Tag: A.J. Cann

G A.J. Cann signed with the Texans because of OL coach George Warhop

Guard A.J. Cann says the reason he signed with the Houston Texans in free agency was because the club added George Warhop as their OL coach.

Little the did the Houston Texans know that when they added George Warhop to Lovie Smith’s staff as offensive line coach that they were going to score a guard in free agency.

The Jacksonville Jaguars allowed A.J. Cann to hit the free agent market in March, and the former 2015 third-round pick from South Carolina had a good idea where he wanted to continue his NFL career.

“He’s one of the reasons I stepped up to be here but there are a lot of people here that I know decently,” Cann told reporters after organized team activities at Houston Methodist Training Center Tuesday. “I felt like it was time to make a change and I felt like this would be a good change for me. I’ve been liking the vibe so far and I love what’s going on. I love the situation right now.”

The Texans drafted Texas A&M’s Kenyon Green with the No. 15 overall pick in Round 1 of the 2022 NFL draft. Presumably the former Atascocita High School product will take the left guard job, which leaves right guard open for Cann.

What gives the 6-3, 315-pounder an inside edge is he knows what type of coach Warhop is and what his expectations are for the offensive line.

“Coach Warhop is going to be very detailed,” said Cann. “He’s going to be about his work each and every day. I know he’s a laidback coach but when it’s time to get after it, he gets after it. He’s never going to change for anybody. He’s going to be him and that’s what I respect about him.”

Warhop is the third different offensive line coach in as many seasons for the Texans. James Campen was the offensive line coach, but after Houston fired David Culley as coach, Campen took a job with the Carolina Panthers, reuniting him with a former Green Bay Packers connection in offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo.

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Texans G A.J. Cann sees similarities between Davis Mills and Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence

New Houston Texans guard A.J. Cann says that he sees similarities between Davis Mills and Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence.

A.J. Cann has had an up close view of quarterbacks from the 2021 NFL draft class.

The former Jacksonville Jaguar spent his final season during Trevor Lawrence’s rookie year. The Jaguars went 3-14 and were awarded the No. 1 overall pick in the 2022 NFL draft for having such a putrid record.

Cann signed with the Texans in the offseason, reuniting him with George Warhop, who also took the job as Houston’s offensive line coach, same as he had in Jacksonville. With Cann switching to another AFC South club, it gave him a chance to see Davis Mills.

Through a few weeks of offseason workouts with the former third-round pick from Stanford, Cann sees some comparisons with his former quarterback, who was taken No. 1 overall in 2021 from Clemson.

“Trevor was a quiet dude,” Cann told reporters Tuesday during organized team activities at Houston Methodist Training Center. “He was a leader. Didn’t really need to speak unless he had to. I kind of see a little of that in Davis. Really doesn’t talk much but when he gets in the huddle you see he is very poised and very confident and I love that about a quarterback.”

Mills had one fewer win than Lawrence, albeit Mills only saw 11 starts out of 17. In a head-to-head matchup in Week 14, Mills completed 19 passes on 30 attempts for 209 yards, two touchdowns, an interception, and a 92.2 rating to earn his first career win. Mills would finish the season going 2-3 over the final five games, compiling a 9-2 touchdown to interception ratio, and a 102.4 passer rating.

Cann is pleased to be working with another young signal caller as the former 2015 third-round pick from South Carolina enters his eighth season.

“I love Davis,” said Cann. “Very humble, laid back, doesn’t really talk much but he’s a very, very cool quarterback. I got a lot of respect for Davis.”

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Breaking down the A.J. Cann contract with the Texans

The Houston Texans signed former Jacksonville Jaguars guard A.J. Cann to a free agent deal. Here is a look at his contract details.

The Houston Texans bolstered their interior offensive line with the free agent signing of former Jacksonville Jaguars guard A.J. Cann.

New Texans offensive line coach George Warhop is bringing over a familiar face from his previous stop where he coached from 2019-21. Cann previously was with the Jaguars since 2015 when they drafted him in the third round from South Carolina.

According to Aaron Wilson from the Pro Football Network, Cann’s contract is a three-year deal with a base of $8.5 million and a maximum value of $10.5 million.

Cann gets $4.5 million guaranteed with a $2 million signing bonus. Cann’s $1.5 million salary is fully guaranteed as is $1 million of his $3.5 million salary. Cann can earn up to $500,000 in per game active roster bonuses with a $250,000 workout bonus and a $1 million annual play time incentive.

The Texans experimented with Tytus Howard, Lane Taylor, Cole Toner, Justin McCray, and Max Scharping at the guard spots in 2021. With Cann, Houston seeks to provide stability at one of the positions while also having a veteran Warhop is familiar with.

Texans to sign G A.J. Cann to 2-year contract

The Houston Texans are adding an offensive lineman new OL coach George Warhop is familiar with in guard A.J. Cann.

The Houston Texans are adding to their depth along the interior of their offensive line.

According to Aaron Wilson from the Pro Football Network, the Texans are signing A.J. Cann to a two-year contract worth $10.5 million with $4.5 million guaranteed.

Cann is a former Jacksonville Jaguars 2015 third-round pick from South Carolina. The 6-3, 315-pound guard played 95 games for the Jaguars in his career, starting in 94 of them.

The 30-year-old sustained an MCL injury that limited him to four games in the 2021 campaign. Aside from last season, Cann played in at least 14 games every season of his career.

Cann is also a player that new Texans offensive line coach George Warhop is familiar with as he was previously the Jaguars’ offensive line coach from 2019-21.

Urban Meyer believes OG A.J. Cann will be out for the season

Jags coach Urban Meyer believes the team will be without veteran guard A.J. Cann for the rest of the season, who sustained an MCL injury vs. Cincinnati.

The Jacksonville Jaguars offense has improved as of the last three to four weeks but has done so while unfortunately sustaining a few injuries along the way. The most significant was the loss of receiver DJ Chark Jr., who will miss the rest of the season due to a fractured ankle that he sustained Week 4 against the Cincinnati Bengals.

If that wasn’t tough enough, it appears they will be without another starter on the unit in A.J. Cann, who went on injured reserve on Oct. 4 with a right MCL injury. In his weekly radio show (see in the video below), Jags coach Urban Meyer revealed that he believes Cann will be out for the rest of the season, which means second-year player Ben Bartch will now start in his place for the remainder of the season.

“Well, Bartch went into the game [Week 4 against Cincinnati and beyond] and he’s been very solid to replace A.J. Cann,” Meyer said when asked about the performance of his backup offensive linemen. “A.J. Cann I believe is out for the season.”

For a team that needs as many of its starters as healthy as possible, the news about Cann’s situation is something that will concern fans. However, his injury does give the staff a chance to see what they have in Bartch, who could’ve potentially been their starting right guard of 2022 as Cann is on the last year of his contract. Instead of waiting, though, they will get an early preview instead.

Overall, Bartch has already played 155 snaps this year due to other injury situations that occurred along the interior of the offensive line. He’s accumulated a Pro Football Focus grade of 53.3 in the process, but it’s possible he can get on the right track now that he’s permanently going to see time on the field this year.

If he plays well, it will give the Jags another very affordable starter (still on his rookie deal) on their offensive line to groom alongside their young quarterback in Trevor Lawrence. If not, the team could address the guard position in free agency or the draft of 2022.

Bye week stock report for Jags’ offense

With the #Jaguars on their bye week, it’s time for a stock report to reflect on whose on the rise for the team and who could afford to come out stronger afterward.

The Jacksonville Jaguars won’t be taking the field this week due to being on their bye week, giving fans a bit of time to recoup from what’s been an exhausting start. However, the good thing about the team taking their bye this week is that they went into it on a high note after defeating the Miami Dolphins in London Sunday.

After reflecting on the Jags’ first six games, now is as good a time as any to do a stock report as there have been players who’ve impressed and some who’ve fallen short of expectations. Let’s take a look at six names on offense whose stock is either up or down:

Jags announce Week 3 inactives: CBs Tre Herndon, CJ Henderson among 5 who will sit

This week, there are several key members from the Jags’ defense who won’t be playing against the Cardinals. Meanwhile, Deandre Hopkins is suiting up for Arizona.

The Jacksonville Jaguars will be without starting cornerback CJ Henderson and defensive lineman Roy Robertson-Harris. Both players were ruled questionable on the final injury report after being limited in practice.

The other player who was ruled questionable on Friday, cornerback Tre Herndon, will also be out. This means his 2021 regular season debut will be put off for at least another week after he sprained his MCL during Week 1’s game of the preseason.

Joining the three on the inactives list will be rookie pass-rusher Jordan Smith and rookie defensive lineman Jay Tufele. Both didn’t surface in the status column for the Jags and were full participants Friday. Neither has made an appearance in the regular season (though Smith has been injured) and with both being healthy this week, fans will be questioning the Jags’ mindset when it comes to their selections in the draft.

On the Cardinals’ end, DeAndre Hopkins, who didn’t practice this week due to a rib injury, will suit up. Cornerbacks Byron Murphy and Marco Wilson, who also surfaced as questionable options on Friday, will play as well.

The Cardinals’ full list of inactives are as follows:

  • QB Chris Streveler
  • RB Eno Benjamin
  • CB Tay Gowan
  • CB Luq Barcoo
  • WR Andy Isabella
  • OT Kelvin Beachum
  • OLB Victor Dimukeje

More on their inactives can be found on Cards Wire.

Jags Week 3 final injury report: Henderson, Herndon, and Robertson-Harris ruled questionable

Three players were ruled questionable on Week 3’s final injury report for the Jags. Those players were CB Tre Herndon, CB CJ Henderson, and DL Roy Robertson-Harris.

The Jacksonville Jaguars could be without two players who’ve started for them in their first two games in cornerback CJ Henderson (groin) and defensive lineman Roy Robertson-Harris (ankle). Both players were two of the three players ruled questionable on the final injury report for Sunday’s game against the Arizona Cardinals.

The only other player to join the two in the status column was veteran corner Tre Herndon (knee), who was also ruled questionable.

Of the three, Henderson could be the most significant blow (if he can’t play) when looking at the receivers the Cardinals have in DeAndre Hopkins (who is a game-time decision), A.J. Green, Christian Kirk, and Rondale Moore. After missing practice on Thursday, the second-year cornerback was able to practice as a limited participant Friday, so he shouldn’t be counted out, though groin injuries are tricky.

If Herndon is able to return, it could be huge for the Jags as he’s one of their most experienced cornerbacks. That could also help with a decision on Henderson, too, if needed. Herndon, who sprained his MCL during Week 1 of the preseason and hasn’t played in the regular season, has practice as a limited participant the last two weeks but has yet to be a full participant in the regular season.

With two cornerbacks ruled questionable, the Jags signed veteran cornerback Nevin Lawson this week. If needed they also have Brandon Rusnak and Lorenzo Burns on their practice squad.

Robertson-Harris surfaced on the injury report after Sunday’s game against Denver. If he can’t go, the Jags have veteran Adam Gotsis as an option as well as fourth-year player Taven Bryan.

Cardinals vs. Jags injury report: Cann, Smith upgraded to full participation

The Jags upgraded four players on the injury report Thursday and A.J. Cann was among them.

The Jacksonville Jaguars had four upgrades occur on their injury report on Thursday. That included guard A.J. Cann (hamstring) and pass-rusher Jordan Smith (knee), who went from being limited on Wednesday to full participation on Thursday.

The other two upgrades were to center Brandon Linder (back) and defensive lineman Jay Tufele (illness), who went from not practicing on Wednesday to being limited on Thursday.

Unfortunately, there was also one player who was downgraded, and that was a starter in cornerback CJ Henderson. He did not practice Thursday after being limited on Wednesday. It appears the Jags have been preparing to not have him, though, as they signed veteran cornerback Nevin Lawson.

Veteran receiver Marvin Jones Jr. also didn’t practice on Thursday, but it was to rest. He led the team in receiving Sunday with six catches for 55 yards and the team probably wants him as close to 100% as possible against the Arizona Cardinals, who have one of the hottest offenses in the NFL.

Of the remaining players on the report, Laviska Shenault Jr. (shoulder) and Lerenetee McCray (hamstring) participated fully for their second straight days, while defensive lineman Roy Robertson-Harris and cornerback Tre Herndon remained limited.

C.J. Henderson, A.J. Cann questionable to return in Week 2 game vs. Broncos

Two more Jaguars starters are questionable to return after leaving the game with injuries.

After losing tight end James O’Shaughnessy in the first half with an ankle injury, Jacksonville suffered another pair of injuries to their starting group. Cornerback C.J. Henderson and right guard A.J. Cann left the game with a hip injury and hamstring injury, respectively. They are both listed as questionable to return.

The Jaguars are trailing the Denver Broncos 20-7, and it seems they’ll be undermanned for the fourth quarter. With Henderson out, Chris Claybrooks and Tyson Campbell have played opposite Shaquill Griffin, while backup guard Ben Bartch is playing for Cann.

Henderson is having a very solid start to the season after failing to make much of an impact in his limited action as a rookie. Cann, meanwhile, struggled mightily in Week 1 against Houston, and entered this week with a 38.o overall grade, per Pro Football Focus.

Still, the offensive line is a thin position group for the Jaguars, and they can’t afford to lose many players in the starting group. Similar depth issues also exist at corner, so it’s imperative that both of these players are able to return to the field in the near future.