Texans Activate QB Tyrod Taylor
Tyrod Taylor is officially back. The Texans activated the quarterback from injured reserve today, per ESPN’s Sarah Barshop (via Twitter). To make room on the roster, the team placed linebacker Christian Kirksey on injured reserve.
Taylor returned to practice in late October, and head coach David Culley made it clear that the veteran would start once he was healthy. The 32-year-old started the Texans first two games this season, completing 70.5 percent of his passes for 416 yards, three touchdowns, and no interceptions. He added another 55 yards and one touchdown on five carries. Taylor landed on injured reserve after suffering a hamstring injury during Week 2.
Davis Mills has been serving as the starter ever since, but the results haven’t been great. His best performance came against the Patriots as he completed 21 of 29 passes for 312 yards, three touchdowns, and no interceptions. The Pats went on to win 25-22 and the Texans went on to drop their next two games to the Colts and Cardinals.
Taylor hasn’t started more than three games since the 2017 season. While his return should provide a small spark to a struggling Texans offense, it’s unlikely the veteran will be able to guide Houston out of the cellar.
Kirksey suffered a fractured thumb and ligament damage during Sunday’s loss to the Rams, and now he’ll be sidelined for at least the next three games. The 29-year-old joined the Texans this offseason, and he’s collected a team-leading 56 tackles in eight starts.
Minor NFL Transactions: 11/4/21
Today’s minor moves:
Houston Texans
- Claimed: LB Eric Wilson (from Eagles)
Las Vegas Raiders
- Promoted: WR Dillon Stoner
New York Giants
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: RB Gary Brightwell
- Promoted: LB Benardrick McKinney
New York Jets
- Placed on IR: DE Bryce Huff
Washington Football Team
- Promoted: C Keith Ismael
Dolphins GM Chris Grier On Deshaun Watson, Tua Tagovailoa
The Dolphins didn’t trade for Deshaun Watson, but they still made plenty of waves in the week leading up to the deadline. By all accounts, owner Stephen Ross was eager to bring the embattled Texans quarterback to Miami, but only if certain “contingencies” were met. In short, the Dolphins were only willing to trade for Watson if his legal troubles were put behind him. 
Meanwhile, GM Chris Grier was left to field questions about Watson, the future of young signal caller Tua Tagovailoa, and what it all means for the Dolphins going forward. Here’s a look at some of the highlights, via Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald:
On the Dolphins’ level of interest in Watson:
“My job as general manager is to investigate every avenue on players that may or may not be available. I don’t think it’s any different from any player on the roster. We’ve done that from Day 1. That’s how every team operates. In terms of what discussions were had and what people asked for…We decided not to make a deal.”
On whether a deal was close:
“You go through these processes and talk through these things and we go forward with the team we have. We never got to a point of where anything would be realistic as far as happening.”
On Tagovailoa’s status moving forward:
“If there is a player considered one of the top players in the NFL, you have to look at it and try to go for it. It has nothing to do with not believing in Tua. We’re very happy with Tua.”
On the potential of renewing talks in the offseason:
“You get through the season and you keep evaluating the entire roster. Once the offseason comes, we’ll make decisions.”
Texans Waive Vernon Hargreaves III
The Texans have released cornerback Vernon Hargreaves III (Twitter link via NFL.com’s James Palmer). As a post-deadline cut, he’ll go on the waiver wire and made available to the rest of the league’s teams. If he goes unclaimed after 24 hours, he’ll be a full-fledged free agent. 
Hargreaves started in five games for the Texans this year and played in nearly every snap on Sunday against the Colts. Of course, that wasn’t a banner game for the Texans — they lost 31-3 while Jonathan Taylor torched the front seven for 145 yards and two touchdowns on the ground.
Houston claimed Hargreaves off waivers from the Tampa last year, a low-risk move to improve their secondary. He went on to start in all 16 of his games while registering 72 stops, seven passes defensed, and one interception. The advanced metrics weren’t fond of his work — Pro Football Focus ranked him near the bottom at cornerback, out of 126 qualified NFL corners. Still, the Texans re-upped the former first-round pick on a one-year, $1.325MM deal.
Cutting Hargreaves won’t have much of an impact on the Texans’ cap, especially if another team scoops him up between now and Thursday afternoon.
Minor NFL Transactions: 11/3/21
Today’s minor moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: WR A.J. Green, TE Demetrius Harris
Dallas Cowboys
- Activated from IR: TE Sean McKeon
Houston Texans
- Promoted: LB Hardy Nickerson
Los Angeles Rams
- Signed: WR JJ Koski, LB Christian Rozeboom
- Designated for Return: DB Darious Williams
Minnesota Vikings
- Claimed off waivers (from Rams): DE Jonah Williams
New York Giants
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: RB Saquon Barkley, S Xavier McKinney
San Francisco 49ers
- Designated for return: K Robbie Gould, TE George Kittle
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 11/3/21
Today’s taxi squad moves:
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: DT Treyvon Hester
- Released: OL Aaron Monteiro
Chicago Bears
- Signed: LB Cassius Marsh
- Released: RB Chris Thompson
Dallas Cowboys
- Signed: DE Bradlee Anae
Denver Broncos
- Signed: TE Caleb Wilson
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: DL Auzoyah Alufohai, RB Ryquell Armstead
Houston Texans
- Signed: DL Chris Smith
Los Angeles Rams.
- Signed: WR Warren Jackson
New York Giants
- Signed: WR Pharoh Cooper
Dolphins GM On Deshaun Watson Talks
After months of speculation, the Dolphins did not complete a trade for Deshaun Watson before the deadline. Multiple reports suggested that the two sides were closing in on a deal last week, but Miami GM Chris Grier tells a different story. 
[RELATED: Dolphins Back Out Of Watson Talks]
“We were doing background work and investigating everything,” Grier said (Twitter link via David Furones of the Miami Herald). “Just because we do that, doesn’t mean we’re going to do a deal.”
The Dolphins ultimately backed out due to concerns over Watson’s ongoing legal situation. Owner Stephen Ross wanted to bring Watson to South Beach, but only if his 20+ suits were settled. With that in mind, one reporter asked Grier if the Dolphins were involved in trying to get Watson’s accusers to sign non-disclosure agreements.
“I think any suggestion that this organization would be dealing behind the scenes and trying to influence decisions is absolutely ridiculous and categorically false,” Grier said. “So to say that we would be involved in that is just flat wrong. And it pisses me off, I’m sorry.”
Grier also added that the Dolphins’ interest in Watson is not a reflection on their current quarterback. He says the team still believes in Tua Tagovailoa, though that won’t do much to curb speculation in the spring.
At last check, the Texans were seeking three first-round picks and and two second-round picks for the embattled quarterback. That asking price could come down after the season if Watson’s off-the-field matters are settled.
Dolphins Will Not Trade For Texans’ Deshaun Watson
No deal. At least, not today. The Dolphins will not trade for Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson before the 4pm ET/3pm CT deadline, according to ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter (on Twitter). 
Dolphins owner Stephen Ross spent several weeks pushing his front office to get a deal done. However, he had “contingencies that needed to be met for any deal,” according to Schefter. Those contingencies likely pertain to the draft picks that would have been involved in the deal. The Dolphins reportedly wanted conditions to be attached to the picks in case Watson was held out of action by the league office. Texans GM Nick Caserio, meanwhile, has been unwilling to cave.
With that, the Dolphins will move forward with Tua Tagovailoa under center. That doesn’t guarantee Tagovailoa’s standing beyond 2021, but the young QB says that he’s made peace with the constant speculation.
“I don’t not feel wanted,” Tagovailoa said earlier this month (via ESPN.com). “I really don’t think about it. The only time I’m really hearing about it, like I’ve said before, is if [the communications staff] is kind of telling me what’s going on within the rumors or if my agent calls me. That’s really when I hear it. Other than that, I don’t really hear it.”
The Panthers, Broncos, and Eagles have also been connected to Watson in recent months. Watson, who holds a no-trade clause, tried to steer his way towards Miami or Carolina. After all the talk, the Texans are prepared to pay out the remainder of his $10.54MM salary and reevaluate their options in the offseason.
Texans Trade Charles Omenihu To 49ers
The Texans have agreed to trade Charles Omenihu to the 49ers in exchange for a 2023 sixth-round draft pick (Twitter links via NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport and Adam Schefter of ESPN.com). Omenihu has drawn interest from multiple teams in recent weeks, but the 49ers managed to come away with the young edge rusher. 
[RELATED: Texans Shopping Multiple Veterans]
Omenihu, a 2019 fifth-rounder, has spent much of his career as a reserve, save for five starts last year and two starts this year. All in all, he has seven sacks and 41 tackles to his credit across two-and-a-half Houston seasons.
While he’s not a household name, Omenihu stood as one of only a few quality pass rushers at the deadline. The Chiefs also considered trading for him before landing Melvin Ingram from the Steelers this morning, according to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com (Twitter link).
Omenihu, 24, has watched his playing time dwindle over the course of the year. He may have a chance to see more snaps in the Niners’ rotation as they try to make a playoff push. Sunday’s win over the Bears elevated the Niners to 3-4 on the year, but they still face slim odds of overtaking the 7-1 Cardinals and Rams for the divisional crown. Right now, it looks like they’re angling for a strong second half to put them in the Wild Card mix.
Texans Shopping Jordan Akins, Phillip Lindsay
Deshaun Watson isn’t the only Texans player that could be on the move. Tight end Jordan Akins, running back Phillip Lindsay, safety Lonnie Johnson, and linebacker Zach Cunningham are all expected to be available between now and the trade deadline (Twitter link via Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com). 
[RELATED: Latest On Potential Deshaun Watson Trade]
The Texans already shipped out one of their veteran running backs, trading Mark Ingram to the Saints last week for a seventh-round pick. Apparently, that deal didn’t solidify Lindsay’s status in Houston.
Through eight games, Lindsay has 41 carries for 105 yards and four rushing touchdowns, plus three grabs for 37 yards and one receiving TD. He’s been far less efficient than usual, though that can’t be pinned squarely on his shoulders given the Texans’ myriad of issues. In his first three years with the Broncos, Lindsay averaged 4.8 yards per tote with quality pass-catching in 2018 and 2019.
Akins, a former third-round pick, is in his walk year. He enjoyed a breakout year in 2019 with 36 grabs for 418 yards and followed that up with 37/403/1 in 2020. He’s roughly on pace for the same type of year with 19 catches and 177 yards at the midway point. Now, he might be on the verge of spending the second half with a contender.