Noah Brown’s time in Houston has come to an end.
According to reports, the Texans have released the veteran receiver as they look to trim down the roster from 90 players to 53. Brown, who signed a one-year deal this offseason, was initially expected to be the No. 4 receiver after a breakout 2023 season.
When the Texans were undermanned at wideout, Noah Brown had back to back 150+ yard games in which both were wins.
For a team that got into the playoffs by a game you could make an argument, Houston doesn’t make the postseason without him.
Someone else will add a nice depth…
— Chancellor Johnson (@ChancellorTV) August 27, 2024
Signed to a one-year deal last offseason following a six-year stay in Dallas, Brown posted career-highs in every metric as Houston went on an improbable run from AFC worst to division champions. In 14 games, the 6-foot receiver caught 33 passes for 567 yards and two touchdowns.
Fans will best remember Brown for his two-week dominance against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Cincinnati Bengals. In Week 9’s comeback win at NRG Stadium, he caught six passes for 153 yards and a touchdown.
A week later at Paycor Stadium, Brown finished with a career-best seven receptions for 172 yards, including a 22-yard reception that set up a game-winning field goal for Matt Ammendola.
CJ STROUD TO NOAH BROWN FOR THE 75 YARD TEXANS TD pic.twitter.com/98KHHVMfNG
— Arye Pulli (@AryePulli) November 5, 2023
Given his guaranteed $3 million salary, it seemed as if Brown was a lock to make the active roster, but injuries sidelined him most of training camp. He initially suffered a lower-body injury, then a shoulder injury.
Brown didn’t play in any preseason games, thus allowing both Xavier Hutchinson and John Metchie III to break out with the second-team offense. Metchie scored a touchdown in Week 2’s win over the Giants and finished with 100 receiving yards.
Hutchinson, a sixth-round pick out of Iowa State last year, might have been the biggest riser among the targets, hauling in a team-leading 14 catches for 114 yards in four games.
Noah Brown basically only played in three fully healthy games last year. He exceeded 150 receiving yards in the last two of them. https://t.co/72fHvm9equ
— Scott Barrett (@ScottBarrettDFB) August 27, 2024
Despite having one of the best statistical seasons of his career, injuries cost Brown playing time. He missed seven games during the regular season and was placed on the season-ending injured reserve after the wild-card round victory over the Cleveland Browns.
When healthy, Brown’s a stable No. 3 target for any offense. He should land on a team looking for consistent pass-catcher help within the coming days.
As for Houston, it’s a sign that Metchie and Hutchinson will likely be on the active roster for Week 1’s showdown against divisional rival Indianapolis.