Sunday NFL Transactions: AFC South
Listed below are the Sunday roster moves for the four AFC South teams. Following the 53-man roster cutdown deadline yesterday, many teams will make slight tweaks to their rosters, claiming players off waivers or signing guys who clear waivers. Those transactions for the Texans, Colts, Jaguars, and Titans are noted below.
Additionally, as of 12:00pm CT today, teams can begin constructing their 10-man practice squads. You can check out our glossary entry on practice squads to brush up on those changes, as well as all the other guidelines that govern the 10-man units, whose players practice with the team but aren’t eligible to suit up on Sundays.
Here are Sunday’s AFC South transactions, which will continue to be updated throughout the day:
Houston Texans
- Claimed:
- WR Andy Jones
- Cut:
- RB Akeem Hunt
- Signed to practice squad:
- TE Evan Baylis
- CB Bryce Jones
- WR Riley McCarron
- RB Dare Ogunbowale
- LB Gimel President
- G David Quessenberry
- DE Daniel Ross
- G Chad Slade
- WR Chris Thompson
- Cut from IR:
- P Cory Carter
Indianapolis Colts
- Claimed:
- CB Pierre Desir
- WR Matt Hazel
- RB Matt Jones (story)
- DB Kenny Moore
- G Ian Silberman
- Cut:
- T Zach Banner
- S Ronald Martin
- QB Stephen Morris
- OL Brian Schwenke (story)
- TE Brandon Williams
- Signed to practice squad:
- WR Fred Brown
- TE Henry Krieger-Coble
- G Adam Redmond
- LB Darnell Sankey
- LB Garrett Sickels
- QB Phillip Walker
- S Andrew Williamson
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Claimed:
- DT Eli Ankou
- TE James O’Shaughnessy
- LB Donald Payne
- DB Lafayette Pitts
- T William Poehls
- Cut:
- QB Brandon Allen (story)
- DT Stefan Charles
- OL Jeremiah Poutasi
- LB Hayes Pullard III
- TE Neal Sterling
- Signed to practice squad:
- DE Hunter Dimick
- WR Amba Etta-Tawo
- OL Avery Gennesy
- TE David Grinnage
- DB Tracy Howard
- OL Chris Reed
Tennessee Titans
- Signed:
- WR Eric Weems
- Placed on IR:
- Signed to practice squad:
- DT Antwaun Woods
- RB Khalfani Muhammad
- QB Tyler Ferguson
- TE Jerome Cunningham
- WR Darius Jennings
- S Denzel Johnson
- OL Tyler Marz
- T Steven Moore
Texans Down To 53
The Texans officially announced their roster cuts. Here’s a look at the moves that were not previously given full posts on PFR:
Released:
Waived:
- WR Dres Andreson
- NT Eli Ankou
- C Erik Austell
- TE Evan Baylis
- S K.J. Dillon
- T Laurence Gibson
- WR Justin Hardee
- NT Rickey Hatley
- WR Germone Hopper
- CB Bryce Jones
- WR Marcus Leak
- LB Eric Lee
- WR Ricley McCarron
- RB Dare Ogunbowale
- LB Gimel President
- G David Quessenberry
- LB Shakeel Rashad
- CB Marcus Roberson
- DE Daniel Ross
- G Chad Slade
- WR Chris Thompson
- G Josh Walker
- LB Tony Washington Jr.
- LB Avery Williams
Waived/Injured:
- TE RaShaun Allen
- S Lonnie Ballentine
- P Cory Carter
- DE Matthew Godin
- CB Denzel Rice
- S Malik Smith
- WR Wendall Williams
Texans Release Nick Novak
Despite reaching an agreement to re-sign Nick Novak in March, the Texans will move on from the veteran kicker. Houston released Novak on Saturday, Mark Berman of Fox 26 tweets.
Novak kicked for the Texans for both of their past two AFC South-winning teams, but it appears the franchise will opt for second-year specialist Ka’imi Fairbairn. The Texans signed Fairbairn as a UDFA out of UCLA in 2016, but Novak won last summer’s kicking competition. A year later, the 23-year-old Fairbairn looks to have prevailed in the rematch after spending a season on IR.
The 36-year-old Novak signed a one-year, $1.15MM deal with a $250K signing bonus. The former longtime Chargers kicker hit 85.4 percent of his attempts last season, a tick above his career average.
Novak figures to receive interest in free agency after being a regular kicker for the past six seasons.
Texans Release QB Brandon Weeden
The Texans have cut veteran backup Brandon Weeden, according to a source who spoke with Aaron Wilson of The Houston Chronicle (on Twitter). The Texans were expected to carry three QBs on the roster, so this comes as a bit of a surprise. 
Tom Savage will serve as the Texans’ starter while first-round pick Deshaun Watson will be his understudy. Of course, the pecking order could change quickly if Savage struggles.
Weeden was set to enter the second year of the two-year, $4MM deal he inked in April 2016. The 6’4″ signal caller has not seen the field since 2015 when he appeared in four games for the Cowboys and two for the Texans. The 33-year-old (34 in October) has a career 6-19 record.
Texans To Cut LB Sio Moore
The Texans are releasing linebacker Sio Moore, according to Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle (Twitter link).
Moore, 27, has four years and 47 games worth of NFL experience under his belt. 2016 was an especially nomadic campaign for Moore, as he spent time with three clubs — the Colts, Cardinals, and Chiefs — while posting 60 tackles and grading as the league’s No. 40 linebacker in nine games, per Pro Football Focus.
Moore dealt with a hamstring injury after being signed by the Texans in June, per Wilson, which likely led to his release. Houston will go forward with Whitney Mercilus, Brian Cushing, Benardrick McKinney, and rookie Zach Cunningham at linebacker.
Texans Extend DeAndre Hopkins
The Texans have agreed to a five-year contract extension with wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter (Twitter link). It’s a five-year, $81MM pact, Ian Rapoport and James Palmer of NFL.com report, while Schefter adds that it includes $49MM in guarantees (Twitter links). Both the total value of the contract and the guaranteed amount place Hopkins atop the NFL at his position, moving him above Atlanta’s Julio Jones ($71.25MM and $47MM, respectively).
Thursday has been an extremely busy day for Texans general manager Rick Smith, who has agreed to extensions with Hopkins, safety Andre Hal, tight end C.J. Fiedorowicz and fullback Jay Prosch over the past few hours. The crown jewel of the quartet is undoubtedly Hopkins, a bona fide star who has provided exceptional production despite having to play with a slew of mediocre-at-best quarterbacks during his four-year career.
Most recently, Hopkins racked up 78 receptions for 954 yards and four touchdowns during a 16-start 2016. While most wideouts could only hope to post that type of output, it was actually disappointing coming from Hopkins, who didn’t benefit from now-Browns quarterback Brock Osweiler‘s presence in Houston. New starter Tom Savage earned Hopkins’ endorsement earlier this summer, and now the 25-year-old target will attempt to return to his pre-2016 form with Osweiler gone.
The 27th overall pick out of Clemson in 2013, Hopkins hasn’t missed a game and has already piled up 317 receptions, 4,487 yards (14.2 YPC) and 23 scores in his Houston tenure. During his career year, 2015, Hopkins wowed with 111 grabs, 1,521 yards and 11 TDs en route to second-team All-Pro honors and his sole Pro Bowl nod. Hopkins held out in search of a raise the ensuing summer, but his absence only lasted one day. There hadn’t been any acrimony between the sides between last July and Thursday, though. Hopkins made it clear on multiple occasions over the past year that he wanted to remain a Texan for the long haul, and both Smith and owner Bob McNair expressed similar sentiments.
Texans Sign C.J. Fiedorowicz To Extension
The Texans have agreed to a three-year contract extension with tight end C.J. Fiedorowicz, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN (on Twitter). The deal, which runs through 2020, is worth $22MM and includes $10.1MM in guarantees, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. Fiedorowicz now ranks 14th among tight ends in total contract value, ninth in yearly average and 17th in guarantees.
This has been an extension-happy day for the Texans, who locked up safety Andre Hal and fullback Jay Prosch to long-term pacts in the afternoon. Fiedorowicz is arguably the highest-profile player of the trio, having broken out as a third-year man in 2016 with 54 receptions, 554 yards and four touchdowns on 89 targets. The 25-year-old also started in all 15 of his appearances, building on a 14-start campaign in 2015. In all, the former Iowa Hawkeye has logged 37 starts in 46 games and hauled in 75 catches, 754 yards and six scores since going to the Texans in the third round of the 2014 draft.
Between Fiedorowicz and Ryan Griffin, who amassed 50 receptions last season, the Texans possess one of the most prolific pass-catching tight end tandems in the league. Griffin is under contract through 2019 on the three-year, $9MM extension he signed in March, meaning the club will have the duo around for the foreseeable future.
Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle first reported that the two sides were nearing a deal. Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Texans Extend FB Jay Prosch
The Texans have signed fullback Jay Prosch to a three-year, $5.75MM contract extension, ESPN’s Adam Schefter tweets. The deal includes $2.7MM in guarantees.
Prosch, who was entering the last year of his contract prior to the extension, has spent his entire career in Houston since the team selected the former Auburn Tiger in the sixth round of the 2014 draft. He appeared in all but one of 48 possible regular-season games during his first three years, though he hasn’t been a significant factor on offense. Thus far, the 25-year-old Prosch has started in eight games and totaled 12 touches (10 carries, two receptions).
While Prosch hasn’t made a name for himself offensively, he has been a reliable special teamer for the Texans. Prosch’s work with that unit has increased each season, as his ST snaps went from 109 to 208 to 220 during his first three years in the league. Prosch saw the fifth-most action of any of Houston’s special teamers in 2016, though Football Outsiders ranked its ST unit as the NFL’s second worst.
Texans, Andre Hal Agree To Extension
The Texans and safety Andre Hal have agreed to a contract extension, Mark Berman of FOX 26 tweets. It’s a three-year, $15MM deal with $7MM guaranteed, Aaron Wilson of The Houston Chronicle adds (on Twitter). 
Hal’s previous deal was slated to expire after carrying a $1.8MM cap number in 2017. The new agreement is more appropriate for him since he has started in 22 of his 31 games over the last two seasons.
Last year, Hal finished out with 46 tackles, two interceptions, and a sack. In ’15, he had a career high four picks. For what it’s worth, the advanced metrics at Pro Football Focus weren’t crazy about Hal last year, placing him as just the No. 60 safety in the NFL out of 90 qualified players. However, he did score higher than notables like Tyrann Mathieu and T.J. McDonald.
Hal will be the Texans’ top free safety this year with Corey Moore starting at strong safety.
Texans' Last Preseason Game Cancelled
- Due to the massive flooding caused by Hurricane Harvey, the Texans‘ final preseason game against the Cowboys has been canceled. It’s small potatoes compared to the real-life implications of the storm, but players on the 53-man roster bubble will no longer have one final opportunity to showcase their skills for Houston or Dallas.