Texans Set 53-Man Roster
The Texans released a number of veterans today as they reduced their roster to 53 players:
Released:
- TE Antony Auclair
- DB Terrence Brooks
- WR Chris Conley
- QB Jeff Driskel
- DL Demone Harris
- RB Marlon Mack (story)
- OL Cedric Ogbuehi
- LB Kevin Pierre-Louis
- TE Mason Schreck
- DB Isaac Yiadom
Waived:
- DB Grayland Arnold
- WR Jalen Camp
- WR Drew Estrada
- DB Jacobi Francis
- TE Seth Green
- WR Johnny Johnson III
- DB Tristin McCollum
- OL Jimmy Morrissey
- DL Adedayo Odeleye
- FB Paul Quessenberry
- OL Max Scharping (story)
- OL Jordan Steckler
- OL Tre’Vour Wallace-Simms
- WR Connor Wedington
Waived/injured:
Placed on IR:
- DL Derek Rivers
Placed on short-term IR;
Davis Mills and Kyle Allen sit atop Houston’s QB depth chart, making Jeff Driskel expendable, but there’s a chance the veteran sticks around as a third quarterback via the practice squad. Driskel spent the 2021 campaign in Houston, getting into a single game. He’s started nine of his 16 career games, tossing 13 touchdowns vs. eight interceptions.
Chris Conley has spent seven seasons in the NFL, and he could have provided some experience to the receivers room. There’s a chance the veteran could end up back in Houston, as the Texans decided to carry only four wideouts in Nico Collins, Brandin Cooks, Phillip Dorsett, and Chris Moore.
Antony Auclair started 13 games for Houston last season, mostly serving as a blocking tight end. Terrence Brooks started three of his 11 appearances, collecting 21 tackles.
NFL COVID List Updates: 12/25-12/26/21
We’ve compiled a list of players who were placed on or activated from the reserve/COVID-19 list on Christmas and today. In some instances, players activated from the list remain on IR:
Atlanta Falcons
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: DL Tyeler Davison
Baltimore Ravens
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: WR Sammy Watkins
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: RB Justice Hill, QB Tyler Huntley
Buffalo Bills
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: T Dion Dawkins
Carolina Panthers
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: DT Derrick Brown
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: DB Rashaan Melvin, WR Brandon Zylstra
Cincinnati Bengals
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: DB Chidobe Awuzie
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: DE Wyatt Ray, NT D.J. Reader
Cleveland Browns
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: T Alex Taylor
Green Bay Packers
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: CB Shemar Jean-Charles, CB Kevin King
- Placed on practice squad/COVID-19 list: LB La’Darius Hamilton
Houston Texans
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: DB Terrence Brooks, LB Christian Kirksey, DE Jacob Martin, C Justin McCray, DB Terrance Mitchell
Indianapolis Colts
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: LB Darius Leonard, WR Zach Pascal, DB Khari Willis
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: LB Jordan Smith, LB Myles Jack
Kansas City Chiefs
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: LB Nick Bolton, WR Tyreek Hill, TE Travis Kelce, T Lucas Niang
Las Vegas Raiders
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: DB Nate Hobbs
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: WR Bryan Edwards, QB Marcus Mariota
Los Angeles Chargers
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: WR Mike Williams, RB Austin Ekeler
Los Angeles Rams
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: T Andrew Whitworth
Miami Dolphins
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: G Solomon Kindley, WR Albert Wilson
Minnesota Vikings
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: QB Sean Mannion, T Rashod Hill
New England Patriots
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: WR Kendrick Bourne
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: DE Deatrich Wise
New Orleans Saints
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: DE Carl Granderson, WR Deonte Harris, T Jerald Hawkins, DB KeiVarae Russell, DL Malcolm Roach
New York Giants
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: LB Cam Brown
- Activated from practice squad/COVID-19 list: DB Natrell Jamerson
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: NT Danny Shelton, T Nate Solder
New York Jets
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: DL Quinnen Williams
- Placed on practice squad/COVID-19 list: DE Jabari Zuniga
Philadelphia Eagles
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: LB Shaun Bradley
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Placed on practice squad/COVID-19 list: WR Steven Sims
Seattle Seahawks
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: DE Kerry Hyder
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: DB Blessuan Austin
Tennessee Titans
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: G Nate Davis
Washington Football Team
- Activated from practice squad/COVID-19 list: RB Wendell Smallwood, K Joey Slye
Minor NFL Transactions: 12/16/21
Today’s minor moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: C Rodney Hudson
Baltimore Ravens
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: S Chuck Clark
Chicago Bears
- Activated for return: OT Germain Ifedi, CB Duke Shelley
Cleveland Browns
- Promoted: WR Lawrence Cager
Houston Texans
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: DB Terrence Brooks, DB Terrance Mitchell
Kansas City Chiefs
- Promoted: CB Dicaprio Bootle, DE Cortez Broughton, WR Daurice Fountain, LB Darius Harris
Los Angeles Chargers
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: G Scott Quessenberry
- Promoted: DB Ben Deluca
New England Patriots
- Placed on IR: LB Ronnie Perkins
New Orleans Saints
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: DE Cameron Jordan
New York Giants
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: G Wes Martin
- Promoted: WR Pharoh Cooper
New York Jets
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: WR Elijah Moore, LB Hamsah Nasirildeen
Washington Football Team
- Signed: DT Akeem Spence (story)
Minor NFL Transactions: 11/20/21
We’ll keep track of today’s stream of minor moves right here:
Arizona Cardinals
- Placed on IR: LB Tanner Vallejo
- Promoted: LS Beau Brinkley, RB Tavien Feaster, LB Joe Walker, LB Tahir Whitehead
Baltimore Ravens
- Placed on IR: OLB Pernell McPhee
- Activated from IR: G Ben Cleveland
- Promoted: G/DT Khalil McKenzie, QB Trace McSorley, LB Joe Thomas
Carolina Panthers
- Promoted: G John Miller
- Placed on IR: CB Stantley Thomas-Oliver
Chicago Bears
- Activated from IR: S Deon Bush
- Promoted: WR Isaiah Coulter, OLB Ledarius Mack
Cincinnati Bengals
- Promoted: TE Mason Schreck
Cleveland Browns
- Promoted: WR Lawrence Cager, DE Porter Gustin, CB Herb Miller
- Waived: RB John Kelly
Dallas Cowboys
- Promoted: CB Kyron Brown, CB Deante Burton
Denver Broncos
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: QB Drew Lock
- Activated from IR: CB Michael Ojemudia, LB Justin Strnad
Detroit Lions
- Promoted: WR Tom Kennedy, OL Tommy Kraemer, K Aldrick Rosas
- Waived: DL Kevin Strong
Green Bay Packers
- Promoted: La’Darius Hamilton, WR Juwann Winfree
Houston Texans
- Activated from IR: DB Terrence Brooks
- Placed on IR: LB Hardy Nickerson
- Promoted: DL Derek Rivers
Indianapolis Colts
- Promoted: S Jahleel Addae
- Waived: CB Anthony Chesley
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Promoted: WR John Brown
Kansas City Chiefs
- Waived: TE Daniel Brown
- Promoted: WR Daurice Fountain
Las Vegas Raiders
- Activated from IR: S Roderic Teamer
- Placed on IR: FB Alec Ingold (story)
- Promoted: FB Sutton Smith
Los Angeles Chargers
- Promoted: DL Andrew Brown, DL Forrest Merrill, CB Kiondre Thomas
Miami Dolphins
- Promoted: RB Duke Johnson
Minnesota Vikings
- Promoted: DB Myles Dorn
New Orleans Saints
- Activated from IR: RB Tony Jones Jr.
- Waived: CB Ken Crawley, WR Kevin White
- Promoted: T Caleb Benenoch, DT Josiah Bronson, OL Will Clapp, CB KeiVarae Russell
- Placed on IR: DT Malcolm Roach
New York Jets
- Promoted: FB Nick Bawden, DE Ronald Blair
Philadelphia Eagles
- Placed on IR: OL Jack Anderson
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Promoted: DL Daniel Archibong, LB Delontae Scott
Seattle Seahawks
- Promoted: CB Gavin Heslop
Tennessee Titans
- Activated from IR: TE Tommy Hudson
Texans Place Terrence Brooks On IR
Terrence Brooks will be out for at least the next three weeks. The Texans placed the veteran safety/special teamer on IR today.
The 29-year-old suffered a lung contusion during Sunday’s loss to the Colts, necessitating overnight medical supervision. Per Brooks Kubena of the Houston Chronicle, Brooks suffered the injury during the first quarter, and he exited the game and didn’t return.
Brooks, who has collected more special teams snaps than defensive snaps in 2021, actually got the start at safety last weekend, collecting one tackle before exiting the game. Lonnie Johnson and former starter Eric Murray will likely take the open starting spot.
Brooks was a third-round pick by the Ravens back in 2014, and while he’s never been a household name, he’s managed to put together an eight-year career. The veteran has seen time in 100 career games (with, incredibly, only four starts), and he’s spent time with the Ravens, Eagles, Jets, Patriots, and Texans.
Contract Details: Nsekhe, Anderson, Dorsett
Let’s take a look at the details of a few recently-signed NFL contracts:
- Ty Nsekhe, T (Bills): Two years, $9MM. $6.7MM guaranteed. $2MM signing bonus. $1.5MM available annually in playtime incentives. $1.5MM playtime escalator in 2020 (Twitter link via Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle).
- Henry Anderson, DL (Jets): Three years, $25.2MM. $17MM guaranteed. $1.75MM available via annual incentives. $850K sacks-based escalator in 2020 and 2021 (Twitter link via Wilson).
- Phillip Dorsett, WR (Patriots): One year, $2.6MM. $500K signing bonus. $600K in per-game roster bonuses (Twitter link via Field Yates of ESPN.com).
- Ereck Flowers, T (Redskins): One year, $3.25MM. $1.5MM guaranteed. $750K in playtime incentive (Twitter link via Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com).
- Mike Iupati, G (Seahawks): One year, $2.75MM. $2.25MM guaranteed. $1.25MM signing bonus. $500K in per-game roster bonuses. $500K available via playtime incentives (Twitter link via Brady Henderson of ESPN.com).
- Terrence Brooks, S (Patriots): Two years, $3.25MM. $1.305MM guaranteed. $500K signing bonus. Playtime bonuses available in 2019 and 2020 (Twitter link via Wilson).
- Jordan Matthews, WR (49ers): One year, $1.8MM. $300K signing bonus (Twitter link via Tom Pelissero of NFL.com).
- Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, CB (Redskins): One year, minimum salary benefit. No guaranteed money (Twitter link via Pelissero).
- Jamize Olawale, FB (Cowboys): Three years, $5.4MM. $2.8MM guaranteed. $1.8MM signing bonus. 2021-2022 are option years that must be exercised prior to end of 2020 league year (Twitter link via Wilson).
- Brent Qvale, OL (Jets): One year, $1.4MM. $550K guaranteed. $1MM in incentives (Twitter link via Brian Costello of the New York Post).
Patriots To Sign Terrence Brooks
Free agent safety Terrence Brooks has signed a two-year deal with the Patriots, a source tells Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter). Brooks spent the last two seasons with the rival Jets.
The Jets had Brooks under control for 2019, but opted against exercising his option for the coming year. The move helped them preserve flexibility and cap space, and while they will miss his special teams acumen, he hardly saw any time on the defensive side of the ball.
Brooks came to the Jets before the 2017 season in a trade with the Eagles that saw cornerback Dexter McDougle to go Philly. Since then, Brooks he has been a special teams staple for Gang Green. Last year, Brooks appeared in a team-high 79% of the Jets’ special teams plays while appearing in just 6% of the defensive snaps.
He will be a quality addition to New England’s special teams unit while also providing experienced depth behind Patrick Chung and Devin McCourty at the safety position.
Jets Won’t Pick Up Terrence Brooks’ Option
The Jets will not exercise Terrence Brooks‘ option for the 2019 season, according to Mike Florio of PFT (on Twitter). With that, the safety will become a free agent on March 13.
Brooks came to the Jets before the 2017 season in a trade with the Eagles that saw cornerback Dexter McDougle to go Philly. Since then, Brooks has been a special teams staple for Gang Green. Last year, Brooks appeared in a team-high 79% of the Jets’ special teams plays while appearing in just 6% of the defensive snaps.
This was, for the most part, a season to forget for the Jets, but their special teams unit was solid throughout the year. Brooks profiled as someone who would probably return in 2019, but his $2.1MM cap hit was probably a bit too high for the Jets.
The Jets have a golden opportunity to right the ship in March. Even before dropping Brooks, the Jets were projected to have upwards of $100MM to spend in free agency.
Jets Re-Sign S Terrence Brooks
Safety Terrence Brooks safety is re-signing a two-year deal with the Jets, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. The Jets acquired Brooks from the Eagles just prior to last season in exchange for cornerback Dexter McDougle.
Brooks played in 15 games during his first season with the Jets, starting one, and will supply depth behind second-year starters Jamal Adams and Marcus Maye.
A former third-round Ravens pick in 2014, Brooks was primarily used on special teams last season. However, he did notch two interceptions.
Eagles Trade Terrence Brooks To Jets For Dexter McDougle
The Eagles have traded safety Terrence Brooks to the Jets in exchange for cornerback Dexter McDougle, Philadelphia announced today.
Brooks, a third-round selection in 2014, will now join the third team of his NFL career (the 26-year-old began his pro tenure in Baltimore before the Eagles claimed him off waivers prior to the 2016 season). Last year, Brooks appeared in 11 games but rarely played on the defensive side of the ball — while he managed only three snaps on defense, Brooks saw action on more than a third of the Eagles’ special teams plays.
Philadelphia didn’t have a need for Brooks, tweets Adam Caplan of ESPN.com, who notes the Florida State product was unlikely to crack the Eagles’ roster. The Jets, on the other hand, could use a third safety behind rookie starters Jamal Adams and Marcus Maye, per Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (Twitter link). New York’s other defense backs include Rontez Miles, Shamarko Thomas, Ronald Martin, and Robenson Therezie.
McDougle’s chances to earn a spot on Philadelphia’s roster are a bit less clear, as the Eagles now have a decent stable of cornerbacks following the trade that netted them Ronald Darby from the Bills in exchange for Jordan Matthews and a draft choice. After Darby, the Eagles boast Jalen Mills, Ron Brooks, Rasul Douglas, Patrick Robinson, and others, including second-round pick Sidney Jones, who may begin the season on the non-football injury list.
If he does make the Eagles’ squad, McDougle will likely play mostly on special teams. Like Brooks, McDougle was a third-round pick in 2014 — in fact, he was chosen just one selection after Brooks (80th overall). He’s mostly been injured during his three-year stay in New York, as he’s only appeared in 20 total games since 2014.