Former Georgia Bulldogs receiver Tyler Simmons has a challenging time making the Houston Texans’ final roster.
Thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, there was no offseason program for the undrafted free agent to be a part of, and the NFL scrapped the entire preseason in a concession to get the NFLPA onboard with the 2020 season.
For Simmons, that meant all of his chances to impress receivers coach John Perry and offensive coordinator Tim Kelly were gone. Simmons is already fighting a bias that coach and general manager Bill O’Brien has about 2020 being a harder year for rookies and younger players to get up to speed.
Brandin Cooks has advice for undrafted free agents such as Simmons.
“I think the biggest thing is telling young guys right now to follow around a vet,” Cooks told reporters on Aug. 6. “Typically, during this time you have a lot more freedom around the facility — whether it’s taking care of your body. I think it’s important for them to understand that picking a vet that you trust and following them when it comes to a routine so you can be around and be healthy.”
Cooks pointed out that Texans players don’t have as much liberty outside of team facilities due to the impacts of the pandemic. All there is left to do is stay at home and study the playbook.
“We don’t have too much things to do outside of here anyways, so the best thing you can do is focus on studying and showing the coaches that you know what you’re doing so when we do go out there full speed, we’re not missing a beat,” Cooks said.
Simmons is going against fifth-round rookie Isaiah Coulter as well as practice-squadders Isaac Whitney and Steven Mitchell. Chad Hansen, a veteran who has worked out in the offseason with Deshaun Watson, also hopes to make the final roster when the regular season begins.