Opinion: Colin Kaepernick Makes Sense For Texans
- Given that head coach Bill O’Brien has claimed that wins — and not off-field events — are the primary driver for the Texans, free agent quarterback Colin Kaepernick makes “football sense” for the Texans, opines Sarah Barshop of ESPN.com. While O’Brien noted that Kaepernick “hasn’t played football in awhile,” recent signee Josh Johnson has attempted a pass since 2011, which would seem to render O’Brien’s argument moot.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 11/8/17
Today’s practice squad updates:
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: K Mike Meyer
- Released: QB Garrett Grayson
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: OL Korren Kirven
Denver Broncos
- Signed: C Dillon Day
- Released: WR Tim Patrick
Houston Texans
- Signed: OL Dorian Johnson
Kansas City Chiefs
- Signed: WR Devin Lucien
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: DE Patrick Gamble
Washington Redskins
- Signed: DE Tavaris Barnes, WR Keenan Reynolds
- Released: T Givens Price
Minor NFL Transactions: 11/8/17
Today’s minor moves:
Cleveland Browns
- Claimed off waivers: LB Josh Keyes
- Promoted to active roster: CB Darius Hillary
- Placed on injured reserve: CB Reggie Porter
- Waived: LB Deon King
Dallas Cowboys
- Promoted to active roster: DT Lewis Neal
Houston Texans
- Promoted to active roster: DL Jarrod Clements
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: DT John Hughes
- Waived: OL John Greco
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Promoted to active roster: WR Freddie Martino
NFL Workout Updates: 11/7/17
Today’s workout updates:
Arizona Cardinals
- QBs Joel Stave, Alek Torgersen; WRs Harvey Binford, Dante Edwards (link via Balzer)
Atlanta Falcons
- CBs Jeremy Boykins, Robertson Daniel; S Marcus Cromartie (link via Balzer)
Buffalo Bills
- WR DeVon Edwards; CB Denzel Rice; DBs Dean Marlowe, Chris Prosinski, Tre Sullivan (link via Balzer)
Chicago Bears
- RBs Jahad Thomas, James Summers, Stanley Williams (link via Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune)
Houston Texans
- CBs Sheldon Price, Will Redmond (link via Wilson)
Indianapolis Colts
- WR Lucky Whitehead; LBs Tyrell Adams, Brooks Ellis, Otha Peters; CBs Makinton Dorleant; S Will Blackmon (link via Balzer)
New York Jets
- WR Lucky Whitehead; CB Michael Hunter (Twitter links via Balzer)
San Francisco 49ers
- WR Dominique Young (link via Wilson)
Texans Cut Matt McGloin, Add Josh Johnson
The Texans announced that they have waived quarterback Matt McGloin. To take his place, they have replaced him with fellow QB Josh Johnson. In a related move, the Texans have also released defensive lineman Kendall Langford. 
McGloin was signed shortly after starting quarterback Deshaun Watson went down with an ACL tear. However, it was T.J. Yates – signed the day after McGloin – who dressed as Tom Savage‘s backup over the weekend.
All indications are that Savage will continue as the Texans’ starter, even after Houston’s 20-14 defeat at the hands of the Colts. Johnson may or may not get the nod over Yates as the primary backup.
Johnson has not played in a regular season NFL game since 2013. Since then, he has signed 13 contracts with eight different teams, as Tom Pelissero of NFL.com (on Twitter) notes.
The Texans are also expected to activate tight end C.J. Fiedorowicz from injured reserve this week, so the release of Langford could make room for him on the 53-man roster.
Texans Work Out WR Josh Huff
The Texans worked out wide receiver Josh Huff on Tuesday, according to a league source who spoke with Aaron Wilson of The Houston Chronicle. It marks Huff’s first known audition since mid-September. 
[RELATED: Texans Have Internally Discussed Colin Kaepernick]
Huff, 26, was a third-round pick of the Eagles under the Chip Kelly administration. Last year, the Oregon product made headlines for the wrong reasons following a gun- and marijuana-related arrest. He hooked on with the Bucs, but only appeared in three games and wound up missing the Week 1 cut in 2017.
Following his release from Tampa Bay, Huff auditioned for the Saints and Jets but left both workouts without a deal.
Texans Have Internally Discussed Colin Kaepernick
After the Texans’ 20-14 defeat on Sunday at the hands of the Colts, there are questions abound about the Texans’ quarterback situation. Naturally, coach Bill O’Brien was asked about Colin Kaepernick on Monday morning. O’Brien confirmed that Kaepernick has been at least discussed in meetings with team officials, but it doesn’t sound like we should bank on him landing in Houston. 
“Again, we talk about everybody that’s out there every day. I coach the football team. What you saw yesterday, that’s what I’m in charge of. I just give my input and then I coach the football team,” O’Brien said, before adding that he “likes the guys” already in-house (Twitter link via Mark Berman of FOX 26).
This weekend, the Texans turned back to Tom Savage after losing Deshaun Watson for the season with a torn ACL. The results were not great. Savage completed 19-of-44 for 219 yards and a touchdown as the Texans allowed a divisional rival to snap three-game losing skid.
Shortly after Watson’s injury in practice, the Texans moved quickly to add Matt McGloin and T.J. Yates to the roster. We could see some further movement in the QB room, but it would be a surprise to see Kaepernick added to the mix at this time.
Deshaun Watson Expected To Miss Eight To Nine Months
- Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets that Texans QB Deshaun Watson is expected to miss eight to nine months as a result of his ACL tear, though the last time he tore his ACL, he missed only five months, so Houston is hopeful for a shorter timeline.
Minor NFL Transactions: 11/3/17
Today’s minor moves:
Houston Texans
- Waived: G Dorian Johnson
Indianapolis Colts
- Promoted to active roster: T Tyreek Burwell
Los Angeles Rams
- Placed on injured reserve: S Cody Davis
Today’s practice squad updates:
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: DT Justin Hamilton
Latest On Colin Kaepernick
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, Patriots owner Robert Kraft, and Texans owner Bob McNair, amongst others, will be deposed and asked to turn over all cell phone records and emails in relation to the Colin Kaepernick collusion case against the NFL, a league source tells ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter (Facebook link). Seahawks coach Pete Carroll and owner 49ers Jed York are also among those on the deposition list, Charles Robinson of Yahoo Sports (Twitter link) hears.
Other owners, team officials, and league officials may also be deposed, but those are the individuals confirmed for now.
Here’s more on Kaepernick:
- Colin Kaepernick’s attorney believes that the quarterback will sign with an NFL team soon. “I think within the next 10 days somebody will sign him,” Mark Geragos told Adam Carolla earlier this week (transcript via BleacherReport.com). “I think somebody’s gonna sign him. I think the NFL has to come to their senses, and realize every day that goes by just proves the collusion case even more.” Geragos may have confidence, but there’s no reason to expect a Kaepernick signing anytime soon. A potential spot opened up this week when Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson suffered a season-ending ACL tear, but Houston opted to sign Matt McGloin and T.J. Yates. For now, Tom Savage is the starter in Houston and there are no known plans for the team to audition Kaepernick.
- NFL spokesman Joe Lockhart deferred to the NFLPA on the topic of having Kaepernick at the next meeting between players and owners (Twitter link via Ian Rapoport of NFL.com). “We’d welcome his participation, but that’s an issue for the players to determine,” he said.