Texans Activate LB Brian Cushing
Veteran middle linebacker Brian Cushing missed the first ten games of the regular season after being suspended once again for violating the NFL’s performance-enhancing drug policy. The Texans had placed him on a roster exemption list last week, but has now activated him to the 53 man roster, according to Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle. Wilson adds that Cushing is likely to be active for the team’s Week 14 matchup against the 49ers.
Head coach Bill O’Brien seemed to be excited about getting one of the leaders of his defense back.
“Absolutely, his leadership, No. 1, his knowledge of our defense, his experience playing in our defense, his toughness,” O’Brien said. “All of those things could definitely help our defense.”
Cushing, 30, has known no other franchise than Houston since he was drafted by the team in the first round back in 2009. Since then, Cushing has played a full 16 games in a regular season just three times, having been suspended once prior for four games in 2010.
However, when the linebacker is on the field, he’s frequently around the football having led the team in tackles twice in his eight previous years in the league. Cushing appeared in 13 games last season, collecting 38 solo tackles in the process.
The Texans defense has taken multiple hits throughout the year, losing two of the best defenders at their position in J.J. Watt and Whitney Mercilus for the season. Cushing will likely take the place of Zach Cunningham and start next to fellow inside linebacker Benardrick McKinney on Sunday.
C.J. Fiedorowicz Suffers Third Concussion Of Season
C.J. Fiedorowicz won’t return to today’s Texans-Titans game. He sustained a concussion, Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle reports (on Twitter).
This is the veteran tight end’s third this season. Fiedororwicz left the game in the first half. He suited up for his fifth game of the season on Sunday and fourth since coming off the Texans’ IR. But considering the frequency of these injuries, it would not be surprising to see the 26-year-old pass-catcher shelved for the remainder of the season.
Fiedorowicz went on IR for a concussion sustained in Week 1, but he also suffered a head injury during the preseason. Despite missing two months of action, the fourth-year tight end’s troubles avoiding these damaging blows have persisted.
The Texans signed Fiedorowicz to a three-year, $21.5MM extension this offseason — with $10MM guaranteed.
Will Fuller Out For Week 13
- The Texans have been without big play threat Will Fuller for the past two weeks and head coach Bill O’Brien doesn’t expect that to change in Week 13, reports Sarah Barshop of ESPN.com (Twitter link). The 2016 first round pick missed the opening part of the year with injury too, but sandwiched an outstanding run of games in which he scored six times in four contests. Barshop does note that the O’Brien didn’t entirely rule out the possibility of Fuller making a return in the final few weeks of the regular season.
Brian Cushing Back From Suspension
- Linebacker Brian Cushing is now eligible to return to the Texans after serving a 10-game PED suspension, as Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle writes. Houston has a one-week roster exemption for Cushing, whom Wilson reports is still in excellent shape. That exemption expires next Monday, and head coach Bill O’Brien didn’t commit to placing Cushing on the Texans’ active roster before the club’s Week 13 contest against the Titans. Cushing did not appeal his most recent PED ban, the second of his NFL career.
Texans Place OT Chris Clark On IR
The Texans have placed left tackle Chris Clark and linebacker Ben Heeney on injured reserve, the club announced today. In related moves, Houston promoted LB Gimel President, LB LaTroy Lewis, and G Chad Slade from its practice squad to the active roster.
Clark, 32, had been serving as the Texans’ starting left tackle, a role he played while longtime starter Duane Brown was holding out and after Brown was traded to the Seahawks. Manning the blindside of a line that ranks in the bottom half of the league in both adjusted line yards and adjusted sack rate, Clark graded as a bottom-10 tackle, per Pro Football Focus.
Houston has several options to take over at left tackle: Kendall Lamm replaced Clark — who has a high ankle sprain and a bone bruise, per Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle (Twitter link) — but fourth-round rookie Julie’n Davenport could also be in the mix when he returns from his own injury (a shoulder issue that caused him to miss Week 12). Long-term, Clark probably isn’t in the Texans’ plans, as his contract expires after the 2017 campaign.
Heeney, meanwhile, is a former fifth-round pick whom Houston acquired off waivers earlier this year. Although Heeney barely played on the defensive side of the ball, he did manage 107 special teams snaps in only five games.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 11/29/17
Today’s practice squad updates:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: RB Darius Victor
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed: LB Darnell Sankey
Dallas Cowboys
- Signed: RB Aaron Green
Denver Broncos
- Signed: CB Michael Hunter
Detroit Lions
- Signed: DE Jeremiah Valoaga
- Waived: LB Thurston Armbrister
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: LB Ahmad Thomas
Houston Texans
- Signed: QB Taylor Heinicke, TE Ryan Malleck, WR DeAndrew White
Bears Claim LB Lamarr Houston
The Bears have claimed linebacker Lamarr Houston, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). The Texans released the veteran on Tuesday, exposing him to post-trading deadline waivers. 
Houston spent the 2014-2016 seasons in Chicago. The results were mixed, primarily due to his health. Houston, 30, didn’t live up to his five-year, $35MM free agent deal signed in 2014. In three seasons with the Bears, Houston has appeared in just 26 of a possible 48 games and made only ten starts. The Bears opted to release Houston just prior to Week 1 of this season.
The potential remains for Houston to be an effective edge rusher, although perhaps not as a starter like when he was with the Raiders. After two ACL tears and multiple other knee injuries, he could best serve the Bears as a reserve. Currently, the Bears are starting Mitch Unrein and Akiem Hicks at defensive end with Pernell McPhee and Sam Acho as the starting outside linebackers. Houston figures to get reps at OLB, particularly wtih Leonard Floyd and Willie Young on IR.
In five games with the Texans, Houston recorded seven total tackles, one forced fumble (recovered for a touchdown), and one sack.
Texans Cut LB Lamarr Houston
Lamarr Houston‘s time in Houston has come to an end. The linebacker has been waived, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link). The release isn’t necessarily a reflection on his performance – Rapoport hears the Texans are shifting focus to younger players. 
Houston joined the Texans on a one-year deal in October. At the time, the Texans were still in the mix for the AFC South crown. Today, they’re 4-7 with no real chance at reaching the playoffs. By cutting Houston, the Texans will get a chance to evaluate edge rushers who could be a part of the solution in 2018. Meanwhile, Houston may get a chance to hook on with a contending club.
Although Houston is a vested veteran, he’ll be subject to waivers since we are beyond the trading deadline. If no one claims Houston within a 24 hour period, he’ll be free to sign with any team of his choosing.
Minor NFL Transactions: 11/21/17
Here are today’s minor moves.
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: WR Carlton Agudosi
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: S Justin Currie
- Signed: DE Tyrone Holmes
- Placed on IR: DT Jamie Meder
Houston Texans
- Waived: QB Josh Johnson (according to agent Doug Hendrickson, on Twitter)
- Signed: WR Cobi Hamilton
Los Angeles Rams
- Waived: TE Johnny Mundt
New England Patriots
- Signed off Bills’ practice squad: OLB Eric Lee
Washington Redskins
- Placed on IR: G Shaun Lauvao
NFL Workout Updates: 11/21/17
Here’s the workout news from Tuesday.
Buffalo Bills
- DT Stefan Charles (per Mike Rodak of ESPN.com, on Twitter)
Houston Texans
Jacksonville Jaguars
- LB Ben Boulware, LB Carl Bradford, LB Brooks Ellis, LS Derek Hart, WR Lucky Whitehead (per NFL reporter Howard Balzer, on Twitter)
New England Patriots
- LB Darnell Sankey, WR R.J. Shelton (via Mike Reiss of ESPN.com, on Twitter)
New York Jets
- CB Will Likely, TE Gabe Holmes, S Kelcie McCray, WR Eric Rogers (Twitter links via Wilson and ESPN.com’s Adam Caplan)