Texans To Sign DE/LB Lamarr Houston
The Texans didn’t stop after reaching an agreement with free agent defensive lineman Kendall Langford earlier tonight — they’re also planning to sign linebacker/defensive end Lamarr Houston, tweets Mark Berman of FOX 26.
Although the Texans lost two of their best defenders — J.J. Watt and Whitney Mercilus — to season-ending injuries on Sunday night, they’re still firmly in the AFC South race. They sit alongside the Colts and Titans at 2-3, and all those clubs are one game behind the division-leading Jaguars. With one fell swoop, the Texans have now added two veteran defensive players who between them offer 225 games of NFL experience.
Houston, 30, was never able to stay fully healthy after inking a five-year, $35MM contract with Chicago prior to the 2014 campaign. In three seasons with the Bears, the 30-year-old Houston appeared in just 26 of a possible 48 games and made only 10 starts. He managed nine total sacks in Chicago, but eight of those came in 2015, his only healthy year with the Bears.
Houston, who was in town today to work out for the Texans, has been busy since being released by Chicago last month. In addition to the Texans, he’d met with or auditioned for the Patriots, Saints, and Buccaneers.
Texans To Sign DL Kendall Langford
The Texans are in agreement with free agent defensive lineman Kendall Langford, according to Stephen Holder of the Indianapolis Star (Twitter link).
After losing both J.J. Watt and Whitney Mercilus to season-ending injuries in Week 5, Houston had widened its search for defensive front reinforcements in recent days. Veteran edge defenders Lamarr Houston and Tyson Jackson were in town for workouts today, while the Texans also looked at linebacker Jayrone Elliott, reports Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle.
No freely available player — including Langford — is going to replace Watt or Mercilus, who are arguably Houston’s best pass rushers. But Langford, who at 6’5″, 275 pounds should be able to play at both end and tackle in the Texans’ 3-4 scheme, will be able to add depth and experience to a defensive unit that ranked fourth in DVOA heading into Week 5.
Langford, 31, offers a wealth of NFL history, as he’s appeared in 135 games (113 starts) during his nine-year pro career. In 2016, Langford lasted just seven games before the Colts placed him on injured reserve with a knee injury that had bothered him since a 2015 arthroscopic operation. All told, Langford played 301 snaps and tallied 10 tackles. Notably, he failed to register a sack for just the second time in his and the first time since 2011.
Along with the Colts, Langford has also suited up for Miami (2008-11) and St. Louis (2012-14). He’s been employed this season, as well, as he bounced on-and-off the Saints’ roster but never actually appeared in a game for New Orleans.
Minor NFL Transactions: 10/10/17
Today’s minor moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: LS Justin Drescher
- Placed on injured reserve: LS Aaron Brewer
Atlanta Falcons
- Promoted to active roster: DT Taniela Tupou
Cleveland Browns
- Released from IR: T Matt McCants
Houston Texans
- Claimed off waivers: CB Marcus Williams
- Released: CB Johnthan Banks, T Jah Reid
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Released from IR: CB Josh Johnson
New Orleans Saints
- Waived: LB Gabe Martin
New York Giants
- Promoted to active roster: WR Ed Eagan
Oakland Raiders
- Signed: CB Demetrius McCray
San Francisco 49ers
- Placed on IR: CB Asa Jackson
AFC South Notes: Colts, Luck, Texans, Watt
Colts quarterback Andrew Luck has been ruled out for next Monday night’s game against Tennessee, coach Chuck Pagano tells reporters. The Colts are still waiting for Luck to make his 2017 debut but publicly they have been insistent that he will play at some point. Over the weekend we learned that Luck is at least a month away from playing.
Here’s more from the AFC South:
- Texans defensive lineman J.J. Watt is facing a lengthy recovery for his tibial plateau fracture, but the good news is that he did not suffer ligament damage, as Ian Rapoport of NFL.com hears (on Twitter). The Houston star will miss the remainder of the 2017 season, meaning that he will have missed 24 games over the past two regular seasons. Before that, Watt earned Pro Bowl trips and first-team All-Pro honors in every campaign from 2012-2015.
- Colts wide receiver Krishawn Hogan confirmed that an ACL tear is the reason behind his being placed on IR (Twitter link via Mike Chappell of CBS4). “‘I kind of knew it when it happened,” Hogan said of the injury. The UDFA out of Marian University was elevated from the Colts’ practice squad in late September and appeared in two games. He had practice buzz, so the Colts can be expected to circle back to him in the offseason.
- Colin Kaepernick‘s representatives reached out to the Titans after Marcus Mariota went down with a hamstring issue.
Texans Work Out Tyson Jackson
Former No. 3 overall pick Tyson Jackson is visiting the Texans and will work out for them, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com hears (on Twitter). The Texans are in desperate need of defensive line help after losing J.J. Watt and Whitney Mercilus to season-ending injuries, so Jackson could be a natural fit. 
Jackson was cut loose by the Falcons at the outset of free agency. With $8.5MM and two years to go on his deal, it was an easy choice for Atlanta given his disappointing performance in 2016.
Last year, Jackson had just 13 total tackles and two pass deflections in 16 games (seven starts). The advanced statistics at Pro Football Focus rated him as just the No. 67 interior defender in the NFL out of 127 qualified players. His grades for run defense, pass rush, and coverage were all atrocious in his 389 total snaps.
Furthermore, Jackson failed to record a sack in any of his three seasons with the Falcons, but he was an effective player while with the Chiefs. He may not be the world-class player NFL scouts thought he might be in 2009, but he could help to fill a major need in Houston.
NFL Workout Updates: 10/9/17
Here’s a rundown of Monday’s workouts from around the NFL that were not already noted on PFR:
Detroit Lions
- QB Alek Torgersen; WRs Amba Etta-Tawo and Devin Lucien (link)
Houston Texans
- CB Marcus Sayles (link via Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle)
New England Patriots
- P Matt Darr (Twitter link via Brett Tessler)
- DB Alex Carter, G Cole Toner, OT Storm Norton (Twitter link via Mike Reiss of ESPN.com)
New York Jets
- WRs Marvin Bracy and DeVon Edwards; DT Woodrow Hamilton; CB J.R. Nelson (link)
Texans To Work Out DE/LB Lamarr Houston
The Texans will audition defensive end/linebacker Lamarr Houston on Tuesday, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link).
The Buccaneers reportedly worked out Houston today, but the Texans have a far greater need along their front seven. Both J.J. Watt and Whitney Mercilus suffered season-ending injuries on Sunday, leaving the club without two of their top three pass rushers. While incumbent options such as Brennan Scarlett could see increased snaps, Houston would give the Texans another jolt in Mike Vrabel’s 3-4 scheme.
Houston, 30, was never able to stay fully healthy after inking a five-year, $35MM contract with Chicago prior to the 2014 campaign. In three seasons with the Bears, the 30-year-old Houston appeared in just 26 of a possible 48 games and made only 10 starts. He managed nine total sacks in Chicago, but eight of those came in 2015, his only healthy year with the Bears.
Texans Want To Keep LT Duane Brown
The Texans hope to retain left tackle Duane Brown — who is currently in the midst of a contractual holdout — and don’t intend to trade him, a source tells Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. However, Houston could conceivably consider an “appropriate offer” for its starting blindside protector, per Florio.
Brown needs to play in at least eight games this year in order to accrue credit for his 2017 season. However, Brown will likely need to report following Week 6 in order to be safe, as Florio outlines. The Texans are expected to be granted a roster exemption for Brown that could last as long as three weeks. If Houston’s front office holds out Brown for that maximum timeframe, Brown won’t be able to be present for his needed eight contests.
Brown, 32, has been pushing for a new deal since at least May, and didn’t participate in Houston’s minicamp, training camp, or preseason. The Texans don’t seem inclined to work out a fresh pact with Brown, while Brown himself has indicated that he will in fact play at some point in 2017. As of September, general manager Rick Smith and Brown’s representatives weren’t talking.
Houston has turned to Kendall Lamm (one start) and Chris Clark (four starts) in the wake of Clark’s absence, but both players have offered sub-par performances. Specifically, Pro Football Focus ranks Clark as the No. 55 tackle among 72 qualifiers. While the Texans’ offensive line has played well in the run game, the unit is 31st in adjusted rack rate, according to Football Outsiders.
Brown is currently signed through the 2018 season, and is due non-guaranteed base salaries of $9.65MM and $9.75MM over the next two years.
Texans LB Whitney Mercilus Done For Season
The Texans’ Sunday night went from bad to worst, as the club not only lost superstar defensive lineman J.J. Watt, but edge rusher Whitney Mercilus. A torn pectoral will require surgery and end Mercilus’ 2017 campaign, tweets Mark Berman of FOX 28.
[RELATED: J.J. Watt Out For Year]
Houston ranked fourth in defensive DVOA and seventh in adjusted sack rate heading into Week 5, but have now seen two of their best defensive players go down in a single night. Without Watt and Mercilus available, the Texans could give more work to internal options Brennan Scarlett or Ufomba Kamalu, or potentially promote practice squad players LaTroy Lewis or Gimel President.
A free agent acquisition can’t be ruled out, as well, and there are a number of edge defenders who could make sense for the Texans. Dwight Freeney, Mario Williams, Paul Kruger, Jaye Howard, Arthur Jones, and Vance Walker are among the available players who could provide assistance on either the defensive line or at outside linebacker. Houston has auditioned linebackers such as Andrew Gachkar and Michael Mauti in recent weeks, but those veterans are more valuable on special teams than in defensive packages.
Mercilus will be difficult to replace, however, as the 27-year-old ‘backer has become an underrated asset over the past few seasons. From 2015-16, Mercilus put up 19.5 sacks for the Texans, and had managed one quarterback takedown in 2017. Pro Football Focus had graded Mercilus as just the No. 46 edge defender this season, but his marks had been significantly better in the prior two years.
Mercilus is signed through the 2019 campaign under the terms of an extension he signed in 2015. He’s due base salaries of $4.75MM and $5.75MM over the next two seasons.
J.J. Watt Suffers Tibial Plateau Fracture, Out For Season
The Texans announced J.J. Watt suffered a tibial plateau fracture, which the San Diego Union-Tribune’s David Chao noted would cause the defensive end to either undergo surgery or be shelved for a lengthy period of time. It looks like both are set to occur.
That absence looks like it will include the rest of the 2017 season. Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets Watt will indeed be out for the remainder of this season. This will require surgery, Mark Berman of Fox 26 tweets, confirming Rapoport’s report about this being a season-ending setback.
While additional tests are coming for Watt, the severity of this injury to the 28-year-old defender’s left shin bone looks to provide yet another substantial hurdle to surmount. This injury also affects the knee joint, with John McClain of the Houston Chronicle noting (on Twitter) it’s a range-of-motion issue. This will be a recovery process spanning several months, Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle adds (via Twitter).
The Texans placing Watt on IR would sideline him for eight weeks, but the Texans announcing this precise injury looks to be a fairly indicative sign they don’t believe Watt will be able to return this season.
Watt suffered the malady during the first quarter of Sunday night’s game against the Chiefs. The three-time defensive player of the year missed 13 games last season with a back injury and underwent three surgeries in 2016, sidetracking what had begun as a stratospheric career.
The four-time first-team All-Pro missing the rest of this season would end up shelving him for 24 games over the past two regular seasons. Previously, Houston’s 2011 first-round pick and franchise cornerstone had gone through five seasons without missing a game. Watt entered Sunday night’s game appearing to have bounced back fully from the back injury that ended his 2016 slate, ranking as Pro Football Focus’ No. 6 interior defender.
Houston managed to finish as the 2016 No. 1 defense without Watt’s services beyond September, and this continues a pattern of injuries preventing the franchise’s top defenders from playing together. Jadeveon Clowney struggled mightily with maladies during Watt’s apex in 2014-15, but the former No. 1 overall pick emerged as a top-notch defender last season and was playing alongside Watt to start this one. Clowney will have to anchor the Houston front seven again.