Texans Waive T.J. Yates
Shortly after naming Ryan Fitzpatrick their starting signal-caller heading into training camp, the Texans have trimmed their depth chart at the position. According to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter), Houston has released quarterback T.J. Yates.
Yates, a fifth-round pick in 2011, has spent the last three seasons with the Texans, most notably starting five games for the club in his rookie year and winning a playoff game in that season. Since then, he has seen limited action, completing 19 of 32 attempts in the last two years, with no touchdowns and three interceptions.
A report last week suggested the Texans may release a quarterback before training camp, and considering Fitzpatrick and Tom Savage were locks to make the roster, the choice essentially came down to Yates and Case Keenum. With Yates out of the picture in Houston, Keenum and Savage figure to compete for the backup job behind Fitzpatrick.
Because he’s only in his fourth NFL season, Yates will have to clear waivers before he’s free to sign with any other team. As Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun notes (via Twitter), the Ravens are worth keeping an eye on, since former Houston coach Gary Kubiak is now the offensive coordinator in Baltimore, and the club doesn’t have a clear-cut No. 2 option behind Joe Flacco.
AFC South Notes: Texans, Hilton, Jaguars
Like Eric Fisher a year ago, No. 1 overall pick Jadeveon Clowney will have offsets in his rookie contract with the Texans, according to Albert Breer of the NFL Network (Twitter links). Draft picks are typically agreeing to terms quicker than ever because the new CBA doesn’t leave much room for negotiations, but the presence of offsets in deals for first-round picks was one possible point of contention. Still, with offsets in the deals for Clowney and No. 4 pick Sammy Watkins, the Rams and Jaguars should be able to push for similar contracts for Greg Robinson and Blake Bortles, as Breer notes (via Twitter).
Here’s more from out of the AFC South:
- The Texans may release a quarterback before training camp, head coach Bill O’Brien told reporters, including Brian T. Smith of the Houston Chronicle. With Ryan Fitzpatrick and Tom Savage viewed as locks for the regular-season roster, either Case Keenum or T.J. Yates is expected to be the odd man out.
- Colts wideout T.Y. Hilton, who has two years left on his rookie deal, has fired agent Drew Rosenhaus, according to Rand Getlin of Yahoo! Sports (via Twitter). It’s the second time Rosenhaus has made headlines in the last 24 hours — he’s also on the receiving end of allegations made by Redskins receiver DeSean Jackson.
- The Jaguars have cut offensive tackle Demarcus Love to make room to sign wide receiver Brandon Wimberly, tweets John Oesher of Jaguars.com. Wimberly participated in the club’s rookie minicamp as a tryout player last month.