Minor NFL Transactions: 8/9/19
Today’s minor moves:
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: LB Chase Middleton
- Waived: DB Hamp Cheevers
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: DT Brandin Bryant, OT Travis Vornkahl
Denver Broncos
- Signed: OT Adam Bisnowaty
- Placed on IR: TE Austin Fort
Detroit Lions
- Signed: TE Brandon Barnes
- Waived: CB Isaiah Langley
Houston Texans
- Waived/injured: DE Ira Lewis
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed: WR Quadree Henderson, LB Davis Tull
- Waived/injured: WR Marcus Simms (concussion)
Bill O'Brien Oversaw Duke Johnson Deal
Throughout the offseason, John Dorsey insisted he wanted Duke Johnson on the 2019 Browns. But the Texans‘ decision to offer what will likely become a third-round pick — assuming Johnson plays at least 10 games this season — was clearly a proposal the Browns could not refuse. The consensus around the NFL placed the passing-down back’s value at being worth a fifth-rounder in a trade, per Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports (on Twitter). The Browns getting a likely Day 2 pick is, then, quite the haul. That said, the Texans needed help behind Lamar Miller and now have a running back under contract through 2021.
The GM-less Texans had Bill O’Brien running point on this trade. The sixth-year HC spoke with Dorsey and pulled the trigger, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reports (on Twitter). With O’Brien clearly having a say in the Jadeveon Clowney process, and the team opting not to hire a GM this year, it is not surprising the post-Brian Gaine Texans have him operating in a key personnel capacity. This marks another notable trade between these franchises, who made 2017 swaps in deals that sent Brock Osweiler (and a second-round pick) to Cleveland and Deshaun Watson to Houston. But the parties who negotiated those deals, GMs Sashi Brown and Rick Smith, are out of the picture.
Texans Acquire RB Duke Johnson
The Texans have acquired running back Duke Johnson from the Browns, Cleveland announced today. Houston will send a conditional 2020 fourth-round pick to Cleveland, tweets Tom Pelissero of NFL.com. If Johnson is active for 10 games with the Texans, the Browns will receive a 2020 third-rounder, per John McClain of the Houston Chronicle (Twitter link).
Johnson, of course, has been on the trade block ever since the Browns signed former Chiefs running back Kareem Hunt earlier this offseason. Hunt won’t be available until the second half of the 2019 season as a result of a suspension, but Johnson nevertheless formally requested a trade in April. At various points, Cleveland has indicated it would keep Johnson on its roster, but after the 25-year-old back fired his agent and hired Drew Rosenhaus, he finally got his wish.
Houston was on the hunt for depth at running back after waiving former third-round pick D’Onta Foreman earlier this week. With Foreman out of the picture, the Texans were planning to use Josh Ferguson and Buddy Howell (who have 30 career carries between them, all Ferguson’s) as Lamar Miller‘s backups.
[RELATED: Full List of 2019 NFL Trades]
Johnson handled 104 rushing attempts during his rookie campaign in Cleveland, but that figure represents a high-water mark. Playing behind Browns starter Nick Chubb in 2018, Johnson managed only 40 attempts, but did post 47 catches and was one of the NFL’s most efficient receiving backs, per Football Outsiders. Since entering the league in 2015, Johnson leads all running backs with 2,170 receiving yards, per Field Yates of ESPN.com (Twitter link), so he figures to see a good deal of work on third downs and other passing situations.
With Johnson out of the picture, the Browns will rely on unproven options Dontrell Hilliard and D’Ernest Johnson to backup Chubb until Hunt’s suspension is completed. But by dealing Johnson, Cleveland has further added to its stockpile of 2020 draft picks. General manager John Dorsey & Co. now boast 10 picks in 2020, including extra fourth-, sixth-, and seventh-rounders, tweets Pelissero.
The Texans will add Johnson on a highly team-friendly contract. The former third-round pick is due a base salary of just $1.8MM for the 2019 campaign, while he can also collect up to $400K in per-game roster bonuses. Houston will essentially hold club options on Johnson in both 2020 ($3.6MM) and 2021 ($4.65MM), and won’t incur any dead money if it cuts Johnson over the next two years. Cleveland, meanwhile, will immediately take on $750K in dead cap charges by dealing Johnson, with another $1.5MM hitting the club’s books in 2020.
Johnson is only the second running back to be traded this offseason. Jordan Howard was dealt from the Bears to the Eagles in March in a swap that saw Chicago receive just a sixth-round pick that can become a fifth-round pick based on Howard’s performance.
Minor NFL Transactions: 8/7/19
Today’s minor moves:
Dallas Cowboys
- Signed: OL Kiwanis Bushell-Beatty
- Waived/injured: WR Lance Lenoir
Houston Texans
- Signed: QB Jordan Ta’amu
- Waived: C D.J. Coker
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: Aca’Cedric Ware
- Placed on injured reserve: WR Steve Ishmael
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: S John Battle, DT Stevie Tu’ikolovatu
- Waived/injured: OL Mike Liedtke (story)
- Waived: QB Vincent Testaverde
Texans QB A.J. McCarron Could Miss Preseason
Texans quarterback A.J. McCarron may miss the entirety of the preseason after suffering a thumb injury during practice on Tuesday, according to John McClain of the Houston Chronicle (Twitter link).
Houston gave McCarron a $2.5MM guarantee in March, so there’s no question that he’ll still be in line to be Deshaun Watson‘s backup, regardless of how his injury plays out. However, given that the only other quarterback on the Texans’ roster is gadget player/special teamer Joe Webb, the club will need to sign another signal-caller in order to make it through training camp and the preseason.
While veterans such as Matt Cassel, Landry Jones, and Brandon Weeden are still available on the free agent market, it seems unlikely any of those players will be options for the Texans. Given that McCarron figures to ready for the regular season, it’s difficult to imagine a veteran signing with Houston while knowing they’ll likely be cut within a month. Weeden, though, does have a history with the Texans (2015-16, 2018), so perhaps he’d be amenable to returning, if only for a short period.
Jadeveon Clowney To Report To Texans In Late August
Jadeveon Clowney has made it known he plans to return to the Texans before their first week of regular-season practice. The franchise-tagged edge defender will be back in August.
The sixth-year standout plans to report following Houston’s third preseason game, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reports (video link). Clowney will not play in the Texans’ fourth preseason contest but will get some extra work in with his teammates before suiting up in Week 1.
A previous report indicated Clowney would show up before the Texans’ regular-season opener against the Saints, but it looks like he will try to get a bit more work in before then. The Texans play their third preseason game Saturday, August 24, so they will be set to have their full team at practice between then and August 29.
As could be expected, the 26-year-old standout has worked his way into good shape on his own this offseason. He has remained in contact with Texans players and coaches, despite the team opting not to finalize an extension with him. Clowney has been extension-eligible since January 2017 but will still be without a long-term deal by season’s end. A grievance about Clowney’s tag amount (currently at the linebacker rate of $15.967MM) has also been rumored. But the Texans will nonetheless see their top J.J. Watt sidekick earlier than initially expected.
The Texans reportedly did not offer the former No. 1 overall pick a deal in line with those fellow franchise-tagged edge players DeMarcus Lawrence and Frank Clark received, and it was reported Bill O’Brien and since-fired GM Brian Gaine had a difference of opinion regarding a long-term Clowney contract. O’Brien was said to be against it.
Colts Claim RB D’Onta Foreman
D’Onta Foreman will have a second chance in the AFC South. The Colts claimed the third-year running back off waivers from the Texans, Tom Pelissero of NFL.com tweets.
The former third-round pick will join a Colts backfield that just lost Spencer Ware. Seeing his career sidetracked by an Achilles’ tendon tear in late 2017, Foreman will venture from the defending AFC South champions to the team that beat the Texans in Round 1 of the playoffs last season.
The 236-pound back took only seven handoffs last season, gaining minus-1 yard. As Lamar Miller‘s top backup in 2017, Foreman amassed 327 rushing yards (4.2 per tote) and two touchdowns. Foreman spent the first part of the ’18 season on the Texans’ PUP list and has yet to prove he has surmounted one of the most troublesome injuries a running back can encounter.
Marlon Mack and Nyheim Hines head up the Indianapolis backfield. The Colts waived second-year running back Keith Ford, per Mike Chappell of CBS4 (on Twitter), to make room for Foreman.
While the Texans reportedly were not pleased with Foreman’s work ethic as of late, the Texas alum has a decent chance to stick on the Colts’ roster after the preseason. But that’s obviously not a given. Ware’s placement on the Colts’ reserve/PUP list ends his season, at least his chances of playing for the 2019 Colts, so the Chris Ballard-headed front office making this claim adds up.
Texans Waive D’Onta Foreman
The Texans have waived running back D’Onta Foreman, as John McClain of the Houston Chronicle reports (via Twitter). This is obviously a disappointing result for Foreman and for Houston, who once believed that the Texas product — the 89th overall pick of the 2017 draft — had the potential to become the club’s No. 1 back.
Obviously, that never materialized, thanks in large part to an Achilles tear Foreman suffered in the second half of his rookie campaign. He had played sparingly to that point, but he showed some promise, racking up 327 yards on 78 carries (good for 4.2 YPC) and two touchdowns. He also caught six passes for another 83 yards.
But he tore his Achilles on a 34-yard touchdown run in Week 11 and spent the rest of 2017 on IR. He spent most of 2018 on the PUP list and was finally activated in December, but he carried the ball only seven times for -1 yard.
He appears to be completely healthy now, but the Texans were not happy with his work habits, and head coach Bill O’Brien was clearly less than enamored with Foreman. A reporter recently asked O’Brien about the third RB spot on the team’s roster — the reporter assumed, fairly, that Lamar Miller and Foreman were locks for the first two spots — and O’Brien replied, “who’re the first two?” (Twitter link via McClain). O’Brien then acknowledged that Miller was the starter while the backup competition was wide open.
The Texans may look to add another RB in the coming days, but for right now, the other backs on the roster are Josh Ferguson, Buddy Howell, and Taiwan Jones, along with several UDFAs. It’s not a particularly inspiring bunch, which makes the decision to waive Foreman even more telling. McClain notes in a separate tweet that the Texans will not become a potential landing spot for disgruntled Chargers back Melvin Gordon, as the club is focused on adding a backup for Miller.
It would not be surprising to see a team put in a waiver claim on Foreman, but even if he clears waivers, he should have another opportunity soon.
In a corresponding move, the Texans have signed LB Gimel President.
Texans’ Tytus Howard To Open At Guard
The Texans deployed one of the NFL’s worst offensive lines last season and are likely to return multiple starters from the group that yielded 62 an NFL-most sacks. But the team looks to be planning on getting a key addition into the lineup in an unexpected fashion.
Tytus Howard is the frontrunner to open the season as Houston’s starting left guard, Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle notes. A first-round tackle out of Alabama State, Howard would replace 2018 starter Senio Kelemete if this plan ends up coming to fruition. Recent signing Matt Kalil is in place as the team’s left tackle, Wilson adds.
Although Howard was viewed as a bit of a reach as a first-rounder, the Texans — despite firing GM Brian Gaine, who oversaw this year’s draft — clearly believe the former high school quarterback has a chance to play immediately. Gaine said after the draft the college tackle could play both guard positions, and Bill O’Brien‘s staff is testing that stance.
Additionally, the Texans are considering second-round guard Max Scharping as a Week 1 starter on the right side. But Wilson adds 2018 starter Zach Fulton is firmly in the mix to keep his job to start this season. Seantrel Henderson, who re-signed after suffering a season-ending injury in Week 1, is expected to start at right tackle.
Deshaun Watson took the most sacks any NFL passer has since Jon Kitna in 2006. The Texans were quiet in free agency on this front, despite entering the marketplace with more than $80MM in cap space. They added the oft-maligned Kalil and used first- and second-round picks on a Division I-FCS tackle (Howard) and mid-major guard (Scharping, out of Northern Illinois). All three additions could be Week 1 starters, doing so after 2018’s batch of newcomers frequently failed to protect Watson.
Texans Sign S A.J. Hendy
The Texans are swapping one safety for another. Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle tweets that the team is re-signing A.J. Hendy. To make room, Houston is cutting Tyvis Powell.
Hendy, a 2016 undrafted free agent out of Maryland, was signed by the Texans off the Chargers practice squad last January. He was waived by Houston last week, but the team apparently regretted their decision and brought him back. The 26-year-old has one NFL game on his resume, although he’s had consistent practice squad gigs since he entered the league.
Powell went undrafted out of Ohio State back in 2016, and he’s bounced between five different teams (including separate stints with the 49ers) over his three years in the league. The 25-year-old has appeared in 18 career games, including seven this past season with the 49ers. He finished 2018 with six tackles and one forced fumble. He joined the Texans last weekend.
The Texans have plenty of depth at safety, with Tashaun Gipson and Justin Reid slotted in as starters. Hendy will compete with the likes of Briean Boddy-Calhoun, Jahleel Addae, and A.J. Moore for backup reps.