Texans Trim Roster To 53
The Texans made a flurry of roster moves to get down to 53 players today. Among the notable names that were cut was former Browns cornerback Briean Boddy-Calhoun. Boddy-Calhoun started at least seven games for Cleveland in each of the past three seasons, but couldn’t crack Houston’s roster after signing a one-year deal back in March.
Receiver Chad Hansen, a fourth-round pick of the Jets in 2017, was also let go. He’s bounced around the league ever since New York cut bait after just one season. Houston also cut ties with reserve pass-rusher Joel Heath. An undrafted rookie in 2016, Heath started 15 games for the Texans across his first two years in the league.
Here are the rest of the players who failed to make the team:
Waived:
WR Floyd Allen
OLB Jesse Aniebonam
CB Derrick Baity Jr.
OLB Davin Bellamy
OLB Jamal Davis II
T Christian DiLauro
NT Javi Edwards
RB Karan Higdon Jr.
T Rick Leonard
WR Steven Mitchell Jr.
CB Jermaine Ponder
OLB Gimel President
G Malcolm Pridgeon
G Maurquice Shakir
WR Jester Weah
Placed on IR:
QB Joe Webb III
NFL Reserve/Futures Contracts: 1/8/19
Here are the latest reserve/futures contract signings from around the NFL. These deals will go into effect on the first day of the 2019 league year, with players joining their respective clubs’ offseason 90-man rosters:
Baltimore Ravens
- G Kofi Amichia
- T Randin Crecelius
- CB Robertson Daniel
- RB Tyler Ervin
- FB Christopher Ezeala
- S Bennett Jackson
- LB Alvin Jones
- TE Nick Keizer
Buffalo Bills
- WR Duke Williams
Chicago Bears
- OL Dejon Allen
- DL Abdullah Anderson
- DB John Franklin III
- WR Tanner Gentry
- WR Cyril Grayson
- DB Michael Joseph
- DB Jonathon Mincy
- RB Ryan Nall
- LB James Vaughters
- LB Josh Woods
Cleveland Browns
- OL David Bright
- DB Ashton Lampkin
Miami Dolphins
- LB Sam Eguavoen
New England Patriots
- C Jake Eldrenkamp
New York Jets
- WR Stacy Coley
- DE Harvey Langi
Philadelphia Eagles
Houston Texans
- TE Jerell Adams
- LB Davin Bellamy
- RB Josh Ferguson
- LB Chris Landrum
- OT Rick Leonard
- G Maurquice Shakir
- T David Steinmetz
- WR Jester Weah
- WR Issac Whitney
Philadelphia Eagles
- LB Alex Singleton
Pittsburgh Steelers
- K Matt McCrane
Seattle Seahawks
- CB Jeremy Boykins
- WR Caleb Scott
- WR Keenan Reynolds
- CB Simeon Thomas
- SS Marwin Evans
- TE Tyrone Swoopes
- LB Justin Currie
- C Marcus Henry
- G Jordan Roos
Texans Finalize 53-Man Roster
With cuts due this afternoon, the Texans made theirs official. This includes all-time punter great Shane Lechler, which surfaced on Friday.
The Texans also released Joe Webb, thinning out their quarterback room to just Deshaun Watson and Brandon Weeden.
Houston will begin its season without the services of backup running back D’Onta Foreman as well. Still recovering from his season-ending injury sustained in November of last year, Foreman will begin the season on the Texans’ Reserve/PUP list. He won’t be eligible to play until after Week 6.
As for the rest of Houston’s Saturday roster decisions, here’s who will not appear on the 53-man group to start the season:
Released:
- P Shane Lechler
- FB Jay Prosch
- QB Joe Webb
Waived:
- OLB Davin Bellamy
- WR Quan Bray
- S Ibraheim Campbell
- CB Andre Chachere
- RB Lavon Coleman
- OL Anthony Coyle
- S Treston Decoud
- G Mason Gentry
- ILB Kennan Gilchrist
- T Roderick Johnson
- CB Bryce Jones
- T Jaryd Jones-Smith
- OLB Ufomba Kamalu
- ILB Josh Keyes
- NT Darius Kilgo
- TE Matt Lengel
- WR Braxton Miller
- S Corey Moore
- NT Kingsley Opara
- G David Quissenberry
- K Nick Rose
- OL Chad Slade
- RB Terry Swanson
- DE Nick Thurman
- CB Dee Virgin
- WR Jester Weah
Waived with an injury designation:
Released with injury settlements
- TE Stephen Anderson
- OLB LaTroy Lewis
Placed on Reserve/Non-Football Illness list
Texans Add 13 UDFAs
The Texans are the latest team to unveil their post-draft free agent haul. Here’s their 13-man contingent:
- Davin Ballamy, LB (Georgia)
- Andre Chachere, CB (San Jose State)
- Lavon Coleman, RB (Washington)
- Anthony Coyle, G (Fordham)
- Trevor Daniel, P (Tennessee)
- Mason Gentry, DE (SMU)
- Jaryd Jones-Smith, T (Pittsburgh)
- K.J. Malone, G (LSU
- Kingsley Opara, NT (Maryland)
- Vyncint Smith, WR (Limestone)
- Terry Swanson, RB (Toledo)
- Jester Weah, WR (Pittsburgh)
- Jalen Wilkerson, DE (Florida State)
Malone is the son of NBA legend Karl Malone. The 6-foot-4 K.J. Malone played left tackle at LSU but will evidently be tried at guard initially as a pro. The Texans are listing Coyle as a guard as well despite the Fordham-honed prospect playing tackle in college.
Houston re-signed Shane Lechler, so it’s unlikely, barring something extraordinary, Daniel has a path to the 53-man roster. Coleman and Swanson will battle for a role behind Lamar Miller and D’Onta Foreman. The Texans did not draft a running back, but they re-signed Alfred Blue this offseason and have Troymaine Pope and Tyler Ervin on their 90-man roster.
Interestingly, the only Division II player in this group will collect the most bonus money. Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle reports (Twitter link) Smith signed for a $35K — comprised of a $10K signing bonus and a $25K base salary guarantee. Jones-Smith will collect $22K ($10K signing bonus, $12K base guarantee), and Swanson will earn $21K guaranteed ($15K guaranteed base and $6K signing bonus), per Wilson (Twitter links).