Texans Work Out Austin Howard, Chris Clark
One of the Texans’ three offseason additions to their starting offensive line did not last through Week 1, and the team is auditioning Seantrel Henderson replacement options. This includes one familiar name in Houston.
Chris Clark trekked to the Texans facility on Tuesday for a workout, joining Austin Howard and Cornelius Lucas in doing so, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets.
An eight-year veteran, Clark spent the past three seasons with the Texans. He started 26 games, becoming an essential depth piece after injuries to Duane Brown and Derek Newton thrust him into the starting lineup. The Texans placed Henderson on IR on Monday because of an ankle injury.
Howard has bounced around lately but has given multiple teams quality right tackle work in recent years. After playing well in spots for the Raiders from 2014-16, Howard caught on with the Ravens and gave them 16 starts at right tackle. However, the 31-year-old blocker could not commandeer the Colts’ right-side job and was released before the regular season.
A former UDFA, Lucas has served as mostly a backup in his four-season NFL run — spent with the Lions and Rams.
Houston added Henderson, Zach Fulton and Senio Kelemete and may start third-round rookie Martinas Rankin at left tackle after moving Julie’n Davenport to the right side. Clark, 32, and Howard, 31, though, obviously bring far more experience.
Kayvon Webster Trending In Right Direction
- We learned earlier today that Texans cornerback Kevin Johnson was going to miss several weeks as he recovered from a concussion. Fortunately, it sounds like reinforcement is around the corner, as coach Bill O’Brien told ESPN’s Sarah Barshop that cornerback Kayvon Webster is trending in the right direction as he recovers from an Achilles injury (Twitter links). However, the defensive back won’t be ready for next week, and the team will consider moving safety Kareem Jackson to cornerback as they deal with the injuries.
[SOURCE LINK]
NFL Workout Updates: 9/10/18
Today’s workout updates, with all links going to veteran NFL reporter Howard Balzer’s Twitter account unless otherwise noted:
Arizona Cardinals
- QB Josh Woodrum; WRs Montay Crockett, Isaac Whitney; P Jeff Locke (link)
Atlanta Falcons
Chicago Bears
- Ss L.J. McCray, Kai Nacua
Cleveland Browns
Detroit Lions
Houston Texans
- DE Daeshon Hall (link)
Indianapolis Colts
- OGs Sean Harlow, Will Holden; LBs Nigel Harris, Jacob Pugh, Emmanuel Smith; CBs Tarvarus McFadden, Kalan Reed, Herb Waters; WR Korey Robertson
Jacksonville Jaguars
- CBs Breon Borders, Linden Stephens (link); TEs Blake Bell, John Phillips, Clive Walford
Minnesota Vikings
New England Patriots
- Gs Tony Adams, Spencer Drango; C Jake Eldrenkamp; CBs Kalan Reed, Josh Robinson (link); WRs Bennie Fowler, Greg Ward; LB Ufomba Kamalu
New Orleans Saints
- LBs Nigel Harris, Corey Nelson (link)
New York Jets
- FB Jay Prosch; G Sean Harlow; T Jylan Ware; LBs Zaire Anderson, Ufomba Kamalu; CB Herb Waters (link)
Oakland Raiders
- CBs Breon Borders, Makinton Dorleant; Ss Elijah Campbell, Nick Orr; LBs Cayson Collins, Naashon Hughes
San Francisco 49ers
- DE Daeshon Hall (link)
Tennessee Titans
- TE Nick O’Leary
Concussion To Sideline Texans’ Kevin Johnson For Several Weeks
Kevin Johnson suffered his second concussion in the past month and may not be returning to the field anytime soon.
The Texans cornerback will be out “a while” because of this development, Bill O’Brien said (via Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle, on Twitter), and may be an IR candidate. The former first-round pick is expected to miss at least four weeks because of this head injury, with NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport reporting a six-week absence may be in the cards (Twitter link).
This is obviously a scary development for the fourth-year corner, and O’Brien called the matter “concerning” for one of his key defenders. Johnson suffered his previous concussion August 18 and was only cleared for a return to action on Friday. The fourth-year player sustained a concussion in 2017 as well. This latest one came when Johnson tried to make a tackle in the fourth quarter of a 27-20 loss to the Patriots.
Johnson missed four games last season and 10 in 2016 because of injuries. The Texans also have a recent history of a starter’s career ending prematurely because of concussions. C.J. Fiedorowicz‘s trouble with head injuries (three concussions in 2017) caused him to retire this offseason, and the Texans will exercise caution with Johnson.
Houston’s cornerback depth will be tested. The Texans moved Kareem Jackson to safety this year, and Johnathan Joseph is now in his age-34 season. Aaron Colvin mans the slot. Recent addition Kayvon Webster also missed Week 1 because of an injury. Veteran special-teamer Johnson Bademosi and recent waiver claim A.J. Moore also reside on the roster.
Johnson’s concussion would appear to make the Texans a candidate to explore outside solutions at the position.
Texans OT Seantrel Henderson Done For Year
Texans offensive tackle Seantrel Henderson will miss the remainder of the 2018 season after suffering a suffering a significant ankle injury, head coach Bill O’Brien told reporters, including Sarah Barshop of ESPN.com (Twitter link). Mike Garafolo of NFL.com reported Sunday that Henderson, who will undergo surgery on Tuesday, broke a bone in his ankle.
Houston was already fielding one of the NFL’s worst offensive lines, so the club could ill afford any depletions to its starting five. After Henderson went down on Sunday, the Texans moved left tackle Julien Davenport to the right side, and inserted rookie Martinas Rankins on Deshaun Watson‘s blindside. That’s likely the combination Houston will use from here on out, but the team could potentially reshuffle its line this week.
Henderson, 26, signed a one-year, $4MM deal with the Texans this spring that contains $500K guaranteed. A former seventh-round pick, Henderson had spent the entirety of his career with the Bills until 2018. After starting 26 games during his first two years in Buffalo, Henderson devolved into a backup in his last two seasons with the Bills.
RT Seantrel Henderson Suffers Broken Bone In Ankle
- Texans right tackle Seantrel Henderson broke a bone in his ankle during today’s loss to the Patriots, reports NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo (via Twitter). It’s uncertain how much time the 26-year-old will miss. The lineman suffered the injury after getting his ankle stuck under Patriots defensive lineman Keionta Davis. Henderson missed the preseason after having a noncancerous cyst removed, but the free agent addition was expected to still serve as a starter for the Texans.
[SOURCE LINK]
Foreman Should Be Ready When First Eligible
- Texans running back D’onta Foreman was recently placed on PUP, ensuring he’ll miss the first six games of the season. But he’s “done very well in his rehab” and “should definitely be ready” to play when first eligible in Week 7 according to John McClain of The Houston Chronicle.
Minor NFL Transactions: 9/8/18
Here are Saturday’s minor moves.
Denver Broncos
- Released from IR: OL Menelik Watson
Houston Texans
- Released from IR: LB Ben Heeney
New York Jets
- Signed: OLB Frankie Luvu
- Waived: FB Lawrence Thomas
San Francisco 49ers
- Placed on IR: LB Dekoda Watson
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: CB Javien Elliott
- Placed on IR: CB De’Vante Harris
Texans Audition Charles Sims, Akeem Hunt
- The Texans worked out both Charles Sims and Akeem Hunt on Thursday, Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle notes (on Twitter). While Sims is a former regular on Buccaneers passing downs, Hunt’s workout went well, Wilson tweets, adding no deal is imminent. The Texans will be without D’Onta Foreman for the first third of the season. Alfred Blue, third-year back Tyler Ervin and recent waiver claim Gregory Howell are on Houston’s roster behind starter Lamar Miller.
NFL Workout Updates: 9/5/18
Today’s workout updates, with all links going to veteran NFL reporter Howard Balzer’s Twitter unless otherwise noted:
Carolina Panthers
Cleveland Browns
- WRs Roger Lewis, Isaac Whitney; OTs Anthony Coyle, Antonio Garcia, Brad Seaton, Jylan Ware; G Sean Harlow; DTs A.J. Francis, Lance McDowell; LBs Jonathan Celestin, Kennan Gilchrist, Emmanuel Smith; CBs Makinton Dorleant, Henre’ Toliver; K Greg Joseph (link)
Detroit Lions
- RB Larry Rose; CBs Johnathan Alston, Leonard Johnson, Jeff Richards, Duke Thomas (link)
Houston Texans
- QB Garrett Gilbert; WRs Malachi Dupre, Malik Turner, DeAngelo Yancey; OTs Aaron Evans, Justin Evans, Taylor Hart; David Steinmetz (link)
Indianapolis Colts
- LB Obum Gwacham
Jacksonville Jaguars
- FBs Dimitri Flowers, Jay Prosch; TE Ryan O’Malley; LBs Zaire Anderson, Tre’von Johnson, Corey Nelson (link)
Tennessee Titans
- QB Nick Stevens; WRs Devin Fuller, Francis Owusu (link)
Minnesota Vikings
- CB Christian Campbell (link)
Philadelphia Eagles
- WRs Reggie Davis, Dorren Miller; S Andrew Adams (link)