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 Cut WR Braxton Miller
The Texans cut a boatload of players on Friday, allowing them to inch closer to the 53-man max. Here’s the rundown, with all links going to Twitter unless noted otherwise:
- TE Stephen Anderson (Twitter link via Mark Berman of FOX 26)
- WR Braxton Miller (Twitter link via Berman)
- WR Quan Bray (Twitter link via Berman)
- CB Andre Chachere (Twitter link via Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle)
- RB Lavon Coleman (Twitter link via Wilson)
- OT Anthony Coyle (Twitter link via Berman)
- S Treston Decoud (Twitter link via Berman)
- CB Bryce Jones (via Wilson)
- OT Jaryd Jones-Smith (Twitter link via Wilson)
- DL Darius Kilgo (Twitter link via Wilson)
- S Corey Moore (Twitter link via Berman)
- DT Kingsley Opara (Twitter link via Berman)
- K Nick Rose (via Wilson)
- OL David Quessenberry (via Berman)
- RB Terry Swanson (Twitter link via Berman)
- WR Jester Weah (Twitter link via Berman)
Miller is the biggest name of the bunch, but his release does not come as a huge surprise. The former third-round pick out of Ohio State has posted a grand total of 34 catches for 261 yards and two scores over the last two years, and he failed to really stand out in the preseason.
Will Fuller, Bruce Ellington and fourth-round pick Keke Coutee seem likely to make the cut behind star receiver DeAndre Hopkins, and it remains to be seen whether Houston will carry five or six receivers in total.
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).