT Niles Scott
Texans To Waive LB Zach Cunningham
Made a healthy scratch in Week 13, Zach Cunningham is no longer with the Texans. The rebuilding team cut ties with the veteran linebacker Wednesday, Tom Pelissero of NFL.com tweets.
Cunningham was scratched for disciplinary reasons Sunday, Sports Talk 790’s Aaron Wilson tweets, and he may soon have a new home. The former second-round pick will head to waivers. He would pass through to free agency if unclaimed by Thursday afternoon.
David Culley had disciplined Cunningham at multiple points this season, including recently due to showing up late for a COVID-19 test, Mike Garafolo of NFL.com tweets. Cunningham, 27, will follow Phillip Lindsay as a post-trade deadline Texans cut.
The Texans had previously reduced Cunningham’s playing time, but he had been back to an every-down player in recent weeks. Houston used Cunningham on every defensive snap during his final three games with the team. After the Texans’ new regime shopped Cunningham ahead of the deadline, no trade materialized. The team will cut its losses and do so with a big dead-money hit.
Because of the four-year, $58MM extension the parties agreed to in 2020, the Texans will be hit with $12.8MM in dead money. As for Cunningham’s prospects of being claimed, he is due less than $300K in base salary for the rest of this season. No guarantees remain on the off-ball linebacker’s deal beyond 2021, increasing the likelihood he will not make it to free agency this year. Cunningham’s contract does contain eight-figure base salaries from 2022-24, which would make him a potential 2022 cut candidate — should another team claim him by Thursday.
This marks a swift change for the Vanderbilt product. Cunningham led the NFL with 164 tackles last season. Houston had he and Benardrick McKinney signed to big-ticket inside-‘backer deals exiting last season. Now, both are gone.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 12/6/21
Today’s taxi squad moves:
Dallas Cowboys
- Released: DE Breeland Speaks
Houston Texans
- Signed: CB Cre’Von LeBlanc
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: QB James Morgan
New York Giants
- Signed: S Natrell Jamerson
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: WR Austin Mack, LB Curtis Robinson
- Released: WR Devin Funchess, LB Justin March
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: LB Tuzar Skipper
Minor NFL Transactions: 12/4/21
Today’s minor moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Promoted: LS Beau Brinkley, RB Tavien Feaster, LB Joe Walker, LB Tahir Whitehead, CB Jace Whittaker
- Placed on IR: S James Wiggins
Atlanta Falcons
- Activated from IR: DE Steven Means
- Promoted: RB Qadree Ollison
Baltimore Ravens
- Promoted: DB Robert Jackson, RB Nate McCrary
Carolina Panthers
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: LB Frankie Luvu
Cincinnati Bengals
- Placed on IR: WR Auden Tate
- Promoted: G Keaton Sutherland, WR Pooka Williams, RB Trayveon Williams
Denver Broncos
- Promoted: RB Damarea Crockett
- Waived: WR Tyrie Cleveland
Detroit Lions
- Promoted: LB Tavante Beckett, LB Rashod Berry, DE Bruce Hector
Houston Texans
- Activated from IR: C Justin Britt, LB Christian Kirksey
- Promoted: S Jonathan Owens, RB Jaylen Samuels, DL Chris Smith
- Waived: CB Cre’von LeBlanc
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Activated from IR: DT Jay Tufele
Las Vegas Raiders
- Promoted: TE Matt Bushman, FB Sutton Smith, WR Dillon Stoner
Los Angeles Rams
- Promoted: WR Brandon Powell, RB Mekhi Sargent
Minnesota Vikings
- Promoted: RB Jake Bargas, DB Myles Dorn, DE Kenny Willekes
- Waived: DE Eddie Yarbrough
New York Giants
- Promoted: WR Pharoh Cooper, DB Steven Parker, DB Jarren Williams
New York Jets
- Signed: K Alex Kessman
- Waived: K Matt Ammendola
- Promoted: DE Ronald Blair, TE Dan Brown, RB Austin Walter
Philadelphia Eagles
- Promoted: S Jared Mayden
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Activated from IR: DL Carlos Davis
- Promoted: OL Chaz Green
San Francisco 49ers
- Promoted: LB Tyrell Adams, WR River Cracraft, LB Justin March
Seattle Seahawks
- Promoted: RB Adrian Peterson (story)
Tennessee Titans
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: QB Logan Woodside
Texans Add Phillip Dorsett, Place Danny Amendola On IR
Phillip Dorsett will have a chance to play for three teams this season. After working out for the Texans on Friday, the former first-round pick signed with the team.
This is a practice squad agreement, though those now frequently lead to active-roster promotions. Dorsett has seen action for the Jaguars and Seahawks this season. The 2015 Round 1 pick, however, has been unable to carve out much of a role in an offense since his 2019 Patriots season.
Dorsett, 28, has played in just three games over the past two seasons and has one reception in that span. The Jags and Seahawks cut him earlier this year.
The Texans also placed Danny Amendola on IR. Amendola underwent arthroscopic knee surgery earlier this week. While that procedure is not an automatic season-ender, the Texans will opt to save a roster spot by shelving a player who would not have been healthy until near season’s end. Houston placed Amendola on IR earlier this year, so his second such transaction will end his season.
With this ending Amendola’s age-36 campaign, it is safe to wonder if the 13th-year veteran will play again. Amendola, who signed a one-year deal worth $2.5MM just before Week 1, is the oldest active NFL wideout by over a year. Amendola’s Texans stint has not produced much in the way of consequence, but the former Patriots standout did move past 6,000 receiving yards for his career.
Texans To Extend Tremon Smith
The Texans have agreed to a one-year extension with cornerback/return man Tremon Smith, according to Aaron Wilson of Sports Talk 790. The deal, which keeps Smith under club control through 2022, includes a $1.1MM base salary. Ian Rapoport of NFL.com adds that Smith also gets a $150K signing bonus, a $50K workout bonus, and a $100K roster bonus, thereby raising the value to $1.4MM. If he hits certain incentives, Smith could max out at $1.6MM (Twitter link).
Smith has averaged 26.0 on kickoff returns this year while appearing on ~80% of the Texans’ special teams plays. He’s also seen a little bit of time on defense, appearing on 14% of the team’s snaps. He might not be a star, but he’s a key cog in the third facet of the game. The Texans clearly value his work – Smith is the first Texans player to score an extension since the start of the 2021 season.
After stops with the Chiefs, Colts, Packers, and Eagles, Smith seems to have found a home in Houston. It also helps that he’s playing under the tutelage of Frank Ross, who was also his special teams coordinator in Indianapolis.
Ross and Smith will see their former team tomorrow as the Texans look to improve on their 2-9 record.