Texans Inquire On Patriots’ Phillip Dorsett
The Texans might not be done shopping for wide receivers. The Texans have called about Patriots receiver Phillip Dorsett, according to Jeff Howe of The Athletic (on Twitter). 
[RELATED: Broncos Trade Demaryius Thomas To Texans]
Time is ticking on the trade deadline clock, and Howe hears that there hasn’t been much progress on the Dorsett trade front. But, as we saw last year, teams are often willing to up the ante as the 4pm ET/3pm CT deadline approaches.
The Texans acquired Demaryius Thomas from the Broncos on Tuesday, giving them an experienced receiver to carry the load in the wake of Will Fuller‘s season-ending injury. That deal alone could be a big difference maker for Houston, but the Texans are unwilling to take chances after injuries ruined their playoff aspirations last year.
Dorsett, 25, has just 20 catches for 198 yards and two touchdowns this season. The Patriots are on the lookout for wide receiver help themselves, and they could free up a roster spot for a new pass catcher by dealing the Miami product.
Broncos Trade Demaryius Thomas To Texans
The Broncos have agreed to trade Demaryius Thomas to the Texans, sources tell Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). The deal will send Thomas and a seventh-round pick to Houston for a fourth-round pick and a seventh-round pick, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. The trade paves the way for Courtland Sutton to receive an uptick in targets and gives the Texans a veteran receiver for the final stretch of the season. 
Thomas’ name has been all over Pro Football Rumors for weeks and he wound up being involved in the first major trade of deadline day. Thomas, 31 in December, entered the league as a first-round pick of the Broncos in 2010 and was in his ninth season with the club. Along the way, Thomas racked up four Pro Bowl nods and a Super Bowl ring after the 2015 season.
When Thomas was at his best, he was among the most feared wide receivers in the NFL. From 2012-2015, Thomas averaged 100 catches for 1447 yards and ten touchdowns. Thomas cleared 1,000 yards in 2016 and nearly hit four digits last year, but he has not looked the same in 2018.
Thomas supporters would argue that Case Keenum‘s woes are to blame for his drop off in production. Soon, we’ll find out whether Thomas can turn back the clock with Deshaun Watson under center.
“I’ve been watching him for a long time, since he was at [Georgia Tech] and since he’s been in the NFL,” Texans head coach Bill O’Brien said when asked about Thomas (Twitter link via Ryan O’Halloran of the Denver Post). “Excellent athletic skills. Great hands. Really good route runner. Very smooth route runner. He’s a tough guy to defend.”
The Patriots were said to be considering Thomas this month and the Titans and Eagles were also linked to the veteran. Those clubs and other WR-needy teams may pivot elsewhere between now and the Tuesday afternoon deadline.
The Broncos’ return may not seem impressive at first glance, but they did manage to shed $4MM in cap space this season and $14MM next season. And, given Thomas’ age and perceived decline, there was no way they were getting more than a fourth-rounder for him.
Thomas’ first game with the Texans will come against the Broncos, in Denver.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/29/18
Here are Monday’s practice squad decisions:
Houston Texans
- Signed: WR Steve Mitchell
- Cut: WR Cyril Grayson
New York Jets
- Signed: CB Juston Burris
Oakland Raiders
- Signed: G Isaiah Williams
- Cut: LB Cayson Collins
Texans Work Out Brice Butler, Others
- The Texans followed through with their scheduled Brice Butler workout on Monday, Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle tweets. In addition, Houston auditioned quarterback Brogan Roback, cornerback Craig Mager and wide receivers Amba Etta-Tawo and Steven Mitchell.
Johnathan Joseph Expected To Miss 2-3 Weeks
On the same night they lost receiver Will Fuller to a season-ending injury, it sounds like the Texans also lost a top cornerback for several weeks. Mark Berman of Fox26 in Houston reports (via Twitter) that Johnathan Joseph suffered a high ankle sprain and a MCL sprain during Thursday’s win over the Dolphins. The injury will sideline him for two to three weeks.
The Texans’ cornerback corps have been decimated by injuries. Kayvon Webster, Kevin Johnson, and Jermaine Kelly are currently sitting on the injured reserve, while Aaron Colvin is expected to be out for the next few weeks as he recovers from an ankle injury. With Shareece Wright sitting out Thursday’s game, the Texans rolled with three healthy cornerbacks: Joseph, AJ Moore, and Johnson Bademosi.
While Joseph’s absence is exasperated by the team’s injury woes, the 34-year-old would be especially missed in the Texans’ secondary. The veteran was having a resurgent season in Houston, compiling 34 tackles, one pick-six, and eight passes defended in eight games (eight starts). Pro Football Focus has Joseph ranked 12th among 112 eligible cornerbacks.
Fortunately for the Texans, they may not need to add another cornerback. The team can always turn to safety Kareem Jackson for snaps at the position. Plus, since there are nine days between their Week 8 and Week 9 contests (plus a bye in Week 10), Joseph could end up missing only a single game.
Texans Not Expected To Pursue WR Dez Bryant
Following Will Fuller‘s season-ending ACL injury, the Texans are apparently in the market for a wide receiver. However, it sounds like we can cross one major name off their list of potential targets. Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle writes that the organization is not expected to pursue free agent wideout Dez Bryant.
Fuller tore his ACL during Thursday’s win over the Dolphins, and the Texans have already auditioned Brice Butler for some reinforcement at the position. Some pundits immediately thought that Bryant would be a logical fit for the organization. For starters, Bryant grew up in Texas, and he spent his entire professional career in Dallas. Furthermore, he attended the same high school as Texans receiver Keke Coutee, and he’s been serving as a mentor to the rookie.
Despite the connections, it doesn’t sound like the 29-year-old will be making his way to Houston. When asked about potentially signing the former Pro Bowler, Bill O’Brien gave a rather generic answer.
“I would say my answer to that is we explore everything,” O’Brien said. “I think that’s kind of the job, one of the main jobs of, obviously, [general manager] Brian (Gaine) and then he brings things to me and then we talk and we communicate.
“I would say we explore everything, including our own team. How can we use this guy in maybe another position? Or do this, can we do that? We look at our own team first in addition to looking at what’s going outside. That would be my general answer to that.”
With Fuller out for the season, Coutee coming back from a hamstring injury, and Bruce Ellington currently sitting on the injured reserve, the Texans are rostering only three healthy wideouts: DeAndre Hopkins, Sammie Coates, and Vyncint Smith.
Texans To Work Out WR Brice Butler
The Texans will work out former Cowboys wide receiver Brice Butler on Friday, a league source tells Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle (on Twitter). This marks Butler’s second audition of the week after working out for the Jets on Wednesday. 
[RELATED: Texans’ Will Fuller Done For Year]
Butler talked a big game heading into free agency and insisted on becoming a starter with his next team. He inked a two-year deal with the Cardinals in April, but did not make their initial cut in early September.
Last year, Butler showed flashes of being a strong deep threat. The 6-foot-3 target averaged 21.1 yards per catch in 2017, posting 317 air yards and three touchdowns on just 15 receptions. He averaged 21.5 yards per grab in 2015, his first year in Dallas, while working with various backups while Tony Romo was on the shelf.
If signed, Butler could help fill the void left by Will Fuller‘s season-ending ACL tear. He couldn’t ask for a much better opportunity to rebuild his value, especially as Keke Coutee also continues to work his way back from injury.
Texans WR Will Fuller Done For Season
On Friday morning, tests confirmed the Texans’ worst fears. Wide receiver Will Fuller suffered a season-ending torn ACL and will be placed on injured reserve, head coach Bill O’Brien announced. 
Fuller, 24, was on pace to have the best season of his career. Through seven games, he hauled in 32 catches for 503 yards and four touchdowns and reeled 71.% percent of all passes thrown to him by Deshaun Watson. The Texans will have to get by without Fuller’s production and the attention that he takes off of star receiver DeAndre Hopkins.
Since entering the league as a first-round pick out of Notre Dame in 2016, Fuller has missed eight possible regular season games. That number will grow to 17 after he misses the second half of the 2018 season.
The Texans are now expected to survey the free agent market for receivers. Many will connect the dots between the Texas team and Dez Bryant, but there are no indications that the Texans are interested in the veteran. Terrelle Pryor is also among those looking for work, and he says he’s healthy and ready to contribute.
Alternatively, the Texans could look to their practice squad for reinforcements. They currently have three receivers – Malachi Dupre, Cyril Grayson, and Issac Whitney – waiting in the wings.
Texans Fear Torn ACL For Will Fuller
The Texans believe that wide receiver Will Fuller tore the ACL in his right knee, according to John McClain of the Houston Chronicle (on Twitter). Of course, that injury would rule Fuller out for the remainder of the season. 
Fuller will receive a full examination on Friday, which will determine the full extent of the injury. If the Texans are lucky, the scans may reveal only a severe sprain of the joint, but there’s not a lot of optimism in Houston.
Fuller injured his knee midway through the fourth quarter of Thursday night’s win over the Dolphins as he was going for a deep pass in the end zone. He was in the midst of a huge game, having already caught five balls for 124 yards, including a 73-yard touchdown. Losing Fuller would be tragic for both the team and the player who was also sidelined for much of the 2017 season.
If Fuller is done for the season, the Texans will have to rely even more heavily on DeAndre Hopkins. They also have the diminutive Keke Coutee, who has been a pleasant surprise this year, on hand, but he is currently dealing with a hamstring issue of his own. Sammie Coates and Vyncint Smith are the only other receivers on the roster, so they’ll have to make at least one depth signing if Fuller is done for the year.
NFL Workout Updates: 10/24/18
Today’s workout updates, all courtesy of veteran NFL reporter Howard Balzer (on Twitter):
Arizona Cardinals
- TE Ethan Wolf; K Zane Gonzalez
Cincinnati Bengals
- TE Marcus Lucas
Cleveland Browns
- WR Deontez Alexander, Marcus Tucker; CB Linden Stephens; LB Corey Nelson
Detroit Lions
- RBs Gerald Holmes, Jalen Simmons; DE Anthony Lanier; DT Josh Banks
Houston Texans
- TE Khari Lee
Indianapolis Colts
- WRs C.J. Board, Montay Crockett, Chad Hansen; DT Zaycoven Henderson; S A.J. Howard
Jacksonville Jaguars
- LBs Richie Brown, Colton Jumper, Mike Needham, Aaron Wallace; CB Breon Borders; S Jack Tocho
Kansas City Chiefs
Minnesota Vikings
- T Andrew Lauderdale
Oakland Raiders
- OTs Darius James, Jamar McGloster, De’Ondre Wesley; Gs Maurquice Shakir, Isaiah Williams
Seattle Seahawks
- G J.J. Dielman; S Justin Currie
Tennessee Titans
- RB Ralph Webb; TE Khari Lee; DT Vincent Valentine; LBs Vontarrius Dora, Gimel President