Texans’ Tytus Howard Undergoes Hand Surgery
2:50pm: ESPN’s Adam Schefter tweets that Howard is facing a recovery timeline of four to six weeks. The NFL’s regular season opener will take place exactly one month from today, so he will have a chance to be available for Houston’s Week 1 matchup. Especially with Fant in place as a fill-in, though, it would come as no surprise if the Texans were to proceed with caution with their newly-extended blocker.
1:21pm: Tytus Howard has a new Texans contract in place, but he will be absent from the team for an extended stretch. Houston’s starting right tackle underwent surgery on a broken hand today, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport (Twitter link). 
While declining to give a firm timeline on the topic of recovery, head coach DeMeco Ryans confirmed that Howard will be out for “a while.” That is obviously an unwelcomed development for both team and player, after the sides agreed to a three-year, $56MM extension less than two weeks ago. Howard is expected to be a mainstay on the Texans’ offensive line for the foreseeable future.
The 27-year-old is on the books along with blindside protector Laremy Tunsil to form the league’s most expensive tackle tandem. As part of Houston’s numerous investments up front this offseason, though, they do have experienced insurance in place. Veteran George Fant – who inked a one-year contract recently – will fill in for Howard while he is out. Fant has 83 games and 60 starts to his name.
With Charlie Heck currently on the PUP list and Howard now sidelined, plenty of attention will be on Fant to hold down the RT role. If Howard is able to return in time for the start of the regular season, the former Seahawk and Jet will return to backup duties. If not, though, Fant will be able to add considerably to his 2023 earnings. His deal with a base value of $2MM includes another $1MM in playtime incentives, as detailed by Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 (Twitter link).
Howard, meanwhile, will look to recover as soon as possible to begin his play after signing a top-five right tackle deal. Building off his success from last season would prove the team’s investment to be worthwhile, while also helping ensure his long-term future with the Texans. Wilson tweets that the Alabama State’s extension includes $1.8MM in guarantees for his 2025 base salary of $15.5MM.
With the first two years of the pact guaranteed in full, expectations will be high for Howard when he returns. Today’s news marks a setback and the first major injury news since his rookie season, though with Fant in place the team is well-positioned to handle any potential extended absence.
Minor NFL Transactions: 8/6/23
Here are today’s minor moves as the weekend comes to a close:
Buffalo Bills
- Activated from PUP: DT Jordan Phillips
Chicago Bears
- Placed on IR: TE Chase Allen
Denver Broncos
- Placed on IR: G Yasir Durant
Green Bay Packers
- Released: Danny Etling
Houston Texans
- Signed: DT Khalil Davis
- Claimed off waivers (from Commanders): G Keaton Sutherland
- Placed on IR: T DJ Scaife
Las Vegas Raiders
- Activated from PUP: DT Byron Young
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: DT Da’Shawn Hand, CB Parry Nickerson
- Waived: DT Anthony Montalvo
Minnesota Vikings
- Placed on IR: DL James Lynch (story)
New Orleans Saints
- Placed on IR: RB Eno Benjamin (story)
New York Jets
- Waived/injured: LB Maalik Hall, LB Hamsah Nasirildeen
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: OL Josh Andrews
- Waived/injured: WR Charleston Rambo
- Released: LB Davion Taylor
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: DT Roderick Perry
- Activated from PUP: CB Tariq Woolen
- Waived: DE MJ Anderson
Washington Commanders
- Waived: G Keaton Sutherland
Andrews joins Philadelphia as a potentially strong depth piece on the offensive line. The seven-year veteran has played 48 games over the years with five different teams, so rejoining the Eagles, even with a new staff from when he left, shouldn’t be too big of an issue. Last year, he started five of the six games he played with the Saints.
Woolen underwent arthroscopic knee surgery back in May and was given a four-to-six-week recovery timeline. He was forced to start camp on the physically unable to perform list, but it’s time for him to make his way back to the field. Last year’s other starter at cornerback, Michael Jackson, has had a great camp and rookie Devon Witherspoon is pushing for a starting role, so Woolen will be glad to get back and reestablish his role in the secondary.
Minor NFL Transactions: 8/4/23
Here are today’s minor moves as we head into the weekend:
Atlanta Falcons
- Placed on IR: WR Chris Blair, DL Ikenna Enechukwu, QB Feleipe Franks
Baltimore Ravens
- Reverted to reserve/NFI: CB Trayvon Mullen
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: CB Mac McCain
- Waived: CB Colby Richardson
Chicago Bears
- Released: DE Jalyn Holmes
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: LB Cam Bright, TE Miller Forristall, WR Jalen Wayne
- Waived/injured: WR Daylen Baldwin, CB Thomas Graham Jr.
- Waived: P Joseph Charlton, RB Nate McCrary, T Hunter Thedford
Denver Broncos
- Placed on IR: LB Jonas Griffith (story)
Detroit Lions
- Waived/injured: CB Jarren Williams
Houston Texans
- Signed: OL DJ Scaife
- Placed on IR: C Scott Quessenberry (story)
- Waived from IR: OL Dylan Deatherage
Miami Dolphins
- Waived/injured: FB John Lovett
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: RB Abram Smith
- Waived: FB Zach Ojile
New England Patriots
- Reverted to IR: LB Terez Hall
New York Giants
- Signed: NT Donovan Jeter
- Waived/injured: WR Jeff Smith
Philadelphia Eagles
- Removed from commissioner’s exempt list: OL Josh Sills
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: DE Daelin Hayes
- Placed on IR: DE Darryl Johnson
Sills was placed on the commissioner’s exempt list back in February when a grand jury indicted him on counts of rape and kidnapping. The charges stem from an event that allegedly took place back in December 2019. Today it was announced that Sills was acquitted of both charges, according to sources at The Athletic. The Eagles released a statement that, with his adjudication, he will return to the team’s active roster.
The 49ers announced that Johnson has been placed on season-ending injured reserve. They didn’t disclose the injury that will sideline the young edge they signed two months ago.
The Vikings are adding the XFL’s 2023 leading rusher in Smith. Smith had 791 rushing yards in 10 games last year.
Minor NFL Transactions: 8/3/23
Thursday’s minor moves:
Denver Broncos
- Signed: LB Austin Ajiake
Houston Texans
- Activated from PUP list: DE Chase Winovich
Las Vegas Raiders
- Placed on IR: RB Austin Walter
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: CB Mark Gilbert
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: OL Jarrid Williams
- Released: OL Bobby Evans
New England Patriots
- Waived (injury designation): LB Terez Hall
New Orleans Saints
- Reverted to IR: T Scott Lashley
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Placed on IR: RB Alfonzo Graham
Washington Commanders
- Signed: DL Curtis Brooks
- Placed on IR: DT David Bada
Texans OL Scott Quessenberry Suffers ACL, MCL Tears
After Justin Britt hit the reserve/NFI list last season, the Texans called on Scott Quessenberry to fill in at center. Quessenberry did, starting 16 games. The team will not be able to use the veteran as a stopgap center this season. 
Quessenberry suffered ACL and MCL tears during a Texans practice, Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 reports (on Twitter). The Texans had re-signed Quessenberry just before free agency this year.
This development may prevent the Texans from delaying second-round pick Juice Scruggs‘ starting lineup entrance. Scruggs had been working as the Texans’ second-team center thus far during training camp, but the Penn State product stands to be the next man up as a result of this Quessenberry setback.
Scott Quessenberry is the third Quessenberry brother to play for the Texans, following David and Paul. Scott, 28, is a sixth-year veteran who spent the first four seasons of his career with the Chargers. Scruggs loomed as a clear candidate to usurp him this year, but even when that inevitably happened, the elder blocker would have represented depth. This deals a blow to the Texans in that department.
Houston does have another veteran option in the form of Michael Deiter. The former Dolphin has 57 appearances and 23 starts to his name, but he alternated between heavy usage and barely seeing the field on offense during his four years in Miami. Deiter played sparingly and only on special teams in 2022, meaning he is likely not a threat for Scruggs with respect to the latter seeing starter’s snaps from Day 1.
Plenty of time remains for the Texans’ incumbent interior O-line options to earn their roles over the remainder of the offseason, but a free agent addition could be possible as well. Houston currently has $13.3MM in cap space, meaning they could afford to take a flier on one of the few veterans still on the market with experience in the middle. In any event, the team will be shorthanded up front for the season while Quessenberry looks to rehab in advance of next year’s free agency.
Adam La Rose contributed to this post.
Texans, CB Steven Nelson Agree On Reworked Contract
Higher-profile contract situations have overshadowed Steven Nelson‘s in Houston, but the veteran cornerback had both changed agents and skipped voluntary offseason activities. The veteran cornerback and the Texans reached a resolution Thursday.
Nelson agreed to terms on a revised deal that ups his max earnings in 2023, Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 reports. It is unclear what incentives are present, but Wilson notes Nelson’s max earnings will bump from $4.5MM to $6.5MM for the 2023 season. This comes not long after a report indicated the parties had discussed this contract.
Formerly with the Chiefs, Steelers and Eagles, Nelson signed a two-year, $9MM contract with the Texans in 2022. It does not sound like any years have been added to Nelson’s deal, keeping him on track to play out a contract year in 2023. But this does appear to bring this low-key standoff to a close. Nelson had reported to minicamp and training camp, though the ninth-year veteran also made a reference to his dispute with GM Nick Caserio in an Instagram post earlier this offseason.
Despite Nelson being signed to play in Lovie Smith‘s system, DeMeco Ryans plans to keep him around for his first season as Houston HC. It would have cost the Texans $1.75MM in dead money by releasing Nelson, though the move would have also come with nearly $4MM in cap savings.
Nelson, 30, started 15 games for the Texans last season. The former Kansas City third-round pick has made 99 career starts, having worked as both a boundary and slot defender. The 5-foot-10 cover man has settled in as an outside corner and has done fairly well in earnings beyond his rookie contract. Nelson signed a three-year, $27MM Steelers deal in 2019; he played two years on that contract. If Nelson plays out his Texans deal this season, he will surpass $30MM in career earnings.
Houston has Derek Stingley in place as its cornerback centerpiece, with veteran Desmond King entering his second year with the team as well. The Texans did sign Jaguars castoff Shaquill Griffin in May, bringing in some depth. The team also re-signed backup/special-teamer Tavierre Thomas this offseason.
Texans Sign TE Nick Vannett
As Houston continues to deal with injuries to their tight ends room, they’ve enlisted further depth, signing veteran tight end Nick Vannett after a successful workout, according to Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2. Vannett joins former Patriots tight end Dalton Keene, signed earlier this week, as new additions to the help solidify the position through training camp. 
The top three tight ends on the Texans’ depth chart are currently dealing with injuries in camp. Schultz was recently sidelined after a collision with another newcomer to the team, safety Jimmie Ward. Head coach DeMeco Ryans claims that Schultz should be fine, though. Third-year tight end Brevin Jordan is dealing with a strained hamstring. Expected to take on a leading role at the position last year, Jordan disappointingly fell short of his rookie production. Health has continued to be an issue in his young career as he has missed 14 games over his first two years in the league. Second-year player Teagan Quitoriano, the team’s primary blocking tight end, is currently on the physically unable to perform list as he deals with a pulled quadriceps injury.
Vannett and Keene join a healthy group that includes veteran journeyman Eric Tomlinson, Mason Schreck, and undrafted rookie Jordan Murray. All three have typically been used in blocking and special teams roles throughout their careers. Murray had some receiving success at the FCS level at Missouri State but didn’t make much of an impact after transferring to Hawai’i last year. Tomlinson and Schreck on the other hand have both had many years of work at the NFL level without establishing reputations as pass catchers.
While Schultz will be the obvious TE1 upon his return from injury, Jordan’s step back last year puts him in a precarious situation going into Year 3. If he can’t find a way to stay on the field and take the next step forward in his development, it could open the door for Vannett or Keene to establish a more permanent role in Houston than just camp bodies.
Vannett’s best season has only seen him catch 29 passes for 269 yards and three touchdowns, but that still exceeds Jordan’s greatest contributions thus far. And, while Keene didn’t make much of an impact as a third-round rookie in New England, he had a bit of a reputation as a redzone target at Virginia Tech in college. If Jordan leaves the door open wide enough in training camp, he may find himself in a battle for a roster spot.
For now, though, Vannett and Keene will fulfill their roles as camp bodies at a position that has been overcome by injuries. While rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud may not be able to establish early connections with the tight ends he’ll be relying on in the regular season, Vannett and Keene will work to make sure that their absences don’t affect Stroud’s rookie camp development.
Minor NFL Transactions: 8/2/23
Here are today’s minor transactions from around the league:
Carolina Panthers
- Placed on PUP: DL John Penisini
Denver Broncos
- Placed on IR: WR Tim Patrick (story)
Detroit Lions
- Signed: TE Darrell Daniels, TE Daniel Helm
- Placed on PUP: CB Emmanuel Moseley
- Waived: TE Derrick Deese
Green Bay Packers
- Claimed off waivers (from Panthers): LB Arron Mosby
- Waived: OLB LaDarius Hamilton
Houston Texans
- Released: DE Demone Harris
Kansas City Chiefs
- Activated from PUP: DL Tershawn Wharton
Las Vegas Raiders
- Waived: LB Kana’i Mauga
Miami Dolphins
- Waived/injured: S Bennett Williams
- Waived: P Michael Turk
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: T Christian DiLauro
- Waived/injured: OL Sam Schlueter
New England Patriots
- Waived: WR Ed Lee
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: G Tommy Kraemer
- Claimed off waivers (from Packers): G Chuck Filiaga
- Placed on IR: LB Andrew Dowell
- Waived/injured: T Scott Lashley
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: CB Isaiah Dunn, S Trenton Thompson
- Placed on IR: CB Cory Trice
- Waived/injured: RB Alfonzo Graham
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: C Jimmy Murray
- Waived: WR Jacob Copeland
Moseley reportedly had a small clean-up procedure on his knee the other day as he continues to come back from last year’s ACL tear. According to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press, it doesn’t appear to be a major setback, and head coach Dan Campbell expects Moseley back on Monday.
The news on Harris’s retirement comes from KPRC 2’s Aaron Wilson, who reports that the two sides “are parting ways as (Harris) plans to retire.” If this is truly the end of the road for Harris, then the transaction puts a cap on a five-year career that saw Harris rack up 11 total tackles, two tackles for loss, and three quarterback hits in the NFL.
Turk was urgently brought on as an undrafted rookie out of Oklahoma to compete with free agent addition Jake Bailey, formerly with the Patriots. The punter competition may be over quickly as Bailey is the only punter on the roster now.
Trice, the Steelers’ first of two seventh-round picks this year, suffered a non-contact injury at camp yesterday. His placement on injured reserve indicates that his rookie season has unfortunately come to an end before it had the chance to begin.
Minor NFL Transactions: 8/1/23
Here are Tuesday’s minor moves:
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: DL Nick Thurman
- Waived: LB Arron Mosby
- Waived/failed physical: DL John Penisini
Chicago Bears
- Waived: DT Donovan Jeter
Denver Broncos
- Signed: WR Nick Williams
Detroit Lions
- Waived/injured: TE Shane Zylstra
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: WR Andre Miller, OL Cole Schneider
- Waived: OL Chuck Filiaga, TE Camren McDonald
Houston Texans
- Signed: K Jake Bates
- Placed on IR: FB Troy Hairston
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: RB Toriano Clinton, TE La’Michael Pettway, T Dan Skipper
- Waived: T Jordan Murray, TE Kaden Smith, DT Jamal Woods
Las Vegas Raiders
- Signed: LB Darius Harris
- Waived: LB Kana’i Mauga, T Justin Murray
New England Patriots
- Claimed (from Bears): WR Thyrick Pitts
- Placed on reserve/retired list: WR Jalen Hurd
New York Giants
- Signed: C Sean Harlow
- Placed on IR: C J.C. Hassenauer
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: RB Greg Bell, RB John Lovett
- Waived: RB Jason Huntley
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: DT Robert Cooper, OL Liam Ryan
- Waived: DL Roderick Perry
Chosen in the third round by the 49ers back in 2019, Hurd never ended up seeing regular-season action. A converted running back who played in front of Alvin Kamara at points while at Tennessee, Hurd transferred to Baylor and became a wide receiver. Two season-ending injuries — a back malady in 2019 and an ACL tear in 2020 — derailed Hurd’s 49ers tenure. The team cut him during the 2021 season. Barely a week after the Patriots signed Hurd, it appears he is throwing in the towel on an injury-plagued career.
Penisini had unretired this offseason, joining the Panthers. The former Lions sixth-rounder played two seasons on his rookie contract but called it quits in June 2022. His unretirement will precede a Panthers exit. The Lions are moving Zylstra off their 90-man roster due to a severe knee injury. If unclaimed, Zylstra would revert to Detroit’s IR list. Zylstra has seen action in 17 games for the Lions over the past two seasons.
Hassenauer will require surgery to repair a triceps injury, and this transaction will shut him down — as far as the Giants are concerned. The only way Hassenauer can play in 2023 would be if the Giants removed him from IR via an injury settlement. Hairston suffered a herniated disk during practice, per KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson (on Twitter).
Injury Notes: Zylstra, Cowboys, Giants, Kancey
Shane Zylstra will likely miss the upcoming season thanks to a knee injury. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports (via Twitter) that the Lions tight end suffered a “serious and significant” knee injury that will keep him off the field for six months.
Rapoport notes that Zylstra is set to undergo more tests “but there isn’t a lot of optimism.” As Justin Rogers of the Detroit News tweets, the tight end suffered the injury while taking a “low shot” during a red zone drill.
Zylstra emerged as one of Jared Goff‘s favorite red zone targets in 2022. The tight end finished the season with only 11 catches for 60 yards, but four of those receptions were touchdowns. The Minnesota State product had another three catches during his rookie campaign.
Fortunately for Detroit, the team has some depth at tight end. The organization used a second-round pick on Sam LaPorta, and the rookie is expected to slide right into the starting lineup. The team is also rostering the likes of Brock Wright, James Mitchell, and Derrick Deese.
More injury notes from around the NFL…
- A bruised toe has kept Cowboys cornerback Trevon Diggs off the practice field, Mike McCarthy told reporters (via Jon Machota of The Athletic on Twitter). The injury isn’t serious, and it sounds like the coaching staff is simply playing it safe with the star defender. Elsewhere in Dallas, tight end Luke Schoonmaker revealed that he’s dealing with a partial tear of his plantar fascia (via Michael Gehlken of the Dallas Morning News on Twitter). The rookie said the injury is more challenging to deal with than a complete tear, but the player is still hopeful he’ll be able to return to the practice field in a week or two.
- It sounds like Giants backup offensive lineman J.C. Hassenauer is set to miss a significant chunk of the upcoming season, if not the entire campaign. Coach Brian Daboll told reporters that Hassenauer injured his triceps and will require surgery (via Pat Leonard of the New York Daily News on Twitter). The lineman is expected to be sidelined “long term.” Second-round rookie John Michael Schmitz is expected to lead the depth chart, but Hassenauer’s injury could open opportunities for Jack Anderson and Shane Lemieux.
- There was a scare at Buccaneers practice today when first-round defensive tackle Calijah Kancey was carted off the field with a leg injury. Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times tweets that an MRI showed nothing serious, but the Buccaneers may still take it easy on the rookie so he’s ready to go for the start of the season. Per ESPN’s Jenna Laine, the Buccaneers organization had been thrilled with Kancey’s preparation for his first professional season. “He’s adapting to the scheme mentally, and then he was adding his physical part to it,” coach Todd Bowles said (via Laine). “He’s putting it together quicker than normal rookies do. So hopefully it’s not that bad and he can get back.”
- Texans fullback Troy Hairston was carted off the field today with an undisclosed injury, per Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 in Houston (via Twitter). The former edge rusher went undrafted out of Central Michigan last year but caught on with the Texans. He changed positions to fullback and beat out Andy Janovich for the starting gig, resulting in Hairston getting into 16 games for the Texans last season.