Texans’ Danny Amendola Undergoes Surgery
Danny Amendola will miss another extended stretch. After a hamstring injury sidelined the veteran wide receiver earlier this year, knee trouble has intervened.
The 13th-year veteran suffered a torn meniscus and underwent arthroscopic knee surgery this week, Aaron Wilson of Sports Talk 790 notes. While this surgery is not certain to end Amendola’s season, the timing of it might end up doing so. With Amendola closing out his age-36 season, the prospect of him suiting up for a another NFL game is now in doubt.
Given a one-year deal worth $2.5MM, Amendola played in Houston’s first two games this season but missed the next four due to the hamstring strain. The well-traveled wideout returned in Week 7, playing a complementary role, and caught three passes in the Texans’ Week 12 loss to the Jets.
Since Amendola went on IR earlier this year, the Texans placing him back on their injured list would end his season. Amendola is the NFL’s oldest active wide receiver by more than a year. Only other NFL wideout (DeSean Jackson) has turned 35.
The former Rams, Patriots, Dolphins and Lions pass catcher moved past 6,000 yards for his career this season, having caught 17 passes for 135 yards and a touchdown with the Texans.
Minor NFL Transactions: 12/2/21
Here are Thursday’s minor moves, with the list being updated throughout the day:
Dallas Cowboys
- Promoted: S Tyler Coyle
Houston Texans
- Designated for return: LB Christian Kirksey
Minnesota Vikings
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: DT Dalvin Tomlinson
New England Patriots
- Designated for return: LB Harvey Langi
New Orleans Saints
- Promoted: T Caleb Benenoch
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: LB Robert Spillane
Washington Football Team
- Activated off IR: CB Darryl Roberts
Texans Cancel Wednesday Practice
Houston was the site of a bizarre headline today. The Texans canceled their Wednesday practice and sent the team home due to a handful of players having non-COVID illnesses, reports Brooks Kubena of the Houston Chronicle. 
[RELATED: Texans Designate Britt For Return]
“Our medical team felt like it would be best for us to, for precautionary reasons, just to keep them home,” head coach David Culley said. “We’ll be back to business as usual tomorrow.”
According to an estimated practice report, wide receivers Chris Conley and Brandin Cooks, along with running back David Johnson and offensive tackle Cole Toner are listed as out due to sickness. The Texans, on a short week, did not conduct a full scrimmage today.
Without any players testing positive for COVID-19 as of this writing, the Texans are still on track to play on Sunday, when the host the Colts.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 11/30/21
Today’s taxi squad moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Released: LS Kyle Nelson
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: DE Joe Jackson, G Hjalte Froholdt
- Released: RB Brian Hill
Denver Broncos
- Signed: OT Adrian Ealy, RB Kerrith Whyte
- Released: LB Curtis Robinson
Detroit Lions
- Released: OL Darrin Paulo
Houston Texans
- Signed: RB Darius Jackson
New England Patriots
- Signed: CB Thakarius Keyes, RB Devine Ozigbo
- Released: NT Niles Scott
New York Jets
- Signed: TE Dan Brown
- Released: QB James Morgan
San Francisco 49ers
- Placed on injured list: WR Devin Funchess
Tennessee Titans
- Released: WR Austin Mack
Minor NFL Transactions: 11/27/21
Here is how teams finalized their Week 12 rosters:
Atlanta Falcons
- Promoted: LB Dorian Etheridge
Baltimore Ravens
- Activated from IR: LB Malik Harrison
- Placed on IR: S Ar’Darius Washington
- Promoted: DT Isaiah Mack, CB Kevon Seymour
Carolina Panthers
- Promoted: WR Matt Cole, OL Austen Pleasants
Cincinnati Bengals
- Promoted: TE Thaddeus Moss
Green Bay Packers
- Promoted: LB La’Darius Hamilton
Houston Texans
- Placed on IR: LB Jordan Jenkins
- Promoted: S Jonathan Owens, G Lane Taylor
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Activated from IR: C Brandon Linder, TE James O’Shaughnessy
- Promoted: WR John Brown
- Waived: RB Devine Ozigbo
Los Angeles Chargers
- Promoted: RB Darius Bradwell, CB Kiondre Thomas
Los Angeles Rams
- Promoted: WR Landen Akers
Miami Dolphins
- Promoted: CB Javaris Davis, S Sheldrick Redwine
- Placed on IR: DB Elijah Campbell
Minnesota Vikings
- Promoted: S Myles Dorn, DT T.J. Smith
New York Giants
- Promoted: WR Pharoh Cooper, DB Steven Parker
New York Jets
- Placed on IR: RB Michael Carter (story)
- Promoted: DE Ronald Blair, QB Josh Johnson, RB Austin Walter, DE Jabari Zuniga
Philadelphia Eagles
- Promoted: S Jared Mayden
Texans Designate Justin Britt For Return
The Texans are designating Justin Britt for return from injured reserve, according to Aaron Wilson of SportsTalk 790. This will jumpstart a 21-day practice window for the center, allowing him to return after several weeks on the sidelines. 
Britt has been out since Week 7 thanks to a handful of maladies, including a hyperextended knee. Between that and last year’s ACL tear, he’s played in just six regular season games since the end of the 2019 campaign.
The Texans signed Britt to a one-year, $5MM deal earlier this year, installing him as their first-string center. Through six games, he’s earned a so-so overall grade of 61.4 from Pro Football Focus, positioning him as the No. 22 ranked middle man in the NFL. The hope is that he’ll come back stronger after a month of rest and replicate some of his early work with the Seahawks.
To date, Britt’s rookie season in 2014 (71.7 overall score) and 2016 (81.6) stand as his best, per PFF. That ’16 campaign slotted him as the seventh-best center in the league and propelled him to a three-year, ~$27MM extension in 2017.
Without Britt, the Texans have used ex-Raiders practice squader Jimmy Morrissey as their starting center. If goes well for Britt this week, he could resume his starting role on Sunday against the Jets.
Minor NFL Transactions: 11/24/21
Here are Wednesday’s minor moves:
Chicago Bears
- Promoted: WR Isaiah Coulter, LB Sam Kamara
Denver Broncos
- Designated for return: LB Micah Kiser
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: OL Austin Schlottmann
Detroit Lions
- Promoted: G Parker Ehinger
- Placed on IR: CB A.J. Parker
Green Bay Packers
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: OLB Jonathan Garvin
Houston Texans
- Promoted: DL Derek Rivers
Las Vegas Raiders
- Promoted: FB Sutton Smith
Los Angeles Rams
- Placed on IR: WR Robert Woods (story)
Miami Dolphins
- Promoted: LB Vince Biegel
- Placed on IR: CB Jamal Perry, LB Brennan Scarlett
- Designated for return: OL Michael Deiter
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed off Patriots’ practice squad: DE Tashawn Bower
New York Giants
- Placed on IR: DB Nate Ebner
- Promoted: TE Chris Myarick
New York Jets
- Promoted: FB Nick Bawden
Philadelphia Eagles
- Placed on IR: LB Davion Taylor
Tennessee Titans
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: QB Logan Woodside
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 11/24/21
Here are Wednesday’s practice squad moves:
Denver Broncos
- Signed: OL Zack Johnson
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: OL Jon Dietzen
Houston Texans
- Signed: LB Connor Stachan
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: LB Wynton McManis
New York Jets
- Signed: QB James Morgan
- Released: CB Natrell Jamerson
- Activated from practice squad IR: LB LaRoy Reynolds
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: LB Christian Elliss
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: CB Luq Barcoo
- Released: WR Austin Watkins Jr.
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: RB B.J. Emmons
- Released: WR Cade Johnson
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: WR John Hurst
Washington Football Team
- Signed: G Deion Calhoun, C Tyler Gauthier
Texans Cut RB Phillip Lindsay
The Texans are cutting running back Phillip Lindsay (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport). As a post-trade-deadline cut, Lindsay will be subject to the waiver wire. 
[RELATED: Texans’ Jenkins To Miss Time]
The Texans shopped Lindsay before the trade deadline, but they didn’t find any deals to their liking. Through ten games, Lindsay has 50 carries for 130 yards and one rushing touchdown, plus three grabs for 37 yards and one receiving TD. Far less efficient than usual, he’s been used far less than expected in Houston.
Of course, this hasn’t been a banner year for anyone on the Texans, so it’s hard to say whether this is indicative of a sharp decline for Lindsay. Before joining up with Houston, Lindsay averaged 4.8 yards per tote across three Broncos seasons. And, between 2018 and 2019, he showcased his receiving ability by reeling in 70 catches for 437 yards.
Still only 27, Lindsay could be a difference-maker for a contender. Any team claiming Lindsay would be responsible for the balance of his one-year contract and the prorated portion of his $2.25MM base salary.
The league’s other 31 teams will have 24 hours to submit claims for Lindsay. If he’s not claimed between now and 4pm ET/3pm CT Wednesday, he’ll be eligible to sign with any club of his choosing.
Minor NFL Transactions: 11/23/21
We’ll keep track of today’s minor moves here:
Arizona Cardinals
- Waived: QB Chris Streveler
Buffalo Bills
- Designated for return: WR Marquez Stevenson
Chicago Bears
- Promoted: DL Margus Hunt
- Placed on IR: DB Duke Shelley
Denver Broncos
- Waived: CB Mac McCain
Houston Texans
- Released: RB Phillip Lindsay (story)
Minnesota Vikings
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: DT Dalvin Tomlinson
New York Jets
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: QB Joe Flacco, QB Mike White
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: WR Ray-Ray McCloud
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Waived: LS Carson Tinker
Tennessee Titans
- Signed to active roster: RB Dontrell Hilliard, DB Buster Skrine, LB John Simon
- Placed on IR: CB Chris Jackson
- Designated for return: FB Khari Blasingame